First, Car & Driver performed the V1-winning test, not Valentine. And as for bias, I think that all the big detector manufacturers advertise in C&D, so I don't see a reason why the magazine would favor one over another based on ad money. On the other side, Craig Peterson, the guy behind radartest has stated that he's consulted for every major detector manufacturer. But that isn't true-- according to Valentine, they've never hired him even though he's approached them more than once. So unlike C&D, Peterson has taken money from BEL, Escort, etc., but *not* from Valentine.

Quote:

Here are some excerpts on the Bel:

"BEL 980 almost supernatural in its ability to sniff out distant police radar. Even in hilly terrain it detected the deadly new Ka-band digital radar gun at 7.6 miles, nearly double the range of the Valentine One and over twice that of the last-place K40. In disbelief we ran the test two more times, with identical results. "

"It ferreted out the lethal digital Ka-band radar gun at 40,222 feet, a virtual tie with the BEL 980 but fully 3.2 miles before the Valentine One"

Supernatural abilities aside, 7.6 miles sounds like fantastic sensitivity, but how useful is it in the real world? It's no more useful than the 4.4 miles posted by the V1 in that test. Either distance is way beyond what a cop can use as the basis for a ticket.

 

Yeah, you sound pretty pissed-off. But, I don't see anyone here pushing the V1 like it's crack. If we were, then we'd send you a free one that worked for a few weeks, then when you were hooked, we'd charge you $400 to keep it going.

 

I hope that those tickets were *before* you got the Bel.

 

Yeah, they were before I got the Bel985. Luckily for me ticketassasin.com killed both those tickets.

These tickets motivated me to get a Radar detector.

I have no regrets about the Bel 985...... it has proven itself to me several times........

Also, V1, 8500 and the 985 all have strong poiints in different areas....... Not a single one did the best in all areas.

So what it comes down to is price and value IMHO.

 

Well........ all I know is that the Bel 985 has the latest technology over the 980....... so it would be fair to assume that it is better and would be better than the V1.

 

bingo.. this is why i got my v1 over something else.

it may not be the best technology any more, i donot know. but i like knowing which direction the bogey is coming from, for the above reason, and thus why i have kept mine rather than going to the passport 8500

 

Estimated your speed??? You should of asked for a print out from her speed gun, tell her you will take this to court and she would most likely let you go off on a 'warning' because she has no proof of you going 50 on that 40 zone AND she wouldn't want to go to court over some speed ticket she gave away because she was in a bad mood. Try it next time, worked for me.

 

Hmmm, I don't see how that conclusion follows, but if you're happy with it and it's saving you from tickets, that's great.

 

Yeah it pissed me off. She said she estimated my speed, and on the ticket she marked "pace" under method. Im really thinking about fighting it.

 

You should fight it. You've got nothing to lose.

 

You've GOT to take that one to the judge! "Pace"??? WTF is THAT supposed to mean? I'd waste no time in attempting to get this BS ticket thrown out.

 

pace usually means that she was following u......... in this case u can ask for proff that her speedometer was certified for accuracy...........

 

A cop on a horse tried that **** with me. Went to court and asked the judge if he's ever ridden a horse and he said yes. Then I asked the cop, while you're bouncing up and down on a horse, you can tell my speed? The judge laughed and threw it out.

Fight it. That is a load of **** that the cop is pulling on you just bc she's lazy.

 

Bogey counter is a huge plus, and so are the directional arrows. Stupidity has nothing to do with knowing where the police are.....it simply helps to identify where the threat is coming from earlier. I'm always happy to know where I should be searching for the cop....either the front windshield, the rear view, or the side windows.

Sorry about your ticket, but the V1 or any other detector isn't a foolproof way of avoiding tickets. You've got to use it wisely ....watching traffic ahead of you, looking for hiding spots, etc.

 

It seems as if the V1 guys aren't going to convince the 8500 guys, and vice-versa. I guess what works for you, works for you. My 8500 has saved my butt several times, and that's good enough for me.

And I still think that pacing ticket is TOTAL BS.

 

Agreed. He should fight that ticket in court.

 

I beleive value is in the eye of the beholder, not soley based on price and sensitivity.

Chiming in late but my V1 has performed so well and kept me from jail so many times I cannot foresee ever using anything else. The boggey counter and directional arrows have saved my *** many times. There are areas where you never could speed if you did not know it the source was behind you or in front, or if the cop you just pasted is the source you are picking up or is it the cop over the next hill?

You can have your 7 mile sensitivity, my V1 is too sensitive as it is. I dislike having to run into radar speeding to keep from slowing down too soon.

Last time I lead a caravan of 7's on a drive I picked up a cop when other detectors in the group never went off. Unbelievable what adverts can get some folks to buy.

My V1 is well worth the $400. Hell, I know folks that bought one after their's was stolen. It was a bite but once you've been there it's tough to do without!

 

Thanks for all the replies you guys!!! At this point I just need to get something, every time I take off driving I wish I had one. I have always heard great things for the V1 and I really like its features, so should be picking one of them up this week. Once again thanks for all the help!

 

I own two V1's. I would never buy any other detector.

K

 

YAH i think i'mma go buy a readar detector right now~ hahah thanks guys it better be worth it!

 

People think "If the V1 directional arrows are such a gimmick, naturally the Bel and Escort dont need them". Well, the fact is that the directional arrows are patented, so Escort or Bel cannot use this technology.

Also, V1 is the only detector that you can out-of-the-box mount on your visor. Tests have been shown that high and near center on the windsheild is the optimal place for a detector. The left side of the passenger's visor (near the rear view mirror) is the perfect place for this.

I swear by my Valetine One

I respect the Bels and Passport, but I dont believe radartest at all. They are a small publisher that is influenced by money

As for the size being bigger, this is false. Yes, the V1 is boxier, but the size is actually smaller in most cases. It looks much bigger in the pics, it is actually quite small in person.

Its your money, do what you want. People are going to naturally argue this point. I did my research like you are doing, and came away wanting the V1 over the 8500.

Now that I own my V1, the first thing I do when I hear the beeps is look at what band its on and what direction. Also, the strength indicator with sucessive beeps is nice. It helps decipher between falses (generally weaker) and cops (usually a stronger signal)

I dont know many owners of BMWs or Porsches with Passports, but know quite a few owners who swear by the V1

 

Sure the V1 arrows are patented.

But They can be engineered around.

For example:

Have A corresponding LED that indicates direction.

Or a voice command

 

Tests also show that the tint strip at the top of your windshield reduces the effective range of radar detectors

 

yup i went and just bought one from radioshack like i said i would for 85 bucks! it seems to work because whenever i enter a plaza it goes off! and i'm thinking it because of those things on the side of then entrance and exit! the thing that goes off when you try to jack something! but that thing's sooo annoying making all thse noises and colors HAHA! but it's cool

 

Just to add to the support of V1, it is the only one that is upgradeable. If Valentine installs or improves a feature/capability of the V1 radar locator, you can send in yours to be upgraded. Which other detector company provides that?