CJW

iTrader: (1)

V1 Programming (I haven't tried this). Looks a bit painful, depending on what you want to change.

http://www.valentine1.com/v1info/pdf...-REVforPDF.pdf

My own car doen't set off the detector (2014 F-sport Exec.)

Hermes

Thank you. That definitely looks like a pain in the ***...

Reeladdict

Valentine one is hands down the best one I have ever owned! Saved my *** a bunch of times and i like how i know if they are behind me also.

ISISGUY

I'm partial to the escort passport 9500 x50, have had this one for about 2 years, before that had the beltronics version rx65 for about 6 years which is pretty much the exact same thing, since they are owned by the same company. Can't count the number of times it's saved me. Open areas are going to work best, on the 15 freeway LA to Vegas in the open desert it'll detect radar a few miles out, 4-5 miles under ideal conditions. In the city and local freeways, it's about 1 mile at best, but still more than enough time to slow down, I have it set for only K, KA bands and laser. K wil get you the most false positives because that's what most automatic doors use but really you get used to it, but I usually have it set to the lowest volume if I'm just driving around in the city. If it saves you from 1 ticket, it's paid for itself, in the time I've had em, I've only gotten 1 ticket and it was because the cop was trailing me and didn't have his radar on. Valentine is absolutely one of the best ones too, between the ones you mentioned, you can't really go wrong.

beeRandon

@Hermes, I found a video for the programming and just basically followed the steps he did. So it was pretty easy. :P

kbtoiz

iTrader: (4)

I first got a 9500 and drove from ATL to NOLA and it worked perfectly, it saved me like 8 times on that trip only. But returned next day when I found out that Escort released their latest radar Passport Max. It have all the features from the 9500 plus the latest technology and new features. Also made me get it was the fact that it will get more tech support cuz is the latest from them. I will definitely recommended it. It have saved me a BUNCH of times!

Hermes

Tough decision, not sure which one to buy...

iRyan

iTrader: (7)

I have the escort 9500 it is amazing, especially the red light camera feature

Hermes

Anyone have any negative experiences buying them used?

shadow1

iTrader: (1)

No warranty used. I've owned a half dozen Escorts/Bels. Every one of them have required repairs (some under warranty, some out of warranty). Either the laser detection has gone haywire or the radar antenna breaks and no longer detects. I now own 3 V1's (one for each car). After several years, all 3 have been reliable. V1's false more because you cannot turn off X band. But I appreciate the reliability and the arrow directions for radar signals. Really helps to know if the signal is in front or behind.

FYI BSM in Japanese brands will not set off RD. German cars have multiple radar sensors that make RD go crazy.

gm4life

This is something I can actually lend my expertise on... I may be a noob to Lexus and am in the process of figuring out several things before getting my IS, but I can help with radar detectors.

My recommendation for the money is an Escort Passport 8500 X50 Black. For under 300 bucks it is the best detector on the market IMO. Great range, wonderful features and a decent price. I had been using one in since April - no regrets. I researched it to death and considered a V1 and 9500 as well... Once I found out the 8500 had the same "guts" as the 9500 without the red light camera function for less money I was sold.

Now what I will say is this, having an X50 doesn't mean I drive like I would like to in a sports sedan like the IS. I just feel a little "safer" with it. Also automatic doors are on mainly K band these days and not X as commonly reported.

In town I have had great luck, locals pretty much always run with KA on and I have been saved a few times. Regarding highway/interstate travel...
It is really hit or miss, part of it may be I don't have POP on, but the state patrol seem to use less traditional radar and most likely more lidar or lasers... Much harder to get a notice on... Once they got you hit with a laser it is too late. So I question its usefulness in this area. More times than not I pass a highway patrol and nothing goes off either due to my POP setting not being on which reduces range of detection or the laser. The laser system notifies you but it has to be on a car right around you or in some cases on your car which is too late. I hope this helps. For the money the Escort Passport 8500 X50 Black gets my vote.

dasbuch

IMO the most valuable feature of the 9500, and what the GPS really provides, is the ability to lock out recurring false signals by remembering your location. This means it almost never chirps unless there is a true alert because it remembers drug store / grocery store automated door openers, and so forth. It does most of this automatically, or you can click a button to tell it to lock out and remember the signal. The red light camera is a nice addition to have thing but more of a creature comfort than a critical feature to me.

bhvrdr

I agree with this. I have owned both the V1 and the 8500 x50. I bought them both at the same time actually with the intention of sending back the one that was the loser in my own personal comparison.

I ended up sending back the v1. It was extremely sensitive and the arrows could be nice if it werent for one thing... the falsing. The only way I would keep a V1 was if i lived out in the middle of the country and did only freeway driving.

The most important feature of a radar detector to me is that when it beeps...you trust it is a cop and you get on the brakes quick. With the V1, there is not this trust. You have to double check everyting to see if it is a real threat; what band is it? how may bogies? am i near a store? am i near a nice new car that could have radar cruise? what direction is it coming from? etc etc etc.

With the 8500 or 9500 it is very simple, it beeps, you brake.

Mike

gm4life

I understand. To me and the size of the area I live in - it is in Iowa after all - I didn't feel the need for this tech. I now know pretty much all the spots I get an X or K hit in town. The locals run KA so it still works pretty effectively for the way I use it. Then again in a different area the 9500 could be nice. To me it wasn't worth the extra dough. The 9500 is a great detector. I wanted to spend closer to 250 bucks than 500 thus the reason I got the X50.

theoryguy3

Or you could befriend a cop and get PBA cards, problem solved