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I mounted my V1 with the Visor Clip and hardwire it by running the wire along the weather strip to the OBDII port. Using the SAVVY accessory, it was a super easy install. Draw power straight from the OBDII port.
Valentine One Radar Detector Visor Clip Mount
V1 Visor Clip
V1 Visor Clip
Hardwire by running it down the side of the weatherstrip
Looks great but what happens when you need to use your visor? Does the radar point down in the same direction as the visor? Is the cord long enough to use it when facing the windows?
I've been using the V1 with the visor mount for over a year now. Rarely do I find myself needing to use my visor.
If I do need the visor, then the radar will be pointing up/down (vertical as the visor) I did leave some slack on the cord when facing the windows.
The V1 can easily slide off the visor clip. I can simply unplug to hide the radar for those shady areas.
For V1 fans like myself, it seems like the best of both worlds would be the Savvy with the blendmount. Has anyone done that install? Since I don't have the car yet (supposed to be mid-June delivery) I am only speculating that it might be difficult to conceal the cable going from the blendmount to the OBDII port in a professional looking manner. There is a shop where I live that does these kinds of installs so that would be an option for me but extra $$$. There is also the in-dash option such as K40, which I think typically cost a couple thousand or more installed.
Regardless of whether you use a mount that hangs the V1 under the mirror (which is pretty low) or whether you mount it to the side of the mirror, concealing the cable takes no effort at all. I did mine from the right side of the mirror to the OBDII port in about 5 minutes, and it took that long because I was going slow. Just tuck the wire between the windshield and the trim - it will slide under the trim with almost no effort on your part, and is easily removable. Run it down the side pillar and to the right side of the trim inside the door frame, and right to the Savvy. There is no need for an expensive installer. If you want to pay somebody lots of money to do this, let me know and I'll stop by on my lunch hour. I put my V1 on the right side of the mirror, as high up as possible, and put the remote display above the vent on the far left of the dash, using velcro. It's easy.
^^^ I'm all about DYI, so when I get the car I'll definitely check it out. What I want to avoid is having the cable exposed anywhere that might be possible to snag it while getting in/out, having it pinched in the door somehow, etc. But it definitely sounds like it should work.
What do you guys do to the radar detector if you happen to get pulled over? Probably not a good idea having it up when the cop comes see you right? How can you quickly take it down?
I've never had a good radar detector. Are they pretty good at keep you from getting tickets? I guess if the copy is just sitting there with a gun, not much you can do right?
Usually the "copy" [sic] doesn't even see the detector because he is standing outside the car and the detector is high on the windshield. Also, if you do get the lights and sirens, you have plenty of time to unplug the detector, slide it off the mount and put in in the glove box or under the seat. This is not usually necessary as detectors are only illegal in VA and maybe one other state (I think DC, also, but it's hard to get up any speed in the District anyway - you certainly won't get stopped on Mass Ave).
Finally, a good detector (meaning a V-1) mounted properly, configured correctly and used wisely is "pretty good at keep you from getting tickets."
Thanks. I was thinking more of the lines of copy seeing it and thinking oh, you got a radar so you think you can speed huh. Well, I'm going to stick it to you just for that...
So which radar do people think is best? I'm trying to decide on 9500IX vs V1.
Curtis, that makes no sense. He can't pull you over because he sees the detector, which he can't see from any distance anyway. If he has already pulled you over, he has clocked your speed by radar or manually, so he does not care if you have a detector.
As for your last question, that is not the standard to use in shopping (which do people think is the best). The question you want to ask is which detector does best on objective scientific repeatable tests, and which detector gives the driver the most useful information quickly.
I was saying they pulled you over. At which point a cop can decide to give you a warning or a ticket. Them seeing a radar detector may have an affect on which decision they make. Anyways, I wasn't sure if they come off the mounts that quickly. Prob solved.
Getting technical, that is what I want. The best one out there, which I'm sure is hard to scientifically prove 100% one is better than the other. I'm not sure if the info I'm seeing online is authoritative or not. So I thought I would ask if there was a general consensus here.
The general consensus almost everywhere is that the Valentine is still the best, but it is also, of course, the most expensive. Sold only from the Valentine web page, not in retail locations and not by other merchants. In most situations, it gives the earliest warning, which is what most people want, and it is still the only one with arrows to alert you to the location from which the radar signal is coming. I have had one for many, many years and have had it upgraded with new software several times, so I have not been detector shopping for a while, and there may be something comparable out there, but I doubt it. Look around for yourself, but you won't go wrong with a V-1.
Sure, buy it on Amazon if you want to pay more to a middleman. OR - buy directly from Valentine, pay less, and have the warranty registered directly to you by the only place in the country that sells, upgrades and services them - that would be my suggestion.
I run the V1, and like tfischer, have mine mounted up high beside the rear-view mirror. I also have a Valentine concealed display mounted down low on the instrument cluster. Everything is powered by the Valentine Saavy unit via the OBD port. The main "head" unit next to the mirror stays dark as long as you use the concealed display.
I have been pulled over a couple of times due to user error. Each time I just flip down my visor and the unit can't be seen from behind and as the officer is standing next to the car, they can't see it from the side either.
I have the concealed display on velcro and can quickly pull it off and stick it in the door pocket, etc.
I wanted to try the new Escort Passport 360, which has arrows like the V1, but they don't offer a concealed display. I don't like running a detector with no concealed display because other drivers want to hang right behind me.
On another note, the high mounting position is better for detecting radar and low is better for laser, however you really don't have much reaction time with laser.
04-20-15, 02:18 PM
Valentine One Visor Clip Mount
I did leave some slack on the cord when facing the windows.
. Each time I just flip down my visor and the unit can't be seen from behind and as the officer is standing next to the car, they can't see it from the side either.
