What is the best radar/laser detector? k40, valentine, escort, passport, bel? I drive mostly in NYC and I think they only use radar here. I do frequently travel all over the NE (DC, MD, PA, DE, NJ, NY, CT, NH, MA, RI)

 

I would say V1 does the job very well.

 

There will be an ongoing debate between the passport and the valentine. I think the valentine might be slightly better at its job - but cosmetically unappealing.

So it is your call! I have the passport and love it. Would have gotten the Valentine if it wasn't so damn ugly!!

Jonny

 

There are a whole lot of threads on radar detectors out there already, many very recent. I'd invite you to please use the search tool

Here are a few to get you started.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=166838
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=166037
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=16649
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=52508
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=100415
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=117243
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=138424
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=117243
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=117267
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/lexus-audio-video-security-and-electronics/69799-radar-detectors.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=100415
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...t=search+radar
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...t=search+radar

and many more if you care to search

 

i say v1 and get that lil relocater thing.

 

Using the search, I typed in "best radar detector" and got so many threads that went on for pages with nothing about what i wanted. There were install instructions, people getting speeding tickets and other useless threads which were very time consuming. I do try to use the search before I start any thread of my own.

 

im surprised no one mentioned the K40, i thought they were good. Anyway, what passport are you talking about, the 8500 X50?

 

The Valentine One is the best radar/laser detector on the market today.

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/radartesting.html

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/pop.html

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/spectre.html

http://motortrend.com/features/consu...r_buyersguide/

"This year, the measurement of the radar and laser detection abilities of each of the over $200 units gives the Valentine One ($400) a small edge over the competing BEL Vector 995 ($260) and Escort Passport 8500 X50 ($300 with red display or $340 with a blue display) units."

V1 is the best in laser detection:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...213&highlight=

V1 has the best rear radar detection because it is the only detector with 2 antennas to locate radar:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...214&highlight=

V1 is the least detectable detector by RDD's or Radar Detector Detectors in states where radar detectors are illegal. The Spectre III is the most used RDD in the world and it can only pick up the Valentine One if it is 166 feet or closer which is better than the X50 which can be detected 954 feet away.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...383&highlight=

The Valentine One which accounts for only .6% of radar detector sales wins every poll when it comes to being the favorite detector. The X50 doesn't even get an approval rating as high as George Bush's worst rating. :lol:

http://www.radardetector.net/The-Ult.......-5523t.php

Which of the "Big 3" is really the best overall - in your opinion?
V-1
64% [ 45 ]

RX-65
12% [ 9 ]

X50
20% [ 14 ]

Other (state which and why)
2% [ 2 ]

Total Votes : 70

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...ghlight=#42353

Radar Roy from Radarbusters.com said this about the Valentine One, "Just spoke with Carl Fors from SML, his website will be going online tonight with the 2005 results. He has declared the V895, 8500 and the Valentine One as the top performers. Motortrend, who was also at the test, will be declaring the Valentine One as the top detector based upon its detection of laser.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...=4696&start=90

Radar Roy said, "There were results that they (Guys of Lidar) got during the test that I was not exactly pleased with, such as the discovery of the Blinder not having Stealth Mode installed and the Valentine beating out the Escort and Bel in the range tests. Even though I don’t sell the Valentine, it does have slightly better range than both the RX65 and the 8500 and I also show this same fact on my site. Would love it to be the other way around."

 

so whats the deal with the k40?

 

i have the k40 which was already in the car when i bought it 2 years ago and im a very aggressive driver, which means i average 85-90 mph on a regular and i havent had a ticket in that time.i would say its very good but i dont know enough about its range and how it works to rate it against others, although it does have radar and a laser diffuser

 

Among that list of states, keep in mind they are illegal in DC and, I believe, CT as well. In DC, (and in VA, which you did not mention ) they can be impounded....don't get caught with one there. I don't know if CT impounds them or not.

 

Jonny, you've really got to be kidding me. The V1 is FUNCTIONAL. It doesn't have to be beautiful. The beauty is in the function - the arrows work well, the dual volume **** excellent. Anyone that concerned about how it looks could consider using the remote version and integrating the display into the dash somewhere. I really thought super-highly of any of the Passports (I've had 3 different ones, including the original Passport, which doesn't have a number after it.) until I got the V1. The extra $100 is worth it. I won't live without the arrows, without even considering the excellent performance.

Jerry

 

Jerry,

I wasn't debating its functions - I was simply stating that it is ugly. Which - IT IS!! I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder

The arrows for me really don't matter. When that thing is blowing up I really don't care which direction it is coming from!!! I'm slowing down!

Anyway, not to argue with you. My basic point. Valentine is a better radar, but the Passport is a better LOOKING radar!

Jonny

 

Yea it really is kinda ugly....... but its even more unpleasant to sit on the site of the road with light in your mirrors as all the other people are driving by.

Why dont they make it more pleasant looking? It looks like soemthing from the 60s

 

I'm a V1 guy, but someone on these forums swears by Rocky Mountain radar detectors. Not sure how they compare to the V1, but here's their website:

http://www.rockymountainradar.com/

Maybe someone can shed some light.