Radar Detectors

Mike Wyatt · Dec 10, 2004

With me new '05 GT, I think it might be time for a radar detector.

Some questions:

1. Which one is the best;

2. Which one is the best value for the money?

3. Do any of them "block" or confuse radar/laser, etc. I wouldn't want to not play fair

LA stang · Dec 10, 2004

passport 8500x50 or the bel pro rx65 are 2 of the best,radar jammers do not work, so don't waste your money. try http://www.radartest.com

thunderstorm144 · Dec 10, 2004

PASSPORT

I read through about every website and article I could find on who made the best radar detector and which one was the best. Let my studious efforts save you the trouble. Buy the Escort Passport 8500 X50. (Blue or red LEDs). Red is cheaper. Gave about 320 bucks for it at Best Buy. Worth it. It really does an excellent job of picking up the coppers. Especially good in POP (instant-on) and the Ka band (most cops have K-band or Ka-band radar guns.) Grocery store doors are X-band. They tick me off!!

But I will agree that Bel makes a nice one too. It was neck and neck between Bel and Escort as both are highly rated. I couldn't find the Bel unit though.

Neat thing about the Escort is that when using the suction mounts on the window at "just over the windshield wipers" height, the coil cord falls nicely between the two middle vents. The cigarette plug also has mute and display on it as well so if you don't see the main unit go off, you're eye will catch the flashing red dot on the cigarette plug.

One word of advice - the Escort comes set with "Auto-mute" which mutes the alert after a second or two. I think that is a dangerous thing and turned it to off. I'd suggest you do the same. If you pick up a cop a ways away (just a beep or two on the unit) and it goes mute but the signal gets stronger you have to look at the main unit to tell how close he is. I'd rather hear it and keep my eyes on the road. This was my first Escort detector and I am quite happy with it. Comes with a nice flip top hard shell box too.

JonJon · Dec 10, 2004

"best" is subjective. you can pay $80 and get good results. the best is to save your money and drive more carefully.

rhoover2 · Dec 10, 2004

JonJon said:
"best" is subjective. you can pay $80 and get good results. the best is to save your money and drive more carefully.

Don't we all wish that we were that disciplinned that we will never have one of those moments when we just want to put the peddle down and remember why we bought a Mustang to begin with.

thunderstorm144 · Dec 10, 2004

Amen

rhoover2 said:
Don't we all wish that we were that disciplinned that we will never have one of those moments when we just want to put the peddle down and remember why we bought a Mustang to begin with.

Yes, buying a Mustang GT and going the speed limit are mutually exclusive.

Unless you're on your last point on your drivers license, that is!

2002GreyGT · Dec 10, 2004

I have had cheap detectors before, and they are NOT worth the money. The go off all the time so you start to ignore them.

I bought a Bel 630 I think, too lazy to run to my car and look. Cost was about $200 from Circuit City. Thing works like a CHARM, excpet I had to have it replaced once since I stopped making noise....Buy the WARRANTY!

Other good ones are a Valitine One, or a Pasport 8500, or any other high End Bels. I have also heard good things about K40's.

As for Jammers, Radar jamming is illegeal in all 50 states and carrys a HUGE fine. And places like Rocky Mount Radar etc, that say they jam, are a joke.

As for Laser Jammers, There are 2 good brands that I know of. K40 -Difuser, or a M-20 Blinder or an M-40 Xtreme Blinder. I had the blinders on my old car, until I got in a accident, and never put them back one....too lazy. Plus not many cops here have Laser, never crossed one yet, so I did not see the need.

If Laser is used alot where you live...get the Laser Jammers. Oh, it is 100% LEGAL to jam laser....its just LIGHT!

Best of luck, and remember detectors and jammers are NOT 100% perfect, and with Instant on Radar now, you can STILL get tickets. Trsut me!

JonJon · Dec 10, 2004

rhoover2 said:
Don't we all wish that we were that disciplinned that we will never have one of those moments when we just want to put the peddle down and remember why we bought a Mustang to begin with.

well dude, a radar detector is not going to make you invincible to speeding tickets. it will give you false sense of security that you are though.

i've had a cobra 9550 for 4 years and i've learned to not depend on it much as a lot of cops use instant on, laser, pacing, and crap like that.

thunderstorm144 · Dec 10, 2004

2002GreyGT said:
I have had cheap detectors before, and they are NOT worth the money. The go off all the time so you start to ignore them.

I bought a Bel 630 I think, too lazy to run to my car and look. Cost was about $200 from Circuit City. Thing works like a CHARM, excpet I had to have it replaced once since I stopped making noise....Buy the WARRANTY!

Other good ones are a Valitine One, or a Pasport 8500, or any other high End Bels. I have also heard good things about K40's.

As for Jammers, Radar jamming is illegeal in all 50 states and carrys a HUGE fine. And places like Rocky Mount Radar etc, that say they jam, are a joke.

As for Laser Jammers, There are 2 good brands that I know of. K40 -Difuser, or a M-20 Blinder or an M-40 Xtreme Blinder. I had the blinders on my old car, until I got in a accident, and never put them back one....too lazy. Plus not many cops here have Laser, never crossed one yet, so I did not see the need.

If Laser is used alot where you live...get the Laser Jammers. Oh, it is 100% LEGAL to jam laser....its just LIGHT!

Best of luck, and remember detectors and jammers are NOT 100% perfect, and with Instant on Radar now, you can STILL get tickets. Trsut me!

Things to remember about lasers. If they laze you, your caught. Period. The only way a detector can pick up a laser is if it is mounted in your front bumper, since that's what they shoot the laser at. A windsheild mounted detector won't pick up a laser shot at your bumper. Only one shot at your windshield, which cops don't do. So ignore the "laser detector" factor of a detector (which they all claim but is )

You can buy some covers for your front license plate if you have one that are supposed to diffuse the laser light. But I wouldn't waste money on them unless your law enforcement dept is wealthy enough (think rodeo drive cops) to own lasers in every patrol car. Most cops still use Ka-band and K band guns. Even POP (instant on) can be detected relatively well with the new high end detectors from Bel and Escort. Unless you're lucky like me and the cops are too ignorant to ever turn the windshield mounted guns off. I know where my cops are all the time.

GT-03 · Dec 10, 2004

rhoover2 said:

Why?

To me, "drive more carefully" means to use your eyes to detect cops, and not rely on gadgets. Basically, "careful" means stay alert and be observant. One simplistic example is if the cars up ahead are all suddenly slowing down after going under an overpass, there just might be a police person hiding there.

JonJon · Dec 10, 2004

GT-03 said:
Why?

To me, "drive more carefully" means to use your eyes to detect cops, and not rely on gadgets. Basically, "careful" means stay alert and be observant. One simplistic example is if the cars up ahead are all suddenly slowing down after going under an overpass, there just might be a police person hiding there.

Exactly. The last time I got caught was in VA, I had taken my radar detector off (illegal in VA) on the way back from NC to MD. I got paced. People were slowing down and I kept passing them since it was 2am, I had been driving for 300 miles and I was tired. So I didn't realize everyone was going slow for a reason

$70 ticket 2+ years ago.

MadFish · Dec 10, 2004

Valentine 1 is a really good detector. I had it in my BMW and it saved me several times. It costs like $400. Sadly, I had to let mine go with the car. Since it was hard wired into the car and had it reading thru the LCD on the dash. I didnt feel like spending 8 hours again taking it out.

Rootus · Dec 10, 2004

GT-03 said:
To me, "drive more carefully" means to use your eyes to detect cops, and not rely on gadgets. Basically, "careful" means stay alert and be observant.

Yes! That is absolutely the best way to keep from getting tickets. I have had a few nice radar detectors in my life, and I consistently got pulled over more when I had them then when I did not. They lull you into a false sense of security, and you let your guard down ... and then BAM there are the blue lights...

Dave

Mr_K_Code65 · Dec 10, 2004

I've had Valentine 1 for many years and it is an excellent detector. No replacement for common sense, though. Best advice is to use faster traffic and trucks as you cover ground. oh, and stay out of the left lane except when passing!

BC61 · Dec 10, 2004

Valentine One

thunderstorm144 · Dec 11, 2004

I agree

Rootus said:
Yes! That is absolutely the best way to keep from getting tickets. I have had a few nice radar detectors in my life, and I consistently got pulled over more when I had them then when I did not. They lull you into a false sense of security, and you let your guard down ... and then BAM there are the blue lights...

Dave

I agree with the posts stating that you have to drive carefully. It is the "being observant" part and "having forewarning" that give you the edge over police. I think detectors are invaluable, though. Why wouldn't you want to know that a police officer was up ahead. If the car in front of you is doing the speed limit and doesn't brake when passing the cop, how would you - speeding behind the car that just passed him - know that he was there? That said, knowing the simple things like "why is everyone braking up ahead?" and "here comes a bridge underpass with nice big columns that could hide a cop car" will save you from more tickets than an electrical device can. An ounce of prevention... Also, it is just plain ignorant to ever go over 10 MPH past the posted speed limit. Just my opinion, as I am of the school of "what's the point in getting to my destination 30 seconds to a minute faster?". Not worth the points or cash it will cost ya. But then again, if that Ferrari is doing 110...

ncaruso · Dec 11, 2004

I've had an Escort 8500 since I got my 99 GT new. I hard-mounted it to the pillar above the mirror and hard-wired it direct (Escort has a kit). That thing has saved my bacon numerous times, - including Laser. I was cresting a hill and the laser detector went off. I hit the brakes, and just the other side of the crest there he was. It must have reflected off the car he was spotting in front of me - not sure - I just know it worked. Just last night it saved me again.

thunderstorm144 · Dec 11, 2004

Good point...

ncaruso said:
I've had an Escort 8500 since I got my 99 GT new. I hard-mounted it to the pillar above the mirror and hard-wired it direct (Escort has a kit). That thing has saved my bacon numerous times, - including Laser. I was cresting a hill and the laser detector went off. I hit the brakes, and just the other side of the crest there he was. It must have reflected off the car he was spotting in front of me - not sure - I just know it worked. Just last night it saved me again.

You had to be going uphill and the laser was pointing at the car in front of you going (laser was going uphill from the other direction), meaning it was a triangle where your detector and the laser had converging paths. A laser detector will pick up lasers if it can see them. Hence the reason they have to be at the same level as the laser, which is shot at your front bumper/license plate. I think detectors are invaluable. Always will. But if you had been cresting that hill and had no car in front of you to be cannon fodder, you would have been lased and probably not even known about it. Even if your detector went off, you would still be holding a ticket in your hands since the light will get back to the cop faster than you can process the thought...Oh sh**, I need to slow down.

Escorts do rock. (Not the car, mind you ) I love mine!

TJMAudio · Dec 11, 2004

Valentine One.

JonJon · Dec 11, 2004

The beam of a laser speed gun only spreads to ~ 6" wide over 1/2 mile or something like that. That is why it is so hard to detect, it DOESN'T spread out or reflect in a beneficial way for radar detectors.

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