jbyrd423 said:
Just curious to see what you guys think are the best ones, seeing as I just got my first ticket and I havent had the car for 2 weeks yet.
I like the valentine because of the front and rear detectors but dont know if I wanna spend 375 for a detector
To help you out in your decision, I'll tell you some facts about the Valentine 1 and the Escort Passport 8500 X50. You can also double check my statements with the links I provided to you in my previous post.
The V1 and Escort are pretty evenly matched. Both have excellent front/rear RADAR detection, with the Escort X50 edging out with better radar detection range/sensitivity and bulletproof POP Mode detection. In case you didn't know, POP Mode is a mode featured on some radar guns that is an "instant-on," extremely short burst of radar. This mode is meant to give a rough estimate of the speed of the targeted vehicle. An officer is not allowed BY LAW to give out tickets while the radar gun is in this mode, as it can be wildly inaccurate (its been known to clock stationary rocks at 60 MPH). It is merely there to help an officer determine if your speed is worth switching over to the radar gun's more accurate (if calibrated properly) regular mode, lock onto you, and clock you. HOWEVER, whether or not an officer gives you a ticket while the gun is in POP Mode comes down to your word against the officer's in a court of law, and we all know who'd going to win THAT battle.
POP Mode is harder to detect as it is an extremely short burst of radar (around 10 milliseconds), yet its detection can be the crucial factor between you getting nailed for a 100 MPH ticket and having a few seconds to slow down and avoid a ticket. The Escort X50 consistently detects POP Mode, although it will false once in awhile (not really that annoying, in my opinion). The V1, however, does miss POP Mode burst about 20% - 25% of the time. Check
www.speedzones.com to confirm those details.
Some people find the V1's inferior POP Mode detection a turn off, but you should also know that POP Mode is not very common right now, although it is a growing threat.
Onto LASER detection. Simply put, the V1 is significantly superior to the Escort X50 in laser detection. This would be great, if not for one thing: as I stated in my previous post, laser detection is basically USELESS. IF you want to fend off laser, see my previous post. If you get a laser hit on your detector, 99% of the time you've been already clocked. There's always the chance that the car next to you is getting hit and you're picking up the laser "splatter," but that unfortunately, is an extremely rare occurrence.
Onto appearance. The Escort is sleeker, slimmer, and has completely "Dark Mode" for discreet night driving so an officer trailing you does not know you have a detector and clocks you by simply pacing you. The V1 is bulkier, but has their trademark directional arrows to give you a rough idea of where the threat is coming from. The V1's alert is also a little louder than the Escort, which can be of help if you're blasting the radio. It does not offer a dark mode, however. Some prefer the V1's directional arrows, some prefer the Escort's dark mode.
The final category: Pricing. The Escort is cheaper than the V1, however the V1's cost is justified by the increased laser sensitivity. The extra laser nodes is what makes it cost more.
So the question is really this: What do you value more? Superior radar detection or superior laser detection? Do you think you'll prefer the V1's directional arrows over the Escort's Dark Mode? Do you like the bulkier look of the V1 or the slimmer look of the Escort?
These detectors are so evenly matched, it basically comes down to a question of personal taste. Whatever you decide on, you can be sure that either of these detectors are EXCELLENT and at the top of the radar/laser detector heap. Good hunting.