Radar Detectors

[SeventyMach1]

They're not illegal in my state .... so I'm probably gonna get one. Can any of you give me info / tell me about them? I don't know squat on them. You know, like what's good & what isn't. I've heard things like K & Ka radar .... but have no idea what they mean. I just really want to know what is good and don't cost an arm & a leg.



Also, any mounting tips would be great. I don't really want it visible, but if it is, something tasteful I guess.

 

[MysteryMachine]

The radio station I listen to always has ads for the Phaser 2 (sp?). Says is you get a ticket they will pay the fine. Not sure how much it cost though probably a good bit

 

[sade04]

my uncle has a valentine 1 mounted up behind this rear view mirror (kinda hidden) in his M5. and he has a secondary display for the radar on his dash. I think it looks really cool and the radar is pretty much out of sight. Many people say they are the best but they are kinda pricey though.

 

[Kevin R.]

Yupp, Valentine 1 is the best. About $400 though.

 

[94-302-vert]

I used to run them and all I did was buy the $80 ones every couple of years to keep the technology somewhat current. I have never used one in my stang as i figure if I get pulled with the stang it is one more thing that says "yeah I do that all the time"....

Now don't get me wrong they help but with false alarms and all I have always found to just scan the road for brake lights gives plenty of warning. SOmetimes to drop down from triple digits to legal without brakes... =-)

 

[Car Nut]

I got speeding tickets all the time when I used a radar detector. Since I stopped using them, I haven't had a single ticket since and it's been about 6 years.

Like said above, there's no substitute for your own eyes. Keep a sharp lookout and pay attention to what traffic is doing. I can't tell you how many times I've slowed down when cars way up ahead are putting on brakes and then found a cop well hidden ahead. Not that I drive dangerous or anything, but I sure don't want to draw attention.

Valentine 1 has been tops for years though. It's not perfect, but more perfect than most any other radar detector.

 

[95COBRA241]

IMO radar detectors are useless. Most Police agencies no longer user radar to gauge speed they use laser which is harder to detect and is aimed at one car at a time not an area of cars like radar. The other irony is that the same companies that make radar detectors for civilians, make the radar units for police. So once you radar detector warns you, you've already been clocked. The best way to avoid a ticket is to keep your speed to no more than 10mph over the limit. The exception is school zones where there is no cushion. I agree with that cause I'd hate for my kid or any other to be struck by a speeding car while crossing the street.

P.S. Same for red lights!

 

[whitesnake1994]

I somewhat agree with those guys, b/c when a cop is using a laser gun instead of radar the detector wont detect it until it is too late. but i have been saved MANY times by my detector. And think about it...if it saves you from a ticket just ONCE than you already paid for the detector. so i think you should get one for sure. i hear the escort passports are really good also..bel is another good brand. i have one of the older cobra's and it has been very good.

And if you do get one i have my wire hidden very well. it goes into the shifter bezel and comes out through the clock...very easy to do and looks good.

 

[91LX_5L]

Bel and Escorts are nice, the escort 850 mabye it is is supposed to be great. I like my Bel

 

[1slow95]

I have a Cobra detector in my stang. I like having one, but like everyone said they're not really usefull for avoiding tickets. I would just go for a cheap one in the ~$80 range.

For a hidden wire mounting mounting trick, get one with a straight power wire instead of the curly elastic type wire. Mount the detector by the mirror, then run the wire under the headliner over to the driver side A-pillar. Run the wire inside the A-pillar down to the dash, then you can go between the dash and the door to under the dash. I bought a cig lighter from wal-mart for a couple bucks and wired it into the fuse box. Plug in the detector power wire, zip tie it all up under the dash and viola, hidden radar detector!

 

[zZsKyZz]

I have a cobra.. Got it for about $175 and it works well.. only problem is that it detects those warning signs and when i'm near automatic sliding doors it goes off.. but it does work for the radar guns and such.

 

[Mustangless]

I don't have a radar detector and don't won't one. I mean, if the cops really wanted to get me they could. I have always heard the correct way to use one is follow behind someone speeding. When they shoot their car your dectector will go off.

I heard valatines, and escorts are good

 

[urban96]

get one of those jammer things instead

 

[MysteryMachine]

My mom has one in her car think its a cobra one that damn thing is always beeping it drives me nuts. And we never see any cops

 

[Kevin R.]

I have a Cobra in my car which I bought of a friend. It has saved me a couple times, but most times I see the cop first. They seem to work well coming around turns and such where you cannot see what is coming down the road.

The thing with the "false alarms" is that, once you begin to know your area, you know what is false or not. Like, driving to work each day I know exactly what is always there, and just ignore it. This way, when something shows up out of the usual, I can just expect it to be a cop.

On the point of "no radar being used anymore", well, I have only encountered a laser being used one time. Cops always use radar when moving, and most of the time when sitting.

 

[nmcgrawj]

get one of those jammer things instead

Whats the deal with these? Do they really work? I saw a couple installed on some M3's at a BMW dealership when i worked there in the summer. Arent they a couple hundred bucks?

 

[urban96]

Whats the deal with these? Do they really work? I saw a couple installed on some M3's at a BMW dealership when i worked there in the summer. Arent they a couple hundred bucks?

a kid i know has one on his A8, and another kid i met with a saab had one too, very expensive but they do work.

 

[S/CBlack95GT]

I use radar and nail people all day long with radar detectors.

 

[whitesnake1994]

I would just go for a cheap one in the ~$80 range.

If you are going to get one thats exactly what I wouldnt get. My buddy bought one of the cheap ones and it works like ****. goes off every ten seconds for no reason, only works when the cop is real close. we put them next to eachother in a car and his went off about 10 seconds after mine did and sometimes not at all. so those are just a TOTAL waste of money. mine was $195 new and i wouldnt spend anything less than that if you want it to work decently. and like i said before even if it saves you from just one ticket it already paid for itself... radar detector $200-400 bucks ...... a 10 mph over the speed limit $150 plus insurance rates go up. could cost you about $600 total

 

[1slow95]

I was basing that on the fact that radar detectors in general don't work that great, so why spend the extra $100+. My solution for not getting a speeding ticket: DON'T SPEED! It's worked flawlessly for me so far.

With that said, I will say that my radar detector has saved my ass a couple times. You just can't depend on it to save you all the time. I've been clocked several times where my radar detector will go from 0 instantly up to 4 or 5. In this case the detector will not help you at all, no matter how expensive it is. I do like to have one so I am more aware of whats going on around me, but I will not depend on one to save me from a speeding ticket.