Looking to buy a Radar Detector

Hey guys. I'm in the market for a Radar Detector.

I'm on a budget and I wanna say no more than $250.

My dad has a Beltronics 970 Vector LR and it's always worked very well. I was thinking of trying to find on on eBay.

There was one that was similar but newer. It was the Vector 985.

What do you guys recommend? Right now I'm aiming for either the same Vector my dad has or the Vector 985.

Thanks guys.

escort passport 8500. i've had mine in every car i've owned since i was 16. the only radar detector that beat it in recent detector tests was the $400 Valentine. it's a little above your spending range if you pay MSRP(i got mine for $285 at Best Buy) but i think it's totally worth it. it's paid for itself a hundred times over with all the tickets it's helped me avoid.

Yeah passport is good. I may upgrade to one of those soon. You could probably find one lurking around ebay somewhere for that price. Beltronics are good products for those on a budget. I've had my Beltronics one for over 5 years. This old model wouldn't be useful in the city, but still gets the job done in small towns so i'm happy. Whatever you do, don't buy a Cobra.

Escort Passport is good just don't trust any of these things 100% cops are getting too tricky these days..

The best way to avoid tickets is to not speed.



















;)

The best way to avoid tickets is to not speed.



















;)
True. Bear in mind that a detector isn't your "savior" from tickets or an excuse to speed every moment on the road. They're a tool to inform you of cops that are currently using their radar equipment and inform you how they use their radar equipment in traffic/on patrol. Especially in smaller towns, they're nice for finding those "trap" spots and blind areas cops like to use every now and then. If you're gonna speed, speed responsibly.

Escort passport has been proven many times to be the best radar detector on the market. Some of the Cobras are not bad either. I have an upper level cobra and it has served me very well thus far. No regrets buying it. Just don't get a shitty 9 band.

True. Bear in mind that a detector isn't your "savior" from tickets or an excuse to speed every moment on the road. They're a tool to inform you of cops that are currently using their radar equipment and inform you how they use their radar equipment in traffic/on patrol. Especially in smaller towns, they're nice for finding those "trap" spots and blind areas cops like to use every now and then. If you're gonna speed, speed responsibly.


Yea. I understand. I've mainly been driving without a radar detector.

I never speed on town or local roads. The max I do is 5-7 over and thats it.

The highway is where I go faster. I usually go 80 in the 65 zones. Sometimes I do a little bit more than that, but that's mainly on longer trips like to the shore. I'm not one of those drivers who weave in and out like crazy cutting people off and ride on their tail the whole time.


I do weave...but I always give notice before I change lanes.

I do a lot of highway driving and its for those times in which I need one, especially when I go down to the shore often.

Beltronics is the best bang-for-your-buck and they sit right in your budget. Nearly as good as the $300+ brands.

I'd only trust a Passport. But police radar is getting more sophisticated. The guy I listen to on the radio said he has a detector and was cruising along the highway in chicago when out of nowhere his radar went crazy and sure enough there was a cop up the road flagging him down. Radar didn't go off untill it was too late. I don't know what kind of detector he has but I assume its top end since he makes $2mil a year and drives a Cayenne Turbo.

Probably a Valentine. That and the passport are at the top and they've been around for a while already, which isn't good for beating what the police has. However, the Valentine One can be upgraded in an attempt to keep up with new technology. Dunno if any of the Escort models can do that.

Probably a Valentine. That and the passport are at the top and they've been around for a while already, which isn't good for beating what the police has. However, the Valentine One can be upgraded in an attempt to keep up with new technology. Dunno if any of the Escort models can do that.
both companies claim to be upgradable but i've never seen either actually put out an upgrade. my escort 8500 claims to be upgradable but they just put out a new version of it called the X50 and there's nothing that'll let me upgrade mine to that version. you gotta figure who's gonna buy a brand new detector if they can buy an old one and just upgrade it.

...The guy I listen to on the radio said he has a detector and was cruising along the highway in chicago when out of nowhere his radar went crazy and sure enough there was a cop up the road flagging him down. Radar didn't go off untill it was too late....
It was either POP radar (http://www.007radardetectors.com/pop_radar.htm) or laser. Either way, for the most part your detector will only warn you when you’ve already been tagged.

RoundHead: For your price range either get a new passport 8500 or a used Valentine-1.

Hay what do you know, 500th post!:smokin:

It was either POP radar (http://www.007radardetectors.com/pop_radar.htm) or laser. Either way, for the most part your detector will only warn you when you’ve already been tagged.

RoundHead: For your price range either get a new passport 8500 or a used Valentine-1.

Hay what do you know, 500th post!:smokin:

Laser yes, it will just generally let you know that you have been clocked. As for radar I beg to differ. Mine has caught speedtraps numerous times and just random cops coming up on me where I was able to slow down before being clocked. Even with the cops' pop-radar you will still generally detect before it gets to you because you radar detector will be able to detect other people a ways ahead of you that the radar has come one for.

Good point that I didn't think about. Traffic or vehicles in front of you does help.

EDIT: I am looking to replace my radar detector in a few days and I found a couple links that may be helpful for the future.

http://www.007radardetectors.com/tests.htm

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

I think i'm gonna go with that Bell instead of the Escort as it is very close to the Escort in overall performance.