Radar detectors! Yes or NO?

**Jibber** · 02-14-2010, 11:01 AM

Looking for opinions feedback on radar detectors. Some folks say waste of money others say they are saviors. Where do you guys weigh in? I was looking at either the Passport 8500 or Valentine which seem to be tops in what I have found out online about them. Thoughts?

**SmokinStang** · 02-14-2010, 11:58 AM

:sHa_thumbsup3:I run then in every vehicle I own!! Safe to say......I never leave home without it!:sHa_thumbsup3:

Beltronics - STi Driver.........for the Machines:burnout2 smiley:

Beltronics - RX65.......for the general use cars
SmokinStang

**Mustang5L5** · 02-14-2010, 12:23 PM

I've never had one and never needed it. Most often times i've been pulled over have been situtations where a cop wasn't running radar, but me doing something stupid past one in traffic or out on the road where a detector wouldn't have helped

If anything i would think if you do get pulled over and have a detector on the dash, you are more likely to get a ticket as it would imply you like to speed and don't want to get caught

**jmac72187** · 02-14-2010, 12:41 PM

I don't really do anything that is going to get me pulled over.

I tend to drive around 5-10MPH over the speed limit and never faster.

If I were one to speed, I would have a Valentine One system installed but it just isn't necessary for me.

**LILBLKSNAKE** · 02-14-2010, 08:07 PM

I have the Passport 9500i hardwired into my COBRA, the new 9500iX can be hooked to the computer to download a database of speedtraps. They offered me an upgrade which I plan on doing soon!!

**chachee52** · 02-14-2010, 08:25 PM

I've never had one, but have heard that most police are running laser guns now. So if you get lasered and the detector goes off, you are already caught. Just what I've heard, don't know how many actually use lasers but if its a majority I think that it's a waist of money.
Got pulled over the other day, before the cop had a chance to say "hi" I told him that he caught me and that I was sorry. He just asked for my license and looked at it and told me to slow down and I was gone within 2 min.

**hurtin_monky** · 02-14-2010, 10:06 PM

one word...SAVIOR

**TorchRedSVT** · 02-15-2010, 08:36 AM

I have always thought about owning one.....but I dated a cop's daughter once and he showed me how the new LIDAR systems can pretty much defeat most of the stuff out there today.

That's not saying its not a good idea......but I don't really drive that agressively all the time to warrant one.

**SVT10th** · 02-15-2010, 08:54 AM

I've had radar detectors in my cars for 20+ years. And honestly, they've saved me a couple of times. But you can't be stupid -- they won't save you if you're just simply not paying attention. I've gotten tickets even with the radar detector.

Today, though -- the game has changed because of Laser. If laser tags you, you are caught. No ifs, ands or buts. The whole point of laser detection is to detect the laser beam either:
1) when it backscatters off of a car in front of you. or
2) When the cop triggers at you -- but too far away for a good reading.

For the second option, I've read that you can get this coating(Veil) and hit your headlights and license plate with it and it will reduce the accurate read distance by quite a bit. It only gives you time to react. If the cop is smart and waits for you to get into very close range before tagging you, you're done no matter what.