Favorite radar detector? looking to buy the Valentine V1

[KyleR]

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere, but I can't find it. Whats your favorite radar detector? Why? I'm looking at getting the Valentine V1 soon and want your opinion on it/your favorite radar detector. I would be buying it used, most likely from someone on the ***** forums or ebay. From what I have read, I should expect to pay around $200-350 with the detector, suction cup mount, and cigarette outlet power cord? Thanks for the input and sorry for a possible repost.....

Here is what I was looking at.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Valentin ... 500wt_1182

[BusyBadger]

I run a V1 in my car daily. Been happy with it. Get the serial number from the buyer and check it on Valentine's website to check two things:

1) It's not stolen
2) What version of the firmware that it's running

If it's running pretty old firmware the price you pay for the unit plus the upgrade from Valentine might actually be more than a brand new unit. Only times I recommend people buy something other than the V1 is if they are in VA or DC and need to run a stealthy detector (Bel STi or Escort Redline) or if they need good over the hill and off axis detection (Escort Redline). I'm considering picking up a Redline as a backup so I don't run "unprotected" when I am in VA.

And those really aren't "extras" as he's stating in the FeeBay ad...the windshield mount and power cable come standard with the V1. As a matter of fact I'd ask him why he didn't have the direct wire cord, visor mount, spare fuse and spare suction cups in there. Or at least ask him to reduce the price since you'd have to buy those from the Valentine site if you wanted them.

[Z-owned]

The v1 is the only other portable unit I would run besides the passport 9500i.

[BusyBadger]

The v1 is the only other portable unit I would run besides the passport 9500i.

Until Escort fixes their inability to detect quick trigger I won't run anything other than the V1*. I'm picking up on it more and more, and I've heard a couple of LEOs that I know admit to using it instead of IO to get a target's speed before going full blast. Search on YouTube, there are plenty of vids available. I'll pick through them and post some good ones up later. There are also a couple of vids out there of the 9500i locking out an actual threat...be careful when you use TrueLock.

*Like I said earlier, I'll eventually run a stealthy detector when I'm in Virgina since detectors are illegal there (damned Communistwealth) and many of the state cruisers are running RDDs (radar detector detectors). That's also the only option for most of our snowy northern neighbors in Canada. Most places are moving towards laser anyway - radar is dying out. Laser jamming is where the future of the speeders vs LEOs arms race is.