Anyone know any good brand radar detectors?

LazyRyan · 03-01-2008, 01:04 AM

anyone? been wanting to install one in my taco for some time now, but im a little to skeptical on radar detectors for cars. this purchase will save me a lot on speeding tickets.! ive heard escort was a good brand. any thoughts?

Jake · 03-01-2008, 05:23 AM

I own the Passport 9500i and won't leave home without it. A bit expensive, butt... if you drive alot of miles it's a good investment! The built in GPS feature is new this year. read up on this one if you want the best! http://www.escortradar.com/9500i.htm

Roland · 03-01-2008, 05:57 AM

I've used a bunch over the years. Escort, Uniden, Beltronics. They're all about the same in performance for whatever price you want to spend. But I've given up on radar detectors because they arn't much protection against speeding tickets if there's active enforcement in place. It's also hard to talk your way out of a ticket if they notice a detector because if you have one you've obviously planned in advance to ignore the law.

Around here the police use highly directional laser speed guns. They sight on the victim, squeeze the trigger and read the potential cash collection amount. The gun fires a tight beam for such a short time you'd have to be very lucky to know it's being used nearby. Usually the alarm goes off just a millisecond before the cop has your speed.

The coolest one I've run across was speed enforced by aircraft. They painted lines on the side of the highway and determined your speed by timing you from mark to mark. Then you get pulled over down the road by a trooper who has your speed over a distance before he even sees you. Just try telling him you were only passing that little old lady in the blue civic when he knows you were doing 90+ for at least the last couple miles.

Mudbug · 03-01-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland

I've used a bunch over the years. Escort, Uniden, Beltronics. They're all about the same in performance for whatever price you want to spend. But I've given up on radar detectors because they arn't much protection against speeding tickets if there's active enforcement in place. It's also hard to talk your way out of a ticket if they notice a detector because if you have one you've obviously planned in advance to ignore the law.

Around here the police use highly directional laser speed guns. They sight on the victim, squeeze the trigger and read the potential cash collection amount. The gun fires a tight beam for such a short time you'd have to be very lucky to know it's being used nearby. Usually the alarm goes off just a millisecond before the cop has your speed.

The coolest one I've run across was speed enforced by aircraft. They painted lines on the side of the highway and determined your speed by timing you from mark to mark. Then you get pulled over down the road by a trooper who has your speed over a distance before he even sees you. Just try telling him you were only passing that little old lady in the blue civic when he knows you were doing 90+ for at least the last couple miles.

Laser jammers are legal in texas. I've been wanting to install one for a while but just havn't wanted to spend the money lol....probalby would have just about paid for itself by now anyways haha. oh and unless you are walking aroudn the front of teh vehicle purposely looking for the jammer you wouldnt notice it.

08beachtoy · 03-01-2008, 06:19 AM

the passport 8500 X 50 or the new 9500 I hands down the best one out there I still have the 8500 X50 coupled with a Phaser II Jammer and have no trouble .If your gonna spend the money on a new one might as well get the 9500 its like $450 +

airsoft_warrior · 03-01-2008, 05:19 PM

I just got a cheap Cobra. Suits my needs. Get some false alarms occasionally but has saved my butt a bunch of times too. And the Laser detection are pointless. As soon as a laser is detected it already has your speed. So the only benefit is that you know you will be pulled over before you even see the cop. My cobra cost me $20 bucks. My brothers was like $60. Not the greatest but they serve the purpose and didn't cost too much.

WilsonTheDog · 03-01-2008, 06:45 PM

Valentine 1

Nitro_rc · 03-01-2008, 07:04 PM

Used Radio Shack, Whistler, Uniden, Cobra, Bel, and Escort.

Escort 8500 - Best one I ever own (want to get the 9500 but this thing won't die on me)
Cobra - Sucks (too much false alert)
Bel - Sucks (too much false alert)
Uniden - Sucks (melted by heat of sun light)
Whistler - Sucks still using it on my motorcycle (too much false alert and remote helmet led used too much batteries if you forget to turn it off)
Radio Shack - it was actually ok but the beeper no longer beep

WildcaTaco · 03-01-2008, 07:36 PM

Valentine 1 is imo the best detector on the market. I have yet to get a ticket (and I drive my truck like I stole it) with this, 98% of the time it gives me over 15 seconds of reaction time and the other 2% are when I was coming out of concrete tunnels and the like. I tried the passport but found it wasn't as accurate but these are all biased so just go with what works for you but any upper end model should work.

robrjohnson · 03-02-2008, 12:39 AM

This is a good site for radar detectors and reviews:
http://www.radarbusters.com/

LazyRyan · 03-02-2008, 12:55 AM

ok so i have the general idea of what i want now from your guy's input. but ive heard that some cops have detectors that dectect cars equiped with detectors! *sounds funny. are one of those detectors you guys mentioned immune or resistant to detection?

thanks for the website rob, its everything i was lookin for!

danusa · 03-02-2008, 03:05 AM

Just do not do over ten over and have a joke for the cop.
If you make a traffic cop laugh they have to let you slde.
Believe me after working some TA`s a laugh is what you need.
This is my rule.

Dutch · 03-02-2008, 06:19 AM

Escort 9500i wins here as well.

TheMaster · 03-02-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitro_rc

Escort 8500 - Best one I ever own

Ditto

08beachtoy · 03-02-2008, 07:06 AM

the passport/escort models have whats called VG2 I believe it does make it so the police cant tell ya have it however they can still clock your speed and they could certainly see your radar detector hanging on your windshield . I have owned a detector pretty much since the day I started driving I have to say they are not fool proof you still have to pay attention the police can hide and instant on ya and they do try this trick often knowing so many people have radar detectors . I got a ticket last summer because I didnt /wasnt paying attention to the radar detector it was going crazy beeping in an area that it can be prone to do so "false signal spot" I then noticed a cop in the median pointing me to the shoulder he got me 83 in a 55 luckily he dropped it to 74 in a 55 cut me a break . If I had the new 9500 I instead of my 8500x50 I could have marked the fake signal spot there and then I would have paid attention to the radar detector however I didnt own the 9500 and got the ticket . Hope this help if I were you I'd buy the 9500 I from escort

WilsonTheDog · 03-02-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazyRyan

ok so i have the general idea of what i want now from your guy's input. but ive heard that some cops have detectors that dectect cars equiped with detectors! *sounds funny. are one of those detectors you guys mentioned immune or resistant to detection?

That's VG-2. Pretty much every detector has this tech now.

As dan said, the best way is to not go 10+ mph over the limit. I used to have detectors but then I learned the hard way that they aren't infallible. As mentioned above, one laser and you're done.

danusa · 03-02-2008, 09:16 AM

I do not write cites much anymore. But I see plenty of violations.
You could spend a whole shift writing instead of patroling.
Which is not what I want my officers to do.

danusa · 03-02-2008, 09:21 AM

I see plenty of violiations. You don`t have to lie in wait.
And I want road patrol to patrol.
Our spedos are calibrateted.
I don`t need no stinking radar,

WilsonTheDog · 03-02-2008, 02:31 PM

I don't know, maybe I'm getting old but I just don't see the need to go 10+ mph over the limit. I guess I could see if you're out in the desert or something but I don't know.

piercedtiger · 03-02-2008, 02:58 PM

I have had a few tickets. All with a radar detector. Most of the time it never even went off. I've been running without one for 3-4 years now without changing my driving habits. I've been pulled over once during that time, and he let me go. I was looking around trying to find a store and missed the drop from 45 to 30. I was still doing 46, and a cop just happening to be going the other way at the same time. He understood that the drop was easy to miss and just gave me a warning. First cool cop I've run into. Even told me the DMV around the corner has short lines so I could change my address quickly.

03-01-2008, 01:04 AM	#1
LazyRyan Member Joined: Dec 2007, #4010 Posts: 71 08 DblCab PreRunner SR5 V6 AT-5speed TRD Sport+ SC 2008 Double Cab Automatic	Anyone know any good brand radar detectors? anyone? been wanting to install one in my taco for some time now, but im a little to skeptical on radar detectors for cars. this purchase will save me a lot on speeding tickets.! ive heard escort was a good brand. any thoughts?

03-01-2008, 05:57 AM	#3
Roland My other ride has sails Joined: Jan 2008, #4149 Location: Rhode Island Age: 45 Gender: Male Posts: 2,206 06 Impulse Red I4 2WD Access Cab 2006 Access Cab Manual 2.7 UnderCover Tonneau, Bed mat, Bug Deflector, aFe Pro Dry S, Secondary Air Filter removed, Synthetic 5W-30 oil, Scanguage II with blendmount, WeatherTech floorliners, Toyota seat covers, Installed OEM intermittent wipers, TacomaWorld sticker, Defrost without AC mod, Hidden Hitch	I've used a bunch over the years. Escort, Uniden, Beltronics. They're all about the same in performance for whatever price you want to spend. But I've given up on radar detectors because they arn't much protection against speeding tickets if there's active enforcement in place. It's also hard to talk your way out of a ticket if they notice a detector because if you have one you've obviously planned in advance to ignore the law. Around here the police use highly directional laser speed guns. They sight on the victim, squeeze the trigger and read the potential cash collection amount. The gun fires a tight beam for such a short time you'd have to be very lucky to know it's being used nearby. Usually the alarm goes off just a millisecond before the cop has your speed. The coolest one I've run across was speed enforced by aircraft. They painted lines on the side of the highway and determined your speed by timing you from mark to mark. Then you get pulled over down the road by a trooper who has your speed over a distance before he even sees you. Just try telling him you were only passing that little old lady in the blue civic when he knows you were doing 90+ for at least the last couple miles. __________________ "Life's journeys End is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy shit what a ride!"

03-01-2008, 05:19 PM	#6
airsoft_warrior POONBAG Joined: Feb 2008, #4861 Location: West River, MD Age: 21 Posts: 126 2008 4.0L V6 TRD Rugged Off-Road 2008 Double Cab Automatic 4.0L V6 Smoked Tail lights, Secondary Air filter removed, Super 40 Flowmaster Muffler, Drop in AFE filter	I just got a cheap Cobra. Suits my needs. Get some false alarms occasionally but has saved my butt a bunch of times too. And the Laser detection are pointless. As soon as a laser is detected it already has your speed. So the only benefit is that you know you will be pulled over before you even see the cop. My cobra cost me $20 bucks. My brothers was like $60. Not the greatest but they serve the purpose and didn't cost too much. __________________ ~Zack~ 2008 Rugged Off-Road Tacoma 4.0L V6 TRD 4X4 Black everything.TRD Floor mats, Toyota powder finish black rugged rims, Smoked tail lights, 20% Tint. AFE drop in Pro S series, Flowmaster super 40 Muffler, Secondary air filter removed.

03-02-2008, 12:39 AM	#10
robrjohnson There's an evil monkey in my truck Joined: Aug 2007, #2352 Location: San Diego, CA Age: 46 Gender: Male Posts: 1,514 07 4x4 DC SR5 TRD Off-road 2007 Double Cab Manual 4.0L V6 Westin Bed Extender, Bakflip G2, Weathertech front & rear mats, rear suspension TSB, Hi-Lift Jack, Bilstein 5100 & coilovers, Light Racing UCA, KMC XD 795 Hoss Wheels, Definity Dakota MTs 285/75R16	This is a good site for radar detectors and reviews: http://www.radarbusters.com/ __________________ Your Hybrid is my carbon offset. Fairness is a concept that was invented so that children and idiots could participate in arguments - Scott Adams My Photo Album

03-02-2008, 02:58 PM	#20
piercedtiger Northern Alliance: Mod Guru Joined: Oct 2007, #3284 Location: Newark Valley, NY Age: 28 Gender: Male Posts: 3,779 06 TRD OR DC SB 6SPD 2006 Double Cab Manual 4.0 V6 Bestop canopy, hood struts, relocated 7-pin, 3" Toytec spacer/AAL, 285/75 16 Kumho Roadventure ATs, Hi-Lift mounted in bed, BHLM, fog light mod, turn signal mod, locker mod, driver seat mag light mount, step bars, reinforced tailgate, ABS kill switch, black grill surround, bed lights, rock lights...	I have had a few tickets. All with a radar detector. Most of the time it never even went off. I've been running without one for 3-4 years now without changing my driving habits. I've been pulled over once during that time, and he let me go. I was looking around trying to find a store and missed the drop from 45 to 30. I was still doing 46, and a cop just happening to be going the other way at the same time. He understood that the drop was easy to miss and just gave me a warning. First cool cop I've run into. Even told me the DMV around the corner has short lines so I could change my address quickly. __________________ Like when daddy plays with mommy on her "woman week", I've caught you red handed. Cheap/free mods - Tacoma World Forums

03-01-2008, 05:23 AM	#2
Jake Junior Member Joined: Jan 2008, #4410 Posts: 23 2007 Access Cab - Silver 2007 Access Cab Automatic v6 Bed D-Rings, Speaker Upgrade using TacoTunes Kit, Hitch w/ wire kit, Suspension TRB, More mods in process...	I own the Passport 9500i and won't leave home without it. A bit expensive, butt... if you drive alot of miles it's a good investment! The built in GPS feature is new this year. read up on this one if you want the best! http://www.escortradar.com/9500i.htm

03-01-2008, 06:19 AM	#5
08beachtoy Member Joined: Feb 2008, #4881 Location: 10 miles north of Ocean City Maryland " Bethany Beach ,DE " Posts: 56 08' reg cab 4x4 2.7ltr 5 spd 2008 Regular Cab Manual opted for the 2.7 and it seems very sufficient "especially at the pumps" Sony cd player /ipod , small amp, bed mat from Dee Zee , A.R.E. custom cap with yakima racks, weather gaurd floor mats , oem fog lights ,oem DRL mod, class III hitch , bed mounted power inverter, tinted windows 5 % all around, oem hood protector /bugshield , avs door visors ,wet okole seat covers	the passport 8500 X 50 or the new 9500 I hands down the best one out there I still have the 8500 X50 coupled with a Phaser II Jammer and have no trouble .If your gonna spend the money on a new one might as well get the 9500 its like $450 +

03-01-2008, 06:45 PM	#7
WilsonTheDog has a large weenus Joined: Nov 2007, #3496 Location: Murrells Inlet SC Gender: Male Posts: 1,697 07 Prerunner SR5 DC/SB V6 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6 Magnaflow 12576 muffler & chrome tip, Westin step bars, Firestone Destination A/T 265/75/16, stubbie antenna, 27% tint, Pop N Lock, Valeo Ultimate wipers, AFE filter, bed mat, Husky liners, D-rings added	Valentine 1

03-01-2008, 07:04 PM	#8
Nitro_rc Junior Member Joined: May 2007, #1629 Posts: 26 07 DoubleCab TRD Sport 4X4 2007 Double Cab Automatic v6	Used Radio Shack, Whistler, Uniden, Cobra, Bel, and Escort. Escort 8500 - Best one I ever own (want to get the 9500 but this thing won't die on me) Cobra - Sucks (too much false alert) Bel - Sucks (too much false alert) Uniden - Sucks (melted by heat of sun light) Whistler - Sucks still using it on my motorcycle (too much false alert and remote helmet led used too much batteries if you forget to turn it off) Radio Shack - it was actually ok but the beeper no longer beep

03-01-2008, 07:36 PM	#9
WildcaTaco Member Joined: Sep 2007, #2746 Posts: 91 06 Access Cab V6 TRD Off-Road PreRunner 2006 Access Cab Manual Removed Secondary Air Filter	Valentine 1 is imo the best detector on the market. I have yet to get a ticket (and I drive my truck like I stole it) with this, 98% of the time it gives me over 15 seconds of reaction time and the other 2% are when I was coming out of concrete tunnels and the like. I tried the passport but found it wasn't as accurate but these are all biased so just go with what works for you but any upper end model should work.

03-02-2008, 12:55 AM	#11
LazyRyan Member Joined: Dec 2007, #4010 Posts: 71 08 DblCab PreRunner SR5 V6 AT-5speed TRD Sport+ SC 2008 Double Cab Automatic	ok so i have the general idea of what i want now from your guy's input. but ive heard that some cops have detectors that dectect cars equiped with detectors! *sounds funny. are one of those detectors you guys mentioned immune or resistant to detection? thanks for the website rob, its everything i was lookin for!

03-02-2008, 03:05 AM	#12
danusa Banned Joined: Sep 2007, #2637 Posts: 831	Just do not do over ten over and have a joke for the cop. If you make a traffic cop laugh they have to let you slde. Believe me after working some TA`s a laugh is what you need. This is my rule.

03-02-2008, 06:19 AM	#13
Dutch Senior Member Joined: Feb 2008, #4609 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 137 07 4x4 Taco 2007 Access Cab Manual 4.0L TRD S/C, TRD CAI, Rebored with custom pistons, rings, and cam, Doug Thorley Long Tube Headers, TRD Cat-back Exhaust, Donahoe front and rear, 16x8 MotoMetal 950's, 285/75 R16 AT's, TRD Quick Shifter, Bull Bar with PIAA 520 lights, Corbeau Racing Seats with RCI 5 point harnesses, Procomp Traction & He	Escort 9500i wins here as well.

03-02-2008, 07:06 AM	#15
08beachtoy Member Joined: Feb 2008, #4881 Location: 10 miles north of Ocean City Maryland " Bethany Beach ,DE " Posts: 56 08' reg cab 4x4 2.7ltr 5 spd 2008 Regular Cab Manual opted for the 2.7 and it seems very sufficient "especially at the pumps" Sony cd player /ipod , small amp, bed mat from Dee Zee , A.R.E. custom cap with yakima racks, weather gaurd floor mats , oem fog lights ,oem DRL mod, class III hitch , bed mounted power inverter, tinted windows 5 % all around, oem hood protector /bugshield , avs door visors ,wet okole seat covers	the passport/escort models have whats called VG2 I believe it does make it so the police cant tell ya have it however they can still clock your speed and they could certainly see your radar detector hanging on your windshield . I have owned a detector pretty much since the day I started driving I have to say they are not fool proof you still have to pay attention the police can hide and instant on ya and they do try this trick often knowing so many people have radar detectors . I got a ticket last summer because I didnt /wasnt paying attention to the radar detector it was going crazy beeping in an area that it can be prone to do so "false signal spot" I then noticed a cop in the median pointing me to the shoulder he got me 83 in a 55 luckily he dropped it to 74 in a 55 cut me a break . If I had the new 9500 I instead of my 8500x50 I could have marked the fake signal spot there and then I would have paid attention to the radar detector however I didnt own the 9500 and got the ticket . Hope this help if I were you I'd buy the 9500 I from escort

03-02-2008, 09:16 AM	#17
danusa Banned Joined: Sep 2007, #2637 Posts: 831	I do not write cites much anymore. But I see plenty of violations. You could spend a whole shift writing instead of patroling. Which is not what I want my officers to do.

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03-02-2008, 09:21 AM	#18
danusa Banned Joined: Sep 2007, #2637 Posts: 831	I see plenty of violiations. You don`t have to lie in wait. And I want road patrol to patrol. Our spedos are calibrateted. I don`t need no stinking radar,

03-02-2008, 02:31 PM	#19
WilsonTheDog has a large weenus Joined: Nov 2007, #3496 Location: Murrells Inlet SC Gender: Male Posts: 1,697 07 Prerunner SR5 DC/SB V6 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6 Magnaflow 12576 muffler & chrome tip, Westin step bars, Firestone Destination A/T 265/75/16, stubbie antenna, 27% tint, Pop N Lock, Valeo Ultimate wipers, AFE filter, bed mat, Husky liners, D-rings added	I don't know, maybe I'm getting old but I just don't see the need to go 10+ mph over the limit. I guess I could see if you're out in the desert or something but I don't know.