Escort vs. Valentine

[Bill Howell]

It has been a while since I bought a new radar detector. Not that I would speed or anything, but with the Power Tour coming up, I thought it would be nice to have one so I could be ready and take pictures of the nice cops as we pass them on the interstate.
Anyway, I see Escort has a new passport (9500i I think) and I just wonder which is the better unit. Maybe there is something else out there I don't know about also. Any suggestions?

[72NovaSS]

Valentine 1 Radar/Laser Detector

[CraigMorrison]

Valentine1!!!!!!!!!

It's the #1 detector of choice for all the rally guys, and was the detector used on the recent NY to LA record run of 31h59m. The 9500i in theory has a lot of great ideas with it, but they aren't cutting the mustard. Running I5 when we tested the 3G Vette, we were catching smokies at up to 3.8 miles away. No BS and with cruise set at 72 (truck with trailer PSL is 55) it came in very handy.

Great website for you to reference is this one http://www.radardetector.net/ lots of great info on radar detectors, scanners, CB's, police frequencies, Laser Jammers, Laser Veil, Navalert.

http://guysoflidar.com/ another great site and they do a lot of great tech tests so you can see head to head what and how things perform.

Hope this helps. The Valentine1 is the first RD that I have ever bought and in the two months I've had it, it has paid for itself!

[72NovaSS]

haha craig you are a crazy mo fo!

[Bill Howell]

Thanks guys, I will order one tonight so I have it in plenty time for the PT. I appreciate the quick response.

[72NovaSS]

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/columns/w...ors-141101.php

This is a good read on experience with the V1 by Alex Roy from Team Polizei 144. He has used it in the Gumball 300 and Bullrun with great success!

I have used it as well. I really like it and would suggest it to anyone needing a really good radar/laser detector

[72NovaSS]

Anything to help someone get out of a ticket haha.

[CraigMorrison]

haha craig you are a crazy mo fo!

Crazy mo fo? Just an average citizen with an interest in "automotive electronics"

[bigvegan]

Take a look at Bel as well. The Bel RX65 or STI, the Valentine One, or the Passport8500/9500 are all going to be a pretty solid choice.

http://www.007radardetectors.com/tests.htm
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=9090
http://www.radarbusters.com/belescor...inearticle.cfm

Valentine One originally got a lot of cachet because they sold through direct advertising and weren't sold in stores and were the first top-notch radar detector, but since Escort merged with Beltronics, they're putting out some pretty formidable product. The 3 companies are all putting out good stuff these days, so it's not like one is head and shoulders above the others anymore.

The Beltronics STI was designed for professional/commercial drivers to be completely undetectable to radar-detector-detectors, so if you're going to be driving through VA or CT, that may be a consideration.

Good luck!

[72NovaSS]

haha i like the picture craig.

[jimhamptons]

Another vote for the Valentine

[PT Goat]

V1 - the optional concealed display and directional arrows put it over the top.

[Goatman]

I have and love the Escort. Way better price than the Valentine, and it works just as well...


Its paid for itself 10 times over now...

[KWIKND]

Valentines are for chicks!

Escort all the way

[JChristian1835]

Hey Bill.. i have to say the new Escort is the shiznizzle... supposedly it has GPS where you usually when you pass a walgreens or something and set it off you can put that spot in memory and it won't go off there anymore... there are so many features on it.. plus if you ever wanted.. I know where you could get one for a nice discount and still have all the warranties and stuff....

[silver69camaro]

Valentine all the way! I'll never use anything else...mine's about 7 years old and is still better than every new unit I've looked at. I keep wondering if anybody has anything new (say, like the GPS unit), but the V1 still is king.

[StRacerDuke]

Learn from the pro's
http://gumball144.com/CMS/?page_id=8

I personaly have been using an Escort for the last 10+ years with great sucess. The Valentine wasn't even out yet when I picked my Escort up though :/ The next one will be a Valentine & a Laser jammer built into the grill.

[Josh69]

Valentine One!

I've had mine for about 10 years, and it's still works as well as the day I bought it.

Another advantage to the Valentines, is that you can keep sending it in for the upgraded software, etc. The magnesium case is a nice feature, it'll handle some abuse, and it certainly handles the heat in my car during the summer!

Between the remote display, the directional arrows, and just the slick layout with the strength meter, bogey counter, band frequency, etc. all displayed at the same time, it just gives you all the info you need to make a good decision.

FWIW, Mike Valentine started Cincinnati Microwave (Escort and Passport), and left them in the dust. Go with the innovator, not the duplicator. ;)

[TEDDYS CAMARO]

I Have Had A V-1 Since They Came Out, And I Love It!

[BonzoHansen]

Valentine1!!!!!!!!!

I'm not even reading this thread. I agree, great unit. I don't use it too much now my commute is 10 minutes, but when I was 45 minutes if interstate commuting, it was awesome.. The range, the directional arrows, great. And mine is 10 years old. The rear arrow light went out, I hear they might have a trade-in program. If so, I might...


Biggest downside: it's size. And spring for the 'concealed display'. The lights are very bright (as in the cop behind you can see it from 250 yards).