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View Poll Results: Do you use a radar detector in your car?
Yes, I use a radar detector 25 46.30%
No, I don't use a radar detector 29 53.70%
Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll

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      06-08-2007, 09:20 AM   #1
soeharyo
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Radar detectors

Hey does anyone in this forum use them?

I personally use Escort Passport 8500 x50 (blue)

For those that do have radar detectors, do they help or just bring more troubles with the cops? Do they help or just give you a false sense of security?
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      06-08-2007, 09:22 AM   #2
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They're illegal here.
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      06-08-2007, 09:44 AM   #3
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Yes, I use a Valentine 1. No problem with the popo in my area.
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      06-08-2007, 09:47 AM   #4
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i think i need one, lots of radars in my town

but they are expensive here, about 700$
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      06-08-2007, 09:50 AM   #5
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It definately helps on longer trips. IMHO on short runs it's a PITA.

That being said, I normally travel no more than 15 MPH over the limit on interstates and major roadways with the unit on. Never over speed limit in neighborhoods, etc.

I use a Beltronics Vector 995 which is "OK" but tends to have lots of false alarms.

Next unit will be a Valentine.
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      06-08-2007, 10:21 AM   #6
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I had one for awhile in a 5 series but the false alarms drove me nuts. I don't think I'd buy another. The roads where radar is habitually used around here aren't fun to drive fast anyway.
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      06-08-2007, 10:29 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TITANIU///M3 View Post
Yes, I use a Valentine 1. No problem with the popo in my area.
V1's are the only way to go..
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      06-08-2007, 10:37 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMW320i View Post
i think i need one, lots of radars in my town

but they are expensive here, about 700$
try http://www.speedsound.com/

I think they have one of the best prices in the market.
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      06-08-2007, 07:18 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by matsarge View Post
V1's are the only way to go..
Once you go V1, there's no turning back. I love how the arrows point you to the direction of the radar that is clocking you.
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      06-08-2007, 07:22 PM   #10
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Do any of you use radar detectors in states/provinces where they're illegal? Have you gotten caught?
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      06-08-2007, 07:31 PM   #11
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I don't use one...cuz...well...it's been years since I've been pulled over and I don't feel like dropping near 500 bones for one. I think active pursuit of smokeys with your eyes keeps you on your toes a lil bit better. If i used a detector I'd probably get lazy.
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      06-08-2007, 07:34 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dammmittt View Post
I don't use one...cuz...well...it's been years since I've been pulled over and I don't feel like dropping near 500 bones for one. I think active pursuit of smokeys with your eyes keeps you on your toes a lil bit better. If i used a detector I'd probably get lazy.
If I lived in the States, I'd probably have one. My recent experience with a motorcycle cop has convinced me! They are damned fast and really come out of nowhere! And I pride myself on checking my mirrors regularly, looking for these guys.
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      06-08-2007, 07:36 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TITANIU///M3 View Post
Once you go V1, there's no turning back. I love how the arrows point you to the direction of the radar that is clocking you.
No kidding. It's more than paid for itself already.
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      06-08-2007, 07:38 PM   #14
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I've been hearing about the Passport 9500 which has got the gps. Sounds ok for you guys who get a ton of false's, as it will remember that spot so it won't go off again. I've got the 8500 x50 blue, same as the op. I'm going to pair mine with the shifter x3 for laser jamming.
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      06-08-2007, 08:23 PM   #15
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I had a V1 years ago and swore by it as a means to keep my record clean and then stopped to think about the "why" and gave it up.

Once upon a time I took an attitude that almost any reasonable law enforcement individual would give me 9mph over the posted speed limit and not lift a finger. It worked for many years with no driving record infractions whatever. I started buying cars that made exceeding those parameters far too easy starting with a 2001 Audi S4 and you might be guessing the outcome already - my driving record was (ahem) less clean than before. I bought the V1 to make my life easier.

In my area there are still lots of local county sheriffs squad cars with olde fashioned X band radar that is on all the time while they drive around. That means you HAVE to leave the V1 set to it's most sensitive mode in order for it to be useful and therein lies the rub. That sucker will trip on almost every retail store door opener in town and you will live with the almost constant din of the system going into alarm mode while you are driving.

I finally came to the conclusion that driving with this in my car was actually less gratifying because I always had to take the attitude that if I heard anything at all, I had to slow down immediately or possibly face another ticket. I noted that it was a knee jerk affair with the radar detector alarm - the second you heard it you must react and that included all of the occasions when you were driving even at speeds that required no reaction at all.

I got tired of driving with a hair trigger on my dash and sold off the V1. I now enjoy driving far more than I ever did with that device on my dashboard and wouldn't even consider buying one again.

Do bear in mind that police officers view the very presence of this device on your windshield as evidence that you have INTENT to break the speed laws and as a result will not even consider a warning if they have pulled you over. They are looking for the suction cup marks on your windshield in case you yanked it off while pulling over and they did note it if they saw it before they turned on their lights. You may not like this line of thinking but there are law enforcement internet forums that are discussing this very topic and there are lots of participants that intend to enforce the exact letter of the law if they see you have the detector (or evidence of it) in your car.

I am back to my 9mph over the posted speed limit personal boundary and am now well over 3 years without a ticket and enjoying my drives a lot more without the screaming alarms from my dashboard.

BTW - I do typically get TONS of high speed driving time at my local track where no one cares the speeds I drive unless I am holding them up
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      06-08-2007, 08:27 PM   #16
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You know what...I wish I could run high speeds at some local tracks to get it out of my system...until then I just have to rely on the fact that cops in my area hide at the same spots...always

I hate keeping my ///M coupe from reaching it's full potential...it's SO sad...and I'll just have to keep it clean and perty to make up for it I guess...I just hope when I leave grad school the army sends me back to Europe
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      06-08-2007, 11:16 PM   #17
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I've always heard people speeding through the 'back roads'.. what do you mean by them...

and where do you guys 'speed' the most (most comforatble strech of roads)? other than the track of course.
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      06-08-2007, 11:27 PM   #18
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AlanL

I completely agree with what you said. Also I think radar detectors are pretty useless at least here in WA. I had one a couple of years ago and eventually sold it on ebay after getting 3 tickets while I had it. I was hit by instant-on laser all 3 times. My neighbor who has an E36 M3 swore by V1. One morning he got TWO speeding tickets on his way to work which is about 5 miles from his home. I've noticed that I no longer see his V1 detector attached to his windshield anymore.
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      06-08-2007, 11:27 PM   #19
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My current version of "speeding" consists of twisty mountain roads where there is a posted speed limit of 50 - 55 and lots of turns with yellow cautions for anywhere in the range of 20 - 45mph. In Washington the caution signs are not an enforcable limit so I play around with 59 - 64 right through all the turns and make sure I stay absolutely dead center between the yellow line and the fog line.

The turns are where all the fun is anyway so I just stay at 59 - 64 on the straight sections which is where the radar/laser traps will be entrenched....
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      06-08-2007, 11:32 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GP20 View Post
AlanL

I completely agree with what you said. Also I think radar detectors are pretty useless at least here in WA. I had one a couple of years ago and eventually sold it on ebay after getting 3 tickets while I had it. I was hit by instant-on laser all 3 times. My neighbor who has an E36 M3 swore by V1. One morning he got TWO speeding tickets on his way to work which is about 5 miles from his home. I've noticed that I no longer see his V1 detector attached to his windshield anymore.
Yup - when the V1 tells you about the laser hit all it has done is let you know it's time to start pulling over because you are already toast. Got my last ticket about 4 years ago that way and pulled over right in front of the cop with his gun before he even had time to get on his bike to come get me. He did just give me a warning even though I was 15mph over the limit, but that still puts a hit on your record that your insurance company will most certainly notice. Mine did of course.
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      06-09-2007, 12:28 AM   #21
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I have used them for years. Have not put one in the Z4 yet, but have them in the other cars. I think they discourage me from speeding. I hear the beep and it reminds me to slow down. But I also I think they are hit or miss.

Saved my azz many times I assure you, however you gotta make sure they are plugged in. Last ticket I got, (3 years ago, it was a 30 mph zone in town) the thing had come loose from the cig lighter socket and it never went off. Cost me money and 4 hours of my time to keep the points off.

When they pull you over and see the hardware the chances of gettin the warning are... well, less.

Last time I was pulled over, (about a 7 months ago) I came around a corner and he nailed me, I'm not sure if the gizmo went off or not, but I was real polite and the cop let me off w/warning.
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      06-09-2007, 12:32 AM   #22
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