So my friend works at Best Buy and he is able to get a considerable amount off of certain products sold at the store. Unfortunately Best Buy doesn't sell Valentine 1's, but they do sell the Escort Passport 8500. Is there any reason I shouldn't buy the Escort Passport. I've heard that Valentine 1 and Escort passport are the top two.

they're similar...just u get arrows with the valentine and pop is always on. u can't go wrong with either of them in my opinion. of course i'd get a valentine. BUT if you can get a deal for the 8500, then go for that.

imo, the valentine is better, with the pop function, ect., but at 400 dollars i think the best priced one is the way to go. just grab a escort for cheap.

they're similar...just u get arrows with the valentine and pop is always on.

POP can be turned off on the V1 if you aren't worried about it in your area.

Go here to learn how:

http://valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

You have to change option "J" to a down arrow which turns off POP because the arrow pointing up is the default setting which is POP on.

I had a passport and it worked just fine

i got the 8500, it works like a charm...

I have had the 8500 in for a while and am happy with it. The arrows on the V1 would be nice, but it was a matter of cost to me.

Install is here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359769

I don't know all the features of the V1, but the Passport Auto-mute and remote mute button are nice. I also like turning off X band and POP. I don't use the dimmer levels too often, but I do occasionaly.

Good luck! If you can get a discount off the Passport, you will be happy...I'm sure you can find somewhere else to put that money into the E36!

I heard that the V1 went off too often. I rode in a car with one, and it was constantly making noise around town, so i bought an escort (the solo s2) and i love it. Had it a year, and it is fantastic. The batteries last at least a month if you drive constantly.

If i were you, i would get the passport.

I've had a V1 for about 6 years now. Yes it does go off more often. You can adjust it for your own taste, but sometimes it gets annoying if you live in the city.

Here is the good news: I've been on the freeway so many times where I get the warning sometimes 5-10 seconds before any of my friends do, and 2 of them have 8500's. We aren't talking triple digit speeds though.

I was NOT impressed by the laser pickup. I have driven by many cops on the highway that were leaning out of their cars with the gun in their hands and my detector didn't go off. Maybe he wasn't hitting the trigger, but it made me a little uneasy.

I don't know if Passport does this, but Valentine will upgrade your unit if you send it back to them. I usually send it in once a year for a program update. That does cost money, but nowhere near the $400 original price tag.

The whole point behind that is that you buy a radar detector for life. It's kind of nice never having to worry about buying a new one.

I've had a V1 for about 6 years now. Yes it does go off more often. You can adjust it for your own taste, but sometimes it gets annoying if you live in the city.

Here is the good news: I've been on the freeway so many times where I get the warning sometimes 5-10 seconds before any of my friends do, and 2 of them have 8500's. We aren't talking triple digit speeds though.

I was NOT impressed by the laser pickup. I have driven by many cops on the highway that were leaning out of their cars with the gun in their hands and my detector didn't go off. Maybe he wasn't hitting the trigger, but it made me a little uneasy.

I don't know if Passport does this, but Valentine will upgrade your unit if you send it back to them. I usually send it in once a year for a program update. That does cost money, but nowhere near the $400 original price tag.

The whole point behind that is that you buy a radar detector for life. It's kind of nice never having to worry about buying a new one.

I dont think any radar detectors pick up lazer in an impressive way. You must be in the beam, or in the beams bounce path. The lazer eminates a narrow path that widens as it gets further away. If your not in that path, and its not bouncing perfectly off a car at your car, then your radar detector has no idea whats going on. I think thats something you gotta live with.

Buy the 8500 from Best Buy, sell it on ebay, then buy the V1.

I have the Passport 8500 X50 and I love it. Just saved me a couple times driving down to Baltimore last weekend.

FYI, every band on the V1 can individually be turned off or its sensitivity set.

i heard the 8500 is great and if its a heck of a lot cheaper i guess go w/ that. but you couldnt pry my V1 out of my cold dead hands. :) its pretty much my best friend :P my gf even calls him Valentino. bwahah wtf

the arrows are the big kicker. it really gives you the edge if you know where to look and how to interpret the signal strenth based on a location.

also my laser works really well. it even picks up cars w/ LED tail lights and red neon signs from really far away

ive had it for about 2 years (its a 1.9 w/ POP) and before that i had a 1.7 for a couple years and they saved my countless times. and by saved i mean i knew the cop was there, slowed down in time, guy near me got nabbed.

You could argue about these things all day long. There is nothing which would make the V1 insurmountable unless you feel you need the arrows. There have been many tests done. Some like the V1 best, some like the passport the best.

You could argue about these things all day long. There is nothing which would make the V1 insurmountable unless you feel you need the arrows. There have been many tests done. Some like the V1 best, some like the passport the best.

The Valentine One is the best radar/laser detector on the market today.

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/radartesting.html

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/pop.html

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/spectre.html

http://motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0508_2005radar_buyersguide/

"This year, the measurement of the radar and laser detection abilities of each of the over $200 units gives the Valentine One ($400) a small edge over the competing BEL Vector 995 ($260) and Escort Passport 8500 X50 ($300 with red display or $340 with a blue display) units."

V1 is the best in laser detection:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=4213&highlight=

V1 has the best rear radar detection because it is the only detector with 2 antennas to locate radar:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=4214&highlight=

V1 is the least detectable detector by RDD's or Radar Detector Detectors in states where radar detectors are illegal. The Spectre III is the most used RDD in the world and it can only pick up the Valentine One if it is 166 feet or closer which is better than the X50 which can be detected 954 feet away.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=4383&highlight=

The Valentine One which accounts for only .6% of radar detector sales wins every poll when it comes to being the favorite detector. The X50 doesn't even get an approval rating as high as George Bush's worst rating. :lol:

http://www.radardetector.net/The-Ultimate-Poll....-5523t.php

Which of the "Big 3" is really the best overall - in your opinion?
V-1
64% [ 45 ]

RX-65
12% [ 9 ]

X50
20% [ 14 ]

Other (state which and why)
2% [ 2 ]

Total Votes : 70

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?p=42353&highlight=#42353

Radar Roy from Radarbusters.com said this about the Valentine One, "Just spoke with Carl Fors from SML, his website will be going online tonight with the 2005 results. He has declared the V895, 8500 and the Valentine One as the top performers. Motortrend, who was also at the test, will be declaring the Valentine One as the top detector based upon its detection of laser.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=4696&start=90

Radar Roy said, "There were results that they (Guys of Lidar) got during the test that I was not exactly pleased with, such as the discovery of the Blinder not having Stealth Mode installed and the Valentine beating out the Escort and Bel in the range tests. Even though I don’t sell the Valentine, it does have slightly better range than both the RX65 and the 8500 and I also show this same fact on my site. Would love it to be the other way around."

Here is a link and video of the V1 alerting to radar quicker than the X50 and sometimes the X50 didn't alert to the radar at all. They are quick pulling the radar guns trigger and the X50 is filtering it out and the V1 is picking it up every time.

http://www.radardetector.net/V1-vs.-8500-X50-instant-on-shootout-865t.php

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wODUzNDk2NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D

V1 wins in POP detection:

http://media.putfile.com/JammerTestscom_tests_V1X50_POP

V1 wins because it detects laser gun in stealth mode while the X50 remains silent:

http://media.putfile.com/JammerTestscom_tests_V1_and_X50_stealth

Just go with the 8500.... I got about 100 bucks off because of my employee discount. Original price was $308 and i got it for about $200

Buy the 8500 from Best Buy, sell it on ebay, then buy the V1.

I like your thinking Sir.

But really the Escort 8500X50 is not at all that bad. If you can get a great deal on it then by all means buy it up. And I'm talking better that Ebay deals because those just flood Ebay now. (and I'll tell you why: Because everyone realizes that "Arrows" just are the way to go)

And yes when you first get it. It can get to be "annoying." All you gotta do is personalize it. Like hey, you really don't need X-band (where most bleeps come from) and if you don't fear the POP then hey go ahead and program it off.


POP can be turned off on the V1 if you aren't worried about it in your area.

Go here to learn how:

http://valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

You have to change option "J" to a down arrow which turns off POP because the arrow pointing up is the default setting which is POP on.

Buy the 8500 from Best Buy, sell it on ebay, then buy the V1. Now that is the best wisdom I've seen here all day.

Seriously, remember that a good price on the 8500 doesn't help you when you're being written up. Plus, likes others have said, it's a one-time investment.

I bought my V1 used off ebay for $310. It doesn't have the latest POP feature but if I ever needed it, I could upgrade for $60.

I'm constantly amazed at how sensitive the unit is (to Ka and K band radar, especially!) And the arrows tell me whether the cop is in approaching traffic or behind me. Something no other detector can do. It may be a minor point. But I already pay enough for insurance.

Buy the 8500 from Best Buy, sell it on ebay, then buy the V1.

Haha..I loke that one. You guys thank you for all the info. I have read from various sites...but I wanted to hear it from drivers with no special interests. Thanks

FYI, every band on the V1 can individually be turned off or its sensitivity set.

i heard the 8500 is great and if its a heck of a lot cheaper i guess go w/ that. but you couldnt pry my V1 out of my cold dead hands. :) its pretty much my best friend :P my gf even calls him Valentino. bwahah wtf

the arrows are the big kicker. it really gives you the edge if you know where to look and how to interpret the signal strenth based on a location.

also my laser works really well. it even picks up cars w/ LED tail lights and red neon signs from really far away

ive had it for about 2 years (its a 1.9 w/ POP) and before that i had a 1.7 for a couple years and they saved my countless times. and by saved i mean i knew the cop was there, slowed down in time, guy near me got nabbed.

Could you please elaborate a bit on the sensitivity adjustment/setting? I search all over the user's manual and cannot find such an adjustment? I would like to make my V1 less sensitive to X and K band...short of shutting them off. By the way, how can I turn off a band...like X band?

Could you please elaborate a bit on the sensitivity adjustment/setting? I search all over the user's manual and cannot find such an adjustment? I would like to make my V1 less sensitive to X and K band...short of shutting them off. By the way, how can I turn off a band...like X band?

Go here to change settings or turn off bands (X band) on your V1 because X band is only used in maybe 2 states (New Jersey, etc.)

http://valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

You have 3 modes on the V1: A, l, and L. The "l" and "L" mode will suppress the level at which X band sources are reported. According to Valentine Research, "l" and "L" only affect X band reporting but alot of people think it helps suppress K band radar alerts as well.

You can set option "5" on the V1 to make the lights and sound more responsive for Ka band alerts by lighting up maybe 3 more leds which will make the audio and visual alert seem more of a threat but this doesn't affect the sensitivity of the V1.

Read about the modes here:

http://valentine1.com/moreinfo/pdf/controls_and_functions_pg14-16.pdf

Radarking, Thank you for the helpful link! I was just wondering why the programming instructions were not in the user's manual :(

I already have the V1 running in mode L, but it is still very sensitive on all bands. At least now I know how to automute K-band and may even turn off X band.

This is a chevy vs ford debate. You'll never get an answer. They are essentially the same radar. One has arrows, one is cheaper. They both have comparable specs, both have pop, both have user modes, etc..

Just get the cheaper one, unless you really want the arrows.

(i have the 8500 x50, and it works great, I'd take either or, it was just the fact I could buy the 8500 locally and for $100 cheaper.)