Buying a radar/laser detector

[4mynikka]

Hey Everyone,

I just wants everyone's opinion on radar/laser detector. that is are they any good, are they worth the money and do I have to do a special install or do I just plug them into the cigarette outlet??

I'm looking at this one specifically:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5749500443&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

[2004ElantraGLS]

There is no special install. Just give the suction-cups a few tongue swirls and paste it on your windshield. Then plug the thing into your cigarette lighter and go get some speeding ticket! lol

As far as quality...I bought a $90 Detector from Wal-Mart about 5 years ago. It works great, even to this day. Sometimes, it'll detect radar as far as 4-5 miles away. No Joke!!!

HOWEVER, it only works if the cop is sitting there(or driving towards you) with his radar gun on the entire time. The Detector will start to beep, getting more intense as the radar source gets closer. This gives you enough time to slow down. But if homeboy sees you and decides to turn it on real quick, the only thing a Radar Detector is good for is to tell you that you're getting a ticket! lol. This is how I got pulled over doing 87 in a 55....with a hitchkiker in the ****in car! lol

I ended up getting cited for 64 in a 55, but still. Don't think this thing is gonna prevent any future tickets.

Regards,
Axel

[GLantraS02]

yea you dont need any special install...just plug.
as far as different brands go...i have the whistler and it works great. damn thing goes off everytime theirs a cop and plus it talks...and it has different modes you can set it on like city, highway, city1-3..depending on where youre driving...very helpful. the best one out their id have to say are the newer ones made by cobra because it has all the features of all detectors out their plus it detects the newest *spectre* detectors out their that are now being used by cops.

its all really up to you and what features youre looking for though...

[SilverBullet]

My friend, the truth is one, radar/laser detectors are not all they're cracked up to be.

Yes, they do detect laser and radar, they do a damn good job at it too since that's all they're designed to do, hehe, but as a driver you need almost the same amount of attention after getting one as you did before so that you dont get a false sense of security.

My suggestion is get the cheapest you can that has some sort of 360 degree scanning capability and a good city mode, which will keep you from going crazy when interference makes it's pi-pi go doing doing doing.

Use your own detecting ability with the actual machine only as a supplement and pretty soon you will find out that you evolve into a more aware driver overall.

As for installation, you shouldn't really have any problems and if you're into making everything look ultra clean you can run the power wire inside the dash.
They also make really cool noises when they power up too, one of their biggest selling points. :D .

As for the one on ebay, if I were you i would try to stay away from it. Circuit city or best buy sells similar ones, with factory warranty for about 40 bucks. Not really sure about the ticket rebate thing, it seems like a phony policy and won't heal your actual record or demerit points.

[evan938]

i got one for chrismas...never really wanted one, caus i usually dont speed, and if i am, its where it is VERY open, and i woudl be able to see a cop from far away

i decided to try it out...it was a cobra detector, mom got it on sale for like 75$ on sale, usually like 150

i deliver pizzas, pass cops all day long...NEVER went off near a cop...now i know "they have to have their radar on"...well i know some cops keep their radar on while theyre driving...still never went off near a cop

but i did find out where every store w/ a certain kind of alarm was in my town...i could always count on getting right before a small bridge and it going off to (what im assuming was) the cash advance center...pass it, always went off

seing how i really dont speed, i returned it and got somethign i actually asked for for xmas...i appreciated the thought, but really, its not practical

the only detector i have heard great reviews about is the valentine (dont know the model)...somethin about if you get a ticket, theyll pay it...its like 400$ though, and i figure a speeding ticket is what...100$? maybe if i got a lot of tickets it would be worth it, but like i said, i dont see it being practical, and i hate having the wire come down infront of my whole dash....looks tacky

[4mynikka]

thanks guys I think I'll save my money.

[04Elantra]

Just as a side note..ROcky Mountain Radar has many suits pending against them for false advertising and their products have been know to have NO LASER OR RADAR DETECTION/JAMMING electronics in them.....DO NOT BUY THEIR PRODUCTS

Independent labs have tested and found the Valentine, the Escort series, and the Beltronics units to be the best.

[caseinajar]

i got the Beltronics Express925 for xmas and i have found it to be very useful. On the highway theres no way i could not want one. In the city it picks up false alarms but you get used to the spots where it always goes off. overall think i it does help you become a more aware driver. i am happy with the results atleast on this detector some others may not be so good.

[rckozma]

I think this topic has been brought up before. But I will put my input in again. I have an Escort Passport 8500. I have used the Escort products for many, many, many years and believe in them. Very few falses and pretty acurate. Laser is about the hardest to track because the beam is not as wide as your typical X, K, or KA. Just remember, you get what you pay for. I believe the Valentine and Escort are about the most expensive units you can find, but they are worth it.

[JacksonJ]

Incase you didn't know 4mynikka, radar and laser detectors are illegal in Ontario. If you got caught with one, there will be fines. I seen a news report where an American was caught with one, they tried to hide it, and the cops didn't care if he was American. They said, you are in our province and these are illegal and gave them a speeding ticket and a fine for the detector. The cop was actually following the car, turned on it's radar and the guy slammed the brakes, that's how the cop knew he had a detector.

[4mynikka]

Incase you didn't know 4mynikka, radar and laser detectors are illegal in Ontario. .


Thanks, I'm not gonna get one anymore or in the future. I guess getting a speeding ticket plus a fine for having a detector would just cost too much. I'll just watch around me when I speed, which is what I do now anyhow.