Well I was thinking about getting myself a radar for my f-150 sometimes i just forget I am going 90 miles an hour..so i asked a few friends they told me to get a Cobra and i figured i would. They have a city button u can push when your in the city so you won't catch any garage door openers...I am in the country for the most part but when i am on the highway i don't want another highway patrol to pull me over...so what does everyone think? anybody have a good brand they have used and like? and how good does it work..
thanks

 

HI, I have a Escort Passport 8500 I love it!!
Iti s a tad pricey but well worth it
A couple of years ago it was rated Number one
even beat a Valentine!!!
YMMV

Bryan

 

I agree. I have the passport 8500 too and its great. I dont even drive fast but i feel a lot better knowing where the cops are. As for the cobra detectors they are among the worst rated however they are quite a bit cheaper. Check out www.radartest.com
the valentine one is also supposed to be very good but its just too expensive for me. The other good thing about the passport is it is upgradeable so as new technologies emerge you can get software updates.

 

I am going to have to pick up one of those...... glad ya'll told me about how the cobra radars did...

 

The V1 is upgradeable too. Its a preference/money thing, some really want the multiple bogey, directional indicator functions the V1 has.

Is that site based on the research that speedlabs.com did? If not they have some good info over there too.

 

got the passport 8500 I love it and i know where all the cops be

 

I use an old Uniden that works fine (when the stereo & road noise don't drown it out), but I aspire to own a Valentine.

 

That is Too funny that is what I had before I bought the 8500
it was an excellent unit but just Died of old age about two years ago
Bryan

 

When you do get one, look on E-bay. I bought a brand new PNI detector for $50.00 They have hundreds for auction and you'll save $$$. This PNI has a built-in digital compass, which is kind of cool.

 

I put in a rear-view mirror with compass - super easy, and is auto-dimming.

 

Since having become a cop, I have leaned alot about radar and laser. Radar and laser is detected by a radar detector. However, and this is important--the radar detector will only go off if the cop has his radar gun ON, and is driving down the road or is stationary writing a report/clocking radar. No cop that I know of clocking radar just sits with his radar gun on, pointed dow nthe road; for this would be like the cop saying to a person with a radar detector "here I am, slow down as I am 900 ft down the road"----it would be the equivenant of a burglar wearing flourescent yellow clothes, shouting aloud that he/she is a burglar, and wearing a hat with a bright stobe light atop--it just doesnt happen!! Thus, Most cops only switch the radar or laser on for just a split second when they see the car/truck going down the road. By the time your radar or laser detector goes off, the cop already has your speed locked and you are busted.

So, a radar detector is virtually useless too unless it is only one of those 3% of cops who leave their radar gun on the whole time, as apposed to intermittedly.

Lastly, I had to learn the hard way (I got a ticket just before becoming a cop) so learn from me and my $200 mistake. Instead, drive the speed limit, or 5 MPH over MAX . Alas, remember the old cop addage, WHICH NOT ALL COPS ADHERE TO, which is "9 mph over your fine, 10 mph over YOU'RE MINE" (does not apply to all cops)

Hope this helps !!

 

you know i think you just made me not want to buy a radar....I am very glad you posted that...Good to hear from a Cop point of view to

 

firecop
That's true, if I'm the only vehicle on the road, but what if I'm zipping along at 11mph over the limit ~1/4 mile behind someone else who's zipping along. You (or another like-minded cop) switch your gun on and shoot him, and I pick it up and slow down as I pass you. Assuming he was only doing 4mph over or less, you let him go, and I get by, too. If I hadn't had a detector, I'd have to stop and sign.

Radar detectors ARE useful.

 

the state police here in southern NJ rarely use thir radars; they tend to cruise around and pace the speeders. They do pull a lot of dopes over...esp in front of the barracks! Some folks are so dumb!

 

I agree the cops can still get you.
But where I drive I usually pace behind quicker cars or behind someone and am able to pick it up in advance. With my detector (not sure what kind) i have picked up cops 2 miles away.

Something else new on the market is a radar jammer. Have to get the number for you to call, but runs around 250 i beleive and suppose to jam radar for 3 miles