i was looking into the beltronics speed detectors cause out here in cali there are more popo's then drivers. anyway i was going to be spendin around 250$ on one. then my neighbor told me that a company called valentine are "the best out there" i dont know ANYONE who actually has a detector and wanted some input to save me from tickets for around 250$ help me out please

 

Those cost about $400-500. They are probably the best detectors out there. Make sure you get the latest version.

 

I drive with a V1 (version 1.8) I got it last year for $400 from someone here and never regret buying it. It is my first radar detector and the best, highly recommend V1 to anyone and everyone!!!

 

I have an Escort detector, it works great, but i would get the Valantine.

 

so valentine is the **** then it sounds like.... and i want to make sure i understand this correctly they are great until you get hit with the laser style that pretty much a garauntee ticket right?

 

yep laser=screwed...

 

i havent read up on radar/laser detectors in a while but i went with the escort.

and laser doesnt mean you are screwed. I know for the escort they have a laser blocker that you mount by your grill and rear plate that you can turn on and off and it hooks up to your detector. But radar jammers are illegal, not laser. But if you are instant on'd radar then i think you are pretty much screwed. have fun.

 

I think in CA, laser jammers are illegal as well.

I have a V1 and it's saved me multiple times, and I don't even drive fast, just SoCal fast (flow of traffic 75 mph avg). The laser part of the V1 falses a lot though. Red neon (InNOut), Envoy/Trailblazer brakelight, Infiniti laser based cruise control, etc all set it off. Anything in the infrared spectrum, or close to it.

 

V1 is the only way to go if you dont get a V1 your family should disown you, and who ever said get the latest version, they only sell the latest version, but if for some odd reason you dont get the latest version you can go to their website and you can upgrade the version, so for your bang for your buck the V1 is the BEST!!!!!

 

it will pick up a laser from somewhere .5-1mile away V1 all the way! F(u) haters your dumb

 

v1 or escort x50

 

i been looking at the v1 for a while. It gives as good laser protection as u can get. Where you install plays a major role in the laser detection as well. For max. laser protection its recommended to mount it higher on your windshield especially if you have a lighter colored car to prevent light reflection that would screw with it. Best to mount at top of windshield unless you have a vinyl banner, but in that case mount right below.

 

i had the V1 since 1999, i upgraded it to the newer version 2 years ago. 8 years with V1 and it save my lifes countless time.....

 

the v1 has been around unchanged (except for software upgrades) since 1992. that says alot. Best advice 2 aanyone that picks one up is to keep it out of sight when yo park the car. Its highly prized by thieves. It can disappear mad quick.

 

I'm gonna chime in with an alternate suggestion. I love the arrows on the valentine but the thing looks stale as hell.

We drove around with a passport x50 and a valentine in a car for a couple of weeks and they pretty much went off at the same time in all situations. I went with the passport for cost/looks.