Radar Detector shootout 2004 Motor Trend

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:49 am

http://www.motortrend.com/features/cons ... index.html

"To ensure authoritative, impartial testing, we turned to Speed Measurement Laboratories. SML consults with state and local police and DOT agencies on highway-safety issues and conducts the benchmark field testing for radar/LIDAR speed-enforcement and detection industries.

What distinguishes this buyer's guide is that while SML set the objective criteria and administers the tests, they do not operate the radar and laser guns. This is done only by members of the law enforcement community who use this equipment every day in their efforts to enforce local and state traffic ordinances. "

Ive decided to purchase a Bel 985, very high points and can be found for under 200

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:39 pm

Very NICE article!!

It's about time someone did some new tests. I read about some of the new emerging technology several months ago, and really didn't find much info/reviews on it. One of the big ones was this POP feature new guns have.

I skimmed over the article, I need to read it more closely, but it may be time to upgrade the old radar detector.

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 4:48 pm

http://www.speedzones.com/

Has pretty much the raw data behind the MT writeup.

I'll probably be looking at the passport 8500. I have a 4600 now, and can probably get the 8500 at a discount through a buddy.

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 7:54 pm

I think the speedzone test is seperate, either that or M/T is freaking slow!

Why do you want the passport? According to both sites the Bel is marginally better.

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:02 pm

speedzone did the test for MT.

If you look at the MT article they say that SML did the test gave the url of www.speedlabs.com They maintain the www.speedzones.com site as well.

I'm sure I'll look over everything again before I buy, but I have always been favored to the escorts....call it personal preference, plus as I mentioned I can get a discount on them (how much is yet to be seen however) So we'll see.

I'm sure if I get a new detector I'll let ya know.

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:08 pm

Maybe its cheaper if you buy two of them.....

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:13 pm

I'm not getting a radar detector. Provides a false sense of security. I know I'll get pulled over if I have one.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:17 pm

I rely on intuition which works amazingly well. It's like I can smell them - there's this little voice that just says, you'd better slow down now... I have a feeling that a radar detector would eliminate that sixth sense like habitually using an alarm clock robs you of the ability to naturally wake up on time.

Steve

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:39 pm

Im the same way (knock on wood)

The only time it doesnt work is when they are in a team. One is parked off the highway and the other is up at the next on ramp ready to pounce.

AWD_addict · Post by **AWD_addict** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 9:55 pm

I've had a Passport 8500 for about 6 months and it's paid for itself a few times over.
I found it for about $270, I'm sure a dozen or so tickets would be more.

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 12:24 am

the key to radar detectors is not to rely on it. I've been using one pretty much since I could legally drive, about 10 years. Rely on all your other instincts, intuition, driving skills, etc, and when all that fails and the detector goes off, you've given yourself a get of ticket card.

They are not the end all to speeding, and if you think that, you're sorely mistaking, plus with new technology in speed detection devices, it gets more difficult to get the advantage with the detector.

Everyone has their own driving style & technique. I'd say the number one thing I personally feel is a huge issue for a lot of drivers is their complete lack of awarness of their surroundings. I'll constantly be scanning around at my surroundings, whether it be on the road or off. It's just a quick scan so you're aware of people that may pull in your blind spot or a cop hiding behind something, etc. Too many people are oblivious and tunnel vision on what's in front of them.

But that's my driving lecture......I'll get off my box now.

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 1:45 am

Totally. . . I drove several years with an RD. Got probably 5 tickets over that period of time.

In the almost four years I've been driving without one, I've received ONE ticket (didn't stick) and have been pulled over only twice, overall.

Add to that the fact that I've owned faster cars than the one I had the RD in to begin with.

Experience, prudence, and just driving smarter will help a person avoid Johnny Law better than any radar detector.

Brat4by4 · Post by **Brat4by4** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:32 am

There is a very limited scope for when I would want a radar detector. Hilly undivided road or an undivided road at night where I can't see cops coming the other way using moving radar. Thankfully laser doesn't work when moving... Also when it is dark in an unfamiliar area where you can't see the surroundings.

Best, though, is to stay the freak out of the passing lane as much as possible. Also make a habit of only doing 5-10 over. Do your speed in short bursts. Staying in the right lane saved my butt big time going through PA. Saw the cop clocking people behind me in, yup, you guessed it... the left lane. He didn't see me until I stood on the brakes about 200' away from him... saw him mouth a cuss word because after all that my speed was only down to like 3 over. I went on my merry way and promptly let someone else drive...

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:41 am

So either way, the Bel 985 was rated very high and can be had for 180$. Even if you would rarely use it 180$ isnt much compared to that one time it might give an early warning.
At least in California they have to follow behind you and get a prolonged reading of speed. You can use road side speed metering to issue a ticket.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:15 am

There are definitely stealth techniques that should be employed. Driving a Subaru Legacy is a great one to start. Only using the left lane to pass, know your cars by headlight signature so you always know what's behind you, hide behind trucks, make no sudden obvious movements, use the parking brake at night (so they don't see the taillights unless you're going way too fast and you're goig to get nailed either way, in which case bleed off speed ASAP), etc.

Steve

eastbaysubaru · Post by **eastbaysubaru** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 7:17 am

I can't recommend radar detectors enough. I've got a four year old Bel that continues saving my ass time after time. The only form of radar the CHP uses in Cali is Ka band. All the other ones just go off for the usual supermarkets, etc. because of the automatic opening doors. Seriously though, in the last year it's saved me from a ticket at least four times. All of which would've been at 80+ in a 65. In all cases I was able to bring my speed down to a respectable pace and avoid any suspicion.

Being an aware driver is the number one way to avoid a ticket though. I didn't have a detector until a few years ago and I hadn't received that many tickets before that, maybe 2 in three or four years. The detector is just an added bonus.

-Brian

camshaftprelube · Post by **camshaftprelube** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:08 pm

I would have one if they weren't illegal in VA.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:17 pm

What part of VA are you in?

I've driven around Northern VA with a radar detector on the dash without trouble... Never saw the "VG-2" warning go off, and I guess cops thought it was a cell phone or some such nonsense.

magnux · Post by **magnux** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:30 pm

My Valentine 1 is one of the best investments I've ever made, it's saved me from more speed traps than I care to count.

I swear by it.

camshaftprelube · Post by **camshaftprelube** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:37 pm

I'm in Richmond. I don't think all of the cops have the stuff to pick up radar detectors. That just means I'll be one of the lucky few that gets busted.

czo79 · Post by **czo79** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:27 am

I rocked a Valentine 1 for years...until it got confiscated in Canada...
and I really believe nothing quite touches it. The passport 8500 are pretty nice though, and have a couple features I wish valentine had. But I really love the locator arrows on the V1. I've heard that if you send the passport back to the company, and complain that its not as good as your friends v1 or something like that, that they will do a custom tuning that significantly improves performance. I don't think I can really afford another v1 right now, so I am thinking of saving some money and going with a really good deal I found on a passport 8500 with the escort zr3 laser detectors/shifters for 500$. A real bargain. Where I live, you can't speed on the interstates with just a detector now, you need laser shifters/jammers. I couldn't get a v1 and a laser shifter that good for under 700$-750$. My new toy right now is a uniden BCT 12 beartracker scanner. Its the size of a large radar detector and picks up all sorts of stuff, has preprogrammed freqs for every state and CA provinces...and alerts you when a state police equiped with mobile extenders are within 3 miles. Its kinda old, so it varys a lot from state to state on how well it works. I was given an anti-laser plate cover but have heard they don't do anything. I also found a anti laser paint/coating thats real expensive...but might work pretty well....
I want a stealth car...
Micum

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 8:39 am

Too bad the paint they use on the stealth fighters is classified, although someone told me once that black primer absorbs some radar. Even if that's true, I'mnot sure how well it would help. Having a switchable light signature for night would be great, too, but there's not much I can do with the wagon.

Steve

scottzg · Post by **scottzg** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:56 am

I've gotten 1 ticket in all my years driving. 100+ on a cloverleaf.

cop knocked it down to 80. Whats wrong with just going 78 everywhere? I was in the car when my friend got pulled over. The cop made fun of him because he had a detector. It was so funny.

czo79 · Post by **czo79** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 9:23 pm

Ok...took the plunge, I just had too...sick of having the pay 50$ to get my license back after losing it, again. I bought a passport 8500, with an escort zr3 laser detector/shifter aka jammer. This despite being a diehard Valentine 1 fan. I still think it is the best. But I need laser jamming, thats all they seem to use on the interstates now. Anyways, I'm pretty broke, so thats why I didn't get the V1, which I could run with the escort jammer, although its cool that the vr3 plugs into the passport 8500. I think someday when finances are better, I might get the valentine 1 yet, and sell the passport. Hopefully this combination, with my beartracker scanner, should be enough to keep me out of trouble, with a careful eye and speeding strategy too of course!
Do truckers still talk much on CBs? Or are they all online instead?

I havn't yet gotten the beartracker to pick up CB freqs, so I'm wondering if I should get one too, whether the truckers really communicate about the fuzz much or not?
Thanks!
Micum

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 10:35 pm

yes, truckers talk ALOT on the cb's....haven't you ever heard any of their conversations.....some of them can be the most hilarious stuff in the world.

How much you pay for the 8500 and laser shifter if you don't mind me asking?

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Radar Detector shootout 2004 Motor Trend

Radar Detector shootout 2004 Motor Trend