Radar Detector shootout 2004 Motor Trend

[czo79]

Well, it was expensive...I won't kid you. But about the best deal I could find, and I took some time. And it was from an authorized retailer, important because they can be software upgraded, and that and the warranty only apply if purchased from authorized retailer, so its worth being careful about ebay and other deals. Although I'm not positive about the upgrades, definately the warranty. Anyways, I found a deal 500$ for both. Or 235$ for the passport and 280$ for the zr3. Not bad consider the vr3 retails for 500$ and the passport for 300$. And the valentine is 400$, and 50$ for its concealed display, only available direct so no price breaks. If one wanted to save a little money, they could go for the Bell 904 laser detector jammer instead of the escort zr3. You can get them for under 250$ Bell is owned by Escort/passport, so there stuff is pretty good. Although the escort laser jammer has a remote mute/jammer kill switch, so the detector is still activated, but the jammer is stopped, use it after you slow down, so the cops don't get wise to the jammer and decide to harass you. I thought that feature was worth the extra $. Bell vector radar detectors are pretty good too and might be able to save you a little $ over escort. But really, only Escort, valentine, and bell are worth a crap in this game. I'll have to see if I can figure out how to get my BCT12 beartracker scanner to pick up CB's...it would be nice to not have another box in my car, and more wiring to do, although I do like flashing lights and switches and noises and such.
Micum

[LaureltheQueen]

i want a cb radio. i get bored on the freeway.

[czo79]

UPDATE: I recieved the passport 8500 and escort zr3 laser shifter....
havn't installed the shifter yet, its kinda a pain. Anyways I like the passport, its a good detector, I like the integrated volt meter function, since subbies dont' have em now. Wasn't expecting it. Also wasn't expecting the SWS safety warning system to work *anywhere* at all, and turns out, I use it daily, it alerts me to snow plows that are plowing with "slow moving vehicle". I also saw another one, at a crash site with cops, ambulances, and tow trucks, I can't remember what it was, caution, road hazard, something like that. Anyways, the passport is worth the money. Don't pay over 250$ though. But heres the bad news, I keep looking up at it, every time it goes off, expecting it to tell me where the signal is coming from, this is followed by a minute of desperatly craning my head around looking everywhere for the contact. Makes me miss the valentine. Tip: Never get a valentine if you want to be able to use any other detector ever again. Its definately worth the price premium. You would never imagine how key two antennas and directional info for radar contacts is until you had it, and lost it.
I will, when I can afford it, sell the passport, buy a valentine1, keep the zr3 laser detector shifter, and turn off the valentines laser band if the shifter interferes with it.
I'll keep you guys updated as to how things go, especially with the jammer. I'm having good luck with the scanner, almost everytime the alerts power meter goes above 1 or 2, I have seen a state trooper shortly thereafter. In the other cases, I was in town, where its entirely possible to be close and not see them.
take care, mind the fuzzz
Micum

[georryan]

CB's are great. I carry one in my car. It's usually hooked up but I leaves the antenna in my trunk unless I'm on a long drive. The conversations make me laugh so hard somtimes I feel like crying, other times they are pretty quiet. They let you know were the bears are, too. Some of those guys will hide in the craziest of places, too.

[LaureltheQueen]

I got pulled over yesterday. 60 in a 50. No ticket though, cop just made fun of me because I go to a school in BFE. He asked me if i knew how to spell "five - oh"

[evolutionmovement]

No ticket...women

Steve

[eastbaysubaru]

Women...

My wife just got pulled over last night for doing 50 in a 25 and the cop(male) just told her to slow down Talk about BullSHIT. Needless to say, she was happy as hell ALL night.

-Brian

[evolutionmovement]

Yeah, if that were me they would've pulled me out through the window. Even with the belt on and window closed. I suppose with all the other shit women have to deal with at least they get some benefit.

Steve