Radar Detectors - worth it?

[Kiteboarder85]

At times I tend to speed a little above the limit - not by much. I've been considering investing in a decent detector just for those "oh crap" moments when you see a cop parked in the medium and realize I wasn't paying attention to my speed.

What are some of the good ones out their on PERSONAL reviews? I don't want to hear reviews from your friends brothers uncles grandma.

Thanks

[NJScorpio]

You should add a poll.

[stoopid]

I recently upgrade my cheaper Whistler to the Whistler CR90, which on some review sites put this ~$160 model on par with the big boys in detection performance, and even has more advanced GPS features (no BT though).

http://www.amazon.com/Whistler-Cr90-.../dp/B00DNJU61S

I'm not particularly impressed. I think the detection is superior to my older/cheaper model, but I'm still frequently encountering issues with those side/rear collision detection systems on some of the other cars on the road. It ws one of the reasons I upgraded in the first place. Thankfully I didn't spend a ton of money on the upgrade, but were I to actually invest again in a good detector and could afford it, I would get the new entry level Escort Passport for $350:

https://www.escortradar.com/passport/


Despite obvious flaws in performance, I have owned a bunch of radar detectors over the years, all but my most recent one being in the sub $200 retail class (ie - cheap). They've more often than not been fine. But the use of K band signs at the side of construction sites and collision detection sensors on luxury (and more commonly any premium trim vehicle) necessitates a better unit to cut down on those nagging false alerts.

I won't go much above the speed limit without one, especially in the Camaro. It feels too good at high speeds and I can easily be over 80mph without realizing. If it saves me one ticket it's paid for itself. I know over the years I've already been saved several tickets. I'm not looking to best my home to work commute times, just don't want to daydream and get raped by greedy local courts as a result.

[Obzen]

Originally Posted by NJScorpio

You should add a poll.

win

[13blackLS]

I use an escort 9500, it works great...it goes off before i can even see the cops...it also notifies red light cameras (which is more helpful for me than the speeding)

[MS3DALE]

Originally Posted by 13blackLS

I use an escort 9500, it works great...it goes off before i can even see the cops...it also notifies red light cameras (which is more helpful for me than the speeding)

+1...I also have the 9500iX,love it! I also had the 4500 and 8500 before and they worked great too!

[Evergreen6]

16 years of driving in the US without a radar detector (and just paying attention) has served me very well. No tickets.

It's one less thing to draw attention from thieves while the car is parked, too.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by MS3DALE

+1...I also have the 9500iX,love it! I also had the 4500 and 8500 before and they worked great too!

+2

Originally Posted by Evergreen6

16 years of driving in the US without a radar detector (and just paying attention) has served me very well. No tickets.

It's one less thing to draw attention from thieves while the car is parked, too.

One of the best things a Radar detector does is help you pay attention and at the right times. No one is perfect and some just lucky.

...and if you leave anything in view GPS, Radar detector, sunglasses you're asking for it.

[CamaroCracka]

I use a Whistler now. I've also had Uniden and Cobra. The Cobra was a POS. I have probably 20+ tickets in my lifetime and the only time I got a ticket with a detector besides the Cobra was when they were using Lidar.

I'm really wanting to upgrade to the Passport 9500IX because it has GPS functionality that all but eliminates false alarms.

[Splitter]

I used one. Saved my ass plenty of times. Paid for itself the first day actually.

Then I bought a Camaro that I baby. So I don't really speed anymore. So I haven't really needed one.

It gives you a sense of security having one. But they're not always 100% correct, and are no match for an extremely tricky LEO.

If you speed, I recommend it.

[stoopid]

Originally Posted by mlee

One of the best things a Radar detector does is help you pay attention and at the right times. No one is perfect and some just lucky.

...and if you leave anything in view GPS, Radar detector, sunglasses you're asking for it.

[stoopid]

Originally Posted by Splitter

... are no match for laser/lidar.

Fixed.

Generally KA and K band using cops leave the units on, they rarely sit there and throw it on when they see someone approaching that appears to be going fast. The greatest 'threat' is from the cop with his door cracked open at the side of the road, ready to point that laser at your bumper. In that situation no radar on the planet can guarantee they aren't going to tag you. I see this a few times a year, and usually depend on the overreacting paranoid other drivers slamming on their brakes only 2mph over the limit to alert me of those traps.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by stoopid

Funny... instead of saying asking for it, I almost wrote stoopid.

[Kiteboarder85]

Originally Posted by Splitter

I used one. Saved my ass plenty of times. Paid for itself the first day actually.

Then I bought a Camaro that I baby. So I don't really speed anymore. So I haven't really needed one.

It gives you a sense of security having one. But they're not always 100% correct, and are no match for an extremely tricky LEO.

If you speed, I recommend it.

wait- you stopped speeding after you bought your Camaro? I see you have a LT - but that's still plenty of HP to think you would speed at times.

What were you speeding in prior lol?