V1 or HID's

[Capone9]

What would you guys get if you had the choice. Valentine 1 detector or a set of ZKW HID kit. I'm having trouble deciding what i want for Christmas.

[ChaseBimmer]

HID's, no need to speed when you want to show it off ;)

[sirtiger]

v1

[fliplap]

Really tough call. If you like to speed, I say go with the V1, between the fine and the insurance hikes, the first ticket it saves you will pay for the HIDs.

I bought my V1 around 2 years ago. HIDs are next on the list now.

[manofsteele]

I'd go with the V1. I have two installed in two cars- I can't count the number of times that i've been saved. The $ saved from the tickets, etc. pay for more than the ZKWs.

[Capone9]

yeah, i have two speeding tickets pending from this summer. The first seemed so fabricated so i think i'll get away with that one w/o a problem, but the second one make take a little bit more thought. Is a V1 really that good. I've read all of the testimonials on the website and everyone i've met swears by them. How many times has it saved your asses?

[rcM3]

+1 for the v1

[AntiHero]

The V1 has saved my butt a few times from getting nailed! Then again their is that one time when I was speeding at night and the officer was behind me without the radar on. Yeh dont wanna do that again.

[dmurray14]

I have both. Bought the V1 before my HIDs, but only because I got a good deal. I think I would probably reccomend you get the HIDs first. For me, the lights SUCKED, to a point where I didn't really feel confident driving at night because I couldn't see more than 15 feet in front of me. Scary feeling. HIDs cleared that right up.

[m3fuz]

I don't normally speed anymore and my vision at night sucks. I vote HIDs.

[BMWALDO]

Voting V1. Again along with the rest, it has saved me tons $$.
HIDs are next on my no-go mods though.

[Jean-Claude]

Get a used x50 at a sweet price. With the money you saved you can get a nice set of used HIDs.


Booyah!1

[STL Avus M3]

V1.

[fliplap]

yeah, i have two speeding tickets pending from this summer. The first seemed so fabricated so i think i'll get away with that one w/o a problem, but the second one make take a little bit more thought. Is a V1 really that good. I've read all of the testimonials on the website and everyone i've met swears by them. How many times has it saved your asses?

I can't even tell you how many times the V1 has saved me.

That said, the V1 does have some draw backs. Its very sensitive on X and K bands. X band is pretty much extinct and K band is rapidly being phased out in all but the smallest, lowest budget towns. This sensitivity, combined with the V1's relatively lousy false alarm logic leads to a large number of false beeps. It also has no auto-mute function, which means if you're stuck at a stop light next to a gas station your V1 will sit there and beep until you mute it. It will blow up in small shopping centers, or at the airport. You do get used to them, and it becomes easier and easier to tell the real ones from the fake ones.

Rumor, and review, has it that the Passport 8500 x50 surpasses the V1 in pretty much every single catagory these days. I have friends that have the 8500 and swear by it, calling the V1 outdated, ugly and annoying. The 8500 has all sorts of new features, including auto mute and all kinds of programming modes and gadgets. Its also costs $100 less and it quite a bit smaller than the V1.

With that out of the way, for about 2 years my roomate has owned both the 8500 and a V1. He also owned an Audi S4 show car that was too modded to really drive hard, thus sat in the garage 99% of the time, during that 99% he has a daily driver to run back and forth to work, pick up groceries, go on road trips.

The 8500 stayed in the show car (you know, the one that never left the garage), it was pretty, lit up all blue and matched the interior. The V1 stayed in the daily driver. He sold the S4 a few weeks ago. The 8500 now sits in a drawer in the garage.

[Jean-Claude]

Different folks...different stro....bah, you know how it goes.:stickoutt


I can't even tell you how many times the V1 has saved me.

That said, the V1 does have some draw backs. Its very sensitive on X and K bands. X band is pretty much extinct and K band is rapidly being phased out in all but the smallest, lowest budget towns. This sensitivity, combined with the V1's relatively lousy false alarm logic leads to a large number of false beeps. It also has no auto-mute function, which means if you're stuck at a stop light next to a gas station your V1 will sit there and beep until you mute it. It will blow up in small shopping centers, or at the airport. You do get used to them, and it becomes easier and easier to tell the real ones from the fake ones.

Rumor, and review, has it that the Passport 8500 x50 surpasses the V1 in pretty much every single catagory these days. I have friends that have the 8500 and swear by it, calling the V1 outdated, ugly and annoying. The 8500 has all sorts of new features, including auto mute and all kinds of programming modes and gadgets. Its also costs $100 less and it quite a bit smaller than the V1.

With that out of the way, for about 2 years my roomate has owned both the 8500 and a V1. He also owned an Audi S4 show car that was too modded to really drive hard, thus sat in the garage 99% of the time, during that 99% he has a daily driver to run back and forth to work, pick up groceries, go on road trips.

The 8500 stayed in the show car (you know, the one that never left the garage), it was pretty, lit up all blue and matched the interior. The V1 stayed in the daily driver. He sold the S4 a few weeks ago. The 8500 now sits in a drawer in the garage.

[nonphixion]

V1, i loved mine until i had to pay for the ticket i got when i had it off:mad

[mmm635]

I would personally choose the V1 over the HID's. I don't see well at night and will eventually upgrade to the HID's, but I like to speed and the V1 has saved me tons of money. It is by far the best radar detector on the market. In fact, I am about to send mine in and get the upgrade for the POP technology.

There was a review by radartest.commm that seemed really biased to me. Car and Driver performed a test (unbiased) and the V1 was on top by a large margin if I remember correctly. Also, the direction of the radar signal is nice to have because it lets you know if it is behind, on the side, or in front.

My brothe and I were in Atlanta not too long a go and were in an E46 M3 and our friends were in a 360 Modena. We had a valentine and they had the Escort. Well, when a trooper gunned us we were on the brakes about 3-4 seconds quicker than they were. They were wondering why we were on the brakes much quicker than them and soon realized why. Our friend ended up selling the Escort on Ebay and purchased a Valentine after that incident. This is real world experience. Remember, 3-4 seconds is allot of time when you are being gunned by radar. I don't think that the Escort is a bad detector, it's jst the V1 is better in many ways.

Michel

[///Mpmp1025]

i vote V1, HIDs will make u see better but a V1 will make u see cops better. id rather see cops better, it says more money in the long run.

[DocSocal]

Radar Detector was the first thing I bought for the M.

Get one.

[Rahul325]

I got the V1 as soon as i got the bimmer, got the HIDs just a cpl of weeks back. Once u have both, u will not be able to drive w/o a V1. IT has saved my a$$ so many times.

[nickdrivesm3]

I've had my M3 for two years and my V1 for 5. Only 1 speeding ticket due to no radar until i came around the corner.

[dmurray14]

I am a little surprised at the responses. Don't know how your lights are, but as mine were, I would be pretty damned scared speeding at night - I couldn't see shit!

Dan

[iredlinemy///m3]

What would you guys get if you had the choice. Valentine 1 detector or a set of ZKW HID kit. I'm having trouble deciding what i want for Christmas.

From the looks of this... you have a choice of


1) V1

or

2) ZKWs and HIDs

And they are going to be a x-mas gift? If thats the case, get the ZKWs and HIDs as they are like $650, and then save up and buy a V1 for around $350(used I got mine for $290).

If you already have the ZKWs, and its really a choice between an HID kit, and V1.... GO V1!

:buttrock

[Daved]

I would get the ZKW w/HIDs, I have never had a radar detector in my whole life :)

[///M LIFE©]

That is a hard one.
HIDs

no.... V1.

Wait....HIDs.

[RaDaRkInG]

Rumor, and review, has it that the Passport 8500 x50 surpasses the V1 in pretty much every single catagory these days. I have friends that have the 8500 and swear by it, calling the V1 outdated, ugly and annoying. The 8500 has all sorts of new features, including auto mute and all kinds of programming modes and gadgets. Its also costs $100 less and it quite a bit smaller than the V1.

As hard as it might be to believe, the Valentine One, 16.2 cu. in., is smaller than the Escort X50, 18.95 cu. in., and the Bel RX65, 16.32 cu. in. The Valentine is wider because of the rear radar antenna, but it is shorter and not as high which gives you more mounting options. The Valentine One also weighs less than the X50 and the RX65. As you can see, the Escort is the biggest of the three.

The Valentine One is the best radar/laser detector on the market today.

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/radartesting.html

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/pop.html

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/spectre.html

http://motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0508_2005radar_buyersguide/

"This year, the measurement of the radar and laser detection abilities of each of the over $200 units gives the Valentine One ($400) a small edge over the competing BEL Vector 995 ($260) and Escort Passport 8500 X50 ($300 with red display or $340 with a blue display) units."

V1 is the best in laser detection:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=4213&highlight=

V1 has the best rear radar detection because it is the only detector with 2 antennas to locate radar:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=4214&highlight=

V1 is the least detectable detector by RDD's or Radar Detector Detectors in states where radar detectors are illegal. The Spectre III is the most used RDD in the world and it can only pick up the Valentine One if it is 166 feet or closer which is better than the X50 which can be detected 954 feet away.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=4383&highlight=

The Valentine One which accounts for only .6% of radar detector sales wins every poll when it comes to being the favorite detector. The X50 doesn't even get an approval rating as high as George Bush's worst rating. :lol:

http://www.radardetector.net/The-Ultimate-Poll....-5523t.php

Which of the "Big 3" is really the best overall - in your opinion?
V-1
64% [ 45 ]

RX-65
12% [ 9 ]

X50
20% [ 14 ]

Other (state which and why)
2% [ 2 ]

Total Votes : 70

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?p=42353&highlight=#42353

Radar Roy from Radarbusters.com said this about the Valentine One, "Just spoke with Carl Fors from SML, his website will be going online tonight with the 2005 results. He has declared the V895, 8500 and the Valentine One as the top performers. Motortrend, who was also at the test, will be declaring the Valentine One as the top detector based upon its detection of laser.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=4696&start=90

Radar Roy said, "There were results that they (Guys of Lidar) got during the test that I was not exactly pleased with, such as the discovery of the Blinder not having Stealth Mode installed and the Valentine beating out the Escort and Bel in the range tests. Even though I don’t sell the Valentine, it does have slightly better range than both the RX65 and the 8500 and I also show this same fact on my site. Would love it to be the other way around."

[docjavier]

I have both and the V1 was the first thing and it help pay for the HID.

[odortiz]

i feel naked driving without a v1.

[fliplap]

As hard as it might be to believe, the Valentine One, 16.2 cu. in., is smaller than the Escort X50, 18.95 cu. in., and the Bel RX65, 16.32 cu. in. The Valentine is wider because of the rear radar antenna, but it is shorter and not as high which gives you more mounting options. The Valentine One also weighs less than the X50 and the RX65. As you can see, the Escort is the biggest of the three.

The Valentine One is the best radar/laser detector on the market today.
.....

Awesome. I'm happy to be proven wrong! I own a V1 and wouldn't trade it for any other :-) I might just have to spring for that $75 upgrade to POP mode now!

[breden]

i feel naked driving without a v1.
me too, when i get into any other cars and there are no start up beeps as i start them i wonder what's missing.

[sirtiger]

i feel naked driving without a v1.

damm...me too!

[Rahul325]

i feel naked driving without a v1.
+1

[geoffm3]

Radar Roy said, "There were results that they (Guys of Lidar) got during the test that I was not exactly pleased with, such as the discovery of the Blinder not having Stealth Mode installed and the Valentine beating out the Escort and Bel in the range tests. Even though I don’t sell the Valentine, it does have slightly better range than both the RX65 and the 8500 and I also show this same fact on my site. Would love it to be the other way around."

The REAL question is, is it really worth the extra $$$s? I'd say that's highly subjective. There is no doubt that the V1 is technically superior, however when you're already in the great performance category, you've probably reached the point of diminishing (or zero) returns.

The times that I've been caught the radar detector was useless against the well-hid cop with his finger on the trigger. I have a friend who was busted with a V1 in an M3. Again, a well hid cop is gonna get ya. So, I'm skeptical. :)

[Tony@Bekkers]

Hid!!!

[odortiz]

without the arrows, you don't know where it's coming from so you can make a decision as to how dangerous it is to you. also, you need to know how to read them. you always follow the rabbit so the well hid cop trap will be set off just ahead of you. then you slow a bit. i could be the diff from going to jail to just speeding. if you travel 10-15 over with a blocker, a quick lift and tap of the brake is about 10mph drop.
i has saved me many, many times and the arrows help me decide how worried i should be.

[Graffix000]

me too, when i get into any other cars and there are no start up beeps as i start them i wonder what's missing.


:lol That's the truth... I feel the same way

[Capone9]

How well has it detected laser traps for u guys? Have any of you come across any? If so,what was the outcome? B/c my cousin who is a cop here in Rye, says that a lot of insurance companies are giving the local and state police laser detectors. Just wanna make sure its worth it. All you guys have nothing but good comments about it so i don't think i can go wrong.

[Capone9]

Whats the whole pop protection all about though?

[odortiz]

laser can't bounce off stuff like radar. your only hope is the car in front is a good enough catch. i've been hit by laser, ther's nothing you can do except start thinking about a story. lucky for me i was'nt speeding at the time. nice to know when you're getting hit though.

[korto]

I would get HIDs...
But where I am all cops are using lasers to get you, and your best action is to spot them before they spot you...

[CarbonBlkE36]

i had the HIDs before the v1..... now w/ the v1 i can speed w/ confidence :)

[ndcruz]

Choose BOTH, eventually you will end up getting both. :D

[befc3s]

V1 - hands down the best investment you can make - yes it's an investment b/c it pays returns in reduced insurance and fines. If you're worried about laser, the V1 will detect but as has been stated, it's generally too late. Only real solution there is a jammer - but not worth the money IMHO.

HIDs are a nice to have - V1 is a must have

[geoffm3]

without the arrows, you don't know where it's coming from so you can make a decision as to how dangerous it is to you. also, you need to know how to read them. you always follow the rabbit so the well hid cop trap will be set off just ahead of you. then you slow a bit. i could be the diff from going to jail to just speeding. if you travel 10-15 over with a blocker, a quick lift and tap of the brake is about 10mph drop.
i has saved me many, many times and the arrows help me decide how worried i should be.

In the meantime of worrying where the "bogie" is coming from, you waited too long to slow down and got tagged. ;) I think most people when they get ANY warning will probably just slow down.

Your technique works for any radar detector, not just the V1.

[themadhatter]

v1

do you have ellipsoids yet?

[odortiz]

In the meantime of worrying where the "bogie" is coming from, you waited too long to slow down and got tagged. ;) I think most people when they get ANY warning will probably just slow down.

Your technique works for any radar detector, not just the V1.
it depends on the detector settings. the v1 has logic settings, that when combined with the direcional arrows, and strength meter, allows you to make a very quick decision by giving you lots of info instantly.
i have been saved many times by the v1 while coming around a corner or cresting a hill while the speed trap was instant-on.
plus, the added sensitivity of the unit allows you to see instant-on traps far down the road as each car passes and gets measured, while i'm picking up bursts of radar from the same direction in increasing strength.
i have used another brand detector without arrows and thought it was completely useless because you can't tell if it's coming from the gas station on the corner of a highway interchange or just beyond the exits. all others are called radar detectors. the v1 is called a radar locator because it identifies the source

[ACS320i]

HIDs...
i had a V1 but i got rid of it cuz i found i had a built in horseshoe up my ass