It seems like it's been forever that I've been hearing about V1 this, and V1 that. I'm not huge on Radar Detectors b/c frankly I haven’t come across a reliable one. Granted the best detector I've owned was an Escort that cost less then $100, and that was about 3-4 years ago. I threw it away after about 6 months for the following reasons:

When I was at school in Louisiana my wife and I (fiancé at that time) would drive to her parent’s house in Austin, Texas at least 4 times per year. Prior to me getting that "beeper", I had never gotten a ticket or been pulled over on that drive in the dozen times we've done it. Simply looking up ahead and slamming on the breaks when needed was my technique.

After purchasing my "beeper" I got a false sense security. During the next 4 drives I got pulled over all 4 times, while receiving tickets 2 of those times (they let me go twice). Now I drive the same with or without the "beeper" about 90-95. But with the "beeper" I simply relied on the detector to warn me when 5.0 was in the area.....that piece of **** beeped like a doctor’s pager in the emergency room during the LA riots. It got to the point when I wasn’t sure what it was beeping about cause we were in the middle of nowhere with nothing in sight.

Now, I've read every year in my C&D magazine and how GREAT the V1 is, and to be honest I am skeptical; but I am skeptical by nature. I don’t believe anything works as good as advertised (except for a Porsche).

So my questions are---

1. Is V1 really worth the $300-400 (not sure what it costs)???

2. Does the V1 display false signals?

3. With the ever increasing "automatic cruise" systems arising, which use radar to adjust the following distance, aren’t false signal simply going to increase?

4. It seems like V1 has had the same design now for many many years, has the technology ever been updated?

5. Finally, seriously now how much better is this detector compared to the $100 Escort I had?

Please help me understand what I've been missing, if anything. Also, please try and hit as many of my questions if possible.

Thanks,
Steve

P.S. Sorry if this is in the wrong thread. I just saw the V1 rear view mirror and thought it would be OK.

 

Ok - dont have a V1 but plan on getting one soon....
Only question I can answer off the bat is question 4 - V1 constantly updates both their hardware and software - their latest is version 1.8...

 

i've heard good things about the escort 8500

 

email nick @ syris@mac.com and ask him about a full setup

 

I my youth I used to get tickets fairly often. In 1999 I bought a twin turbo supra with 470 HP. The V1 was purchased right after and its seriously saved me thousands. I've never been written a ticket since buying it. Many 8 hr. highway trips included. You cannot do better as far as detectors go. The only 'tests' that it doesn't win are on websites rigged by the compatition to look like objective comparison sites.

Kevin

 

IMHO, the V1 is hands down the best radar detector on the market. Period. In logic mode, it might give a few false positives, but in 6+ years of owning it, I have never got a ticket via radar. Sure, I got a couple with laser (both times the V1 went off but was too late) and maybe a few being paced, but never with radar. It is worth every penny of the $400 you pay to get one. btw, in the years of owning the V1, I have driven at least 150K miles and have a slight vision problem reading the speed limit signs.

 

In my case it is definitely worth the money. We have photo radar all over the Phoenix valley area and the V1 is the only detector that seems to pick up photo radar. My prior detector, a Solo II, never, ever picked up photo radar.

The V1 will give you false alarms in town, but very, very few on the hightway. In town I've learned where they occur so that I pretty much naturally ignore them.

 

Oh yeah. The Solo II also gave way, way more false laser alarms. I have only had one false laser alarm with the V1. With the Solo I used to get repeated false alarms (like 10 in a row) when driving west into a setting sun.

P.S. Now I use the Solo in my second car since it's too slow off the line to speed in it without great effort. (2003 Navigator, luxo-ghetto-tow vehicle).

 

I have one in my Buick GNX and it has saved me numerous times on local streets where the limit is 30 and I drive 40-45. Cops in the bay area are bored and like to hide in the shade of trees on their BMW bikes w/ radar.

I plan on getting one in my TT before the holidays. Don't get the remote mount kit, I thought it was worthless as you still need to mount the main unit near the top of windshield for best results.

 

Great input guys but, like I mentioned earlier has anyone seen an increase in false alarms due to the increase in automatic distance controled cruise systems?

 

No. The other thing about false alarms in say your daily commute is the V1 will display how many radar sources it is picking up from 1 to whatever. So if you know there is a false on your daily commute it will come up with 1 in the display. If you are on your commute in the same area and now 2 shows up you now know there is also a cop there. I have been busted with other detectors without this feature!

 

I would never need it on a daily commute considering at this point in time I can see the office from my front yard....it would be more for interstate travel, where you generally dont know the roads or where false alarms usually happen.

 

I find that there aren't many false alarms out on the highway. One of the bands is more typically retail false alarms. I tend to just block it out in my daily life as very few cops around here seem to use it. Out on the highway you can tell if that band is a false based on signal strength and proximity to retail developments. I tend to get laser false alarms when riding by certain DOT portable digital signs. These are the orange 10X10 foot portable contraptions that have static messages about traffic conditions.

Kevin

 

It wasn't me,but...i once knew a man who about 2 weeks ago took delivery of a Lamborghini Murcielago and drove it straight out of the showroom to a city called Hamilton about 1 hour away.The speed limit for the main was about 100kmh.Dying to test out his new toy,in a safe overtaking lane,he let rip and shot past 5 slower cars.Unfortunately there was a cop with a radar gun at the end of the passing lane obscured from view because of a nice long sweeper.The dealer had supplied a V1 as part of the deal,and the little sucker lit up like christmas with all sorts of beeps and baaaarps emiting from it.The guys wife said to him "good one idiot,1 drive and you get suspended for 6 months!".Fortunately with the V1 warning him in time,the guy slowed down close to the limit and passed the cop (who gave him a VERY black look like the guy had just had oral sex with his wife!!).Upon getting home and checking the Lambo's' top speed for trip' function on the onboard computer it showed a whopping 192kmh!!Praise the V1,for it saved the guys ***!Now heres a photo of er,...my friends Murcielago. (P.S-you can just see the V1 at the top of the screen)

 

Tell your "friend" close call.

There's a guy that lived down the road from me who just took delivary of his Mercielago. Its sorta funny cause he lives in dump of a house but has 2 Lambo's....the same one as above and an older Countash (sp). He also has a 50 foot cigarette boat in his front yard and a Fire Truck in the back yard......priorities....