I need other sets of eyes on this so please help if you can. Bear with me as I explain. Based upon reviews here and elsewhere and the good experiences of one of my business partners, I went to buy and have installed an Escort 9500ci today. My take is there is a slight edge in the reviews for LI diffusers and the V1 radar detector, but the 9500ci is thought to be a very good system and up to the job. The dealer I went to see is highly thought of and has been doing high end installs for many years. However, he voiced strong opinions against the 9500ci which he has installed many of. He said Escort has not updated it in years due to patent litigation with other makers and some laser guns have been developed that it cannot defeat. He said that after a 9500ci customer got a laser based speeding ticket, his shop tested it on a cop buddy's laser gun and it failed. He stated that our area has these new guns out in numbers.
He was very high on a Beltronics STIR Plus, together with a LI Quad diffuser. He quoted $2800 for them installed. Installed price on the 9500ci was $1820. He was putting the STIR/LI Quad system in a Ferrari FF in his shop and said it was the system of choice for new Ferraris sold by our local dealer.
Current internet prices for these components (uninstalled) are STIR--$1300, LI Quad--$900, 9500ci--$1700.
I admit that I have no expertise on these systems and maybe I missed completely on my read of actual customer's experiences with the 9500ci. But I also never heard any mention of the claims he made despite reading a boat load of stuff. He also said he didn't make any more profit on one system than the other, but Internet prices seem not to bear that out given his price quotes.
So what's up with this? Is there new gun technology Escort hasn't caught up with? Is the STIR Plus/LI Quad system so much better than the 9500ci? Is the 9500ci worth $1820? Is the other worth an extra $1000?

 

So he's charging you 600 to install the STIR/LI Quad system. And the escort MSRP may be 1700, but in reality they're sold all day for ~1300. So he's charging ~500 to install it. I'd say he's being honest about not making more money one way or the other.
I've had nothing buy good experiences with the 9500ci and it has saved me many times. But the LI diffusers are well regarded. Up to you what you choose - if the thousand isn't a big deal jump up, if it is, the escort system will provide very very good protection. There are some threads out there about newer laser guns not being jammed by the escort, so if they're used in your area might want to think about jumping to the LI system.

 

I paid over $3000 for my 9500ci installed. Either way, you're getting a good deal!

 

9500ci saved me numerous times and I personally tested it with a laser gun and it works well, same goes for radar. Dealer seems to be full of ****.

 

I would go with the LI paired with the V1. The 9500ci is a good system as well but the LI systems are more advanced. Shop around a little bit and Im sure you can find them cheaper. The V1 is great, I run that also and the arrows have saved me a number of times. They allow you to know exactly where the cops are which can very helpful. Good luck.

 

I have an Escort Passport SRX which is likely ~ 5 yrs old now. It has defended my car numerous times & I can't complain. The "speed tax collectors" in my area use a variety of detection systems (laser, photo radar, etc) to make their quotas & even if my system is not the latest technology, it works great.

 

I use the 9500ci with three front units and the rear view mirror installation in all of my cars - couldn't be happier with the level of protection afforded combined with the unobtrusive display.

 

Youre going to a dealer for this? No wonder it seems like you are getting hosed. You know that dealers just hire local installers and double the price they get? Find a good local installer for the stuff. You can get what you want and not get hosed.

 

Thanks to those who provided info on the two countermeasure systems I asked about in the OP. I went with the STIR Plus/LI Quad system. The dealer did a nice job on the installation, fitting the two control modules inside the useless ashtray.
When I picked it up there was a brand new McLaren Spider with the top down in his shop getting the same system installed. Wow. That thing oozes speed.

 

very cool, you got a great price!