I have a 2008 Cabriolet and need advise on a what to get. I'm interested in something that is inconspicuous, easy to use and just plug in. What do you recommend and why. Thanks in advance!

 

Valentine One for dead-on reliability and piece of mind. For something inconspicuous (i.e. off of the dash or windshield and out of sight) you will probably want to go with installing something with front/rear reception and a dash mounted read-out.

 

I'd do a search, there's 20+ threads on Radar detectors.

 

+1

Your question is the same as asking the board which color Porsche should I buy.

 

Sorry guys. Didn't realize I was asking a dumb question, please excuse me.

 

Please don't take my sarcasm to mean you asked a dumb question. It was far from dumb. It is however one of those emotional questions like asking wheel preferences - only no cool pictures for us to all drool over and debate.

I love my V1, but you'll find lots of others who feel just as passionate about their Escort, etc.

 

Bought a used Valentine 1 for $250 (they go for $400 new) off craigslist. Since I bought it it has probably saved me literally at least a few thousands bucks in tickets and insurance increases.

I love it because it is directional and tells you where the radar is coming from, rear, side or front.

 

I've used V1 for a very long time and like others it has saved me countless times.

 

I am a long time Valentine 1 user and own three of them. They have saved me more times than I should mention. I like the fact they can be upgraded over time. I am not sure the others offer this. If you go with Valentine, you will have no regrets.

 

Count me as an Escort fan. Displays signal level and frequency of multiple radar sources simultaneously, even if they are different bands, GPS learns to ignore false alarms and still has great range and sensativity like the V1. Lots of other features too like a GPS based speedo and a voltmeter. But I buy if for the radar protection and it's never let me down, saving me lots of discussions with LEOs. I've owned a V1 and much prefer the Escort 9500ix

 

Just remember a radar detector is for radar and not lidar. No radar detector will give you enough time to slow down if you get hit with lidar. Very little scatter if the operator knows what they are doing.

 

My V1 has saved my bacon dozens of times.

 

+1 v1

 

V1 user for quite some time. The user needs to be aware that radar can alert the driver if the radar is being directed towards the car ahead of you. Your toast if you are the target especially if it is laser or "instant on" - not enough time for driver to respond and slow down.

So in some ways, it gives you a false sense of security if you are not aware of the signals the radar is emitting and sometimes it's just not your day. Ask me how I know...I've been pulled over twice, LEO paced me instead of using radar. V1 did not go off



Just my 0.2 cents.

 

get a 9500ci. it's not plug in though.

the rest of the plug in units don't offer laser shifting. v1, escort 9500ix, redline etc without laser shifting does very little in CA now. pretty much all CHP uses lasers. everyone with v1 says it's saved them. that's only true if radar is used. i have a v1 and i think it may have saved me a couple times in 2 years. i have also gotten aimed at with laser without any warning going off.