Can anyone recommend an affordable radar detector that works?

 

affordable is a relative term.

might be good if people knew what your budget is so we can recommend something for you that would be feasable. there are A LOT of options out there.


how much you looking to spend?

 

I have the escort passport 9500ix and I love it but it's 499. I paid 400 but that was during the special holiday season.

 

Have the 9500i and would not want any other detector! This does the job exceedingly well and picked it up for 302 new during a sale. Original price $450.

 

escort 8500, works like a charm. ~$250 ish

 

Valentine1 Radar. Brand new $425 shipped. I got my gf the latest model used for $250. That's the going rate for a 1.8 model.

 

9500ix is definitely worth it. Picked mine up for $430 shipped, brand new.

 

9500ix plus a Laser Interceptor
Laser Interceptor - The Ultimate Laser Jammer - Official Website - Exclusive Factory Authorized Distributor to The USA and Canada - Home

Radar works for radar and very little for laser. Had to buy a laser jammer to deal with those.

 

Laser detectors are tough, as it is usually too late once detected.

I have the 9500ix and love it.

 

V1 is the best. I've had mine for a like 2 months and it can get annoying sometimes when youre on the phone and it goes off, but its well worth it to avoid a ticket.

 

I have the Bel V995. Paid for itself 10x. You can find it in the 200-300 range.

 

Valentine1 Radar and don't worry about the price....Think more about how much it will end up saving you....

 

I don't speed a lot, 10 over at the most on the interstate, usually 5 over everywhere else, but I am still considering getting one just because I don't like them hiding out and finding any other excuse to pull me over. Do you think a higher end detector will be worth the money?

 

honestly, no. There's one out there that claims the company will pay tickets for a year IF yu get them...but i wouldnt believe that and there's always a catch.

Radar detectors, IN MY OPINION, are only good for when officers leave radar on, sitting on the side of the road doing paperwork or something OR if an officer comes from behind you and drives with the radar on. If they have a radar/laser gun you're fuq'd. By the time they pull that trigger and you an react to slow sown after the detector goes off, they already have you.

There's a laser jammer out there that looks interesting. Looks like it works well, but I'm sure officers have something to combat it already.

Truth be told, my personal belief, a detector only saves you if you're zoning out to the music and not paying attention to how fast you're going IF you should happen to be where that officer dong paperwork is. They're a false sense of security IMHO and just another way companies can suck money out of the public.

Do I have one? Yep it's a $175 cobra.
Has it save me? Yep 10x over what it costs
Have I gotten nailed even though I had it? Yep, didn't even matter I had one.
Do I think spending $400+ on a detector is smart? No, but to each their own.
Will I buy a 9500ix? Yep...eventually just cause I want one.

 

Most Highway Patrol now use Ka band. This band will reflect as it is not as narrow as laser. Most of the time you will have a warning before being in eyesight range. In the unfortunate times where you are traveling alone on a hiway, you may get tagged. There is a cop that sits at the bottom of a hill where I work. I always get a warning way before I can see him as he is busy checking other car's downhill speed. Let's just say I have a tendency to go too fast down this hill as I have a short lunch break & forget. This is where the unit pays for itself. On the other hand, Laser is becoming more prevalent now. If your detector signals laser, it is probably too late as these are very pinpoint accurate & offer little or no reflection.