Beltronics STi Driver Radar Detector

[G35sedan03]

Just asking for input on this radar detector. I'm pretty sure this is the one i'm getting. Found a place online where it is being sold for $395 + $15 shipping. so far the cheapest i can find. Anyone here have any other places where it could be cheaper? TIA.

[G35sedan03]

bump for anyone?

[Tian]

I have it hard wired in and I love it!

[G35sedan03]

Originally Posted by Gr8One

I have it hard wired in and I love it!

isn't that option like over $1000 to have it concealed and installed?

[kyle5486]

no its not over $1000...he probably just got the power wire concealed which only costs about $30...

[Tian]

Originally Posted by kyle5486

no its not over $1000...he probably just got the power wire concealed which only costs about $30...

Correct. I have pics on a thread here somewhere.

[ckg35]

I was told that the STi has the same detector guts and sensitivity as the RX65 Pro, but with better shielding.

They said save your money with the RX 65 unless you live in a State where detectors are illegal adn need Spectre invisiblility.

[Gordgee]

I used to buy BEL almost exclusively from 1979 to 1996. Never again!

[InTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Gordgee

I used to buy BEL almost exclusively from 1979 to 1996. Never again!

Do tell...

[RBull]

^+1

[Gordgee]

I've owned mostly BELs for years and the last one was a BEL 645STi, or something like that. Whenever a new model came out, if there were significant improvements, I sold or retired my old units. My final one froze after about a 1 1/2 years of use, and I called BEL to find out how to do a reset of the unit for which they had previously provided me instructions.

This time, they refused to tell me how to reset the unit and told me that the unit froze because I did not shut off the detector manually before unplugging it or shutting off the car if my lighter plug was switched.

I protested that virtually everyone that I knew just turned their cars off without first manually turning off their detectors and that it was ridiculous that the RD had to be turned off each and every time. I simply wanted the reset sequence that had worked before. The rep advised that their policy was that they were no longer providing the reset sequence and the unit had to be shipped in each time and the service charge out of warranty was about $85! After escalating this to a manager, they reluctantly provided the reset sequence which worked fine, as it had with previous models.

After trying a friend's 5 year old V-1, I wondered why I kept following Craig Peterson's advice in previous years. I bought my V-1 in 1998, and have never regretted it despite trying various others (fair trials of about a week at a time). I finally sent in my 10 year old V-1 for the up-grade ($189 for a brand new unit with all new accessories and full year warranty!). For the past 2 weeks, I've been using a new Escort 8500 x50 to see if it's a reasonable alternative. I'll post a review of the 8500 x50 if I get the chance, but I'll just say my new V-1 is arriving on Monday, and I can't wait to return the x50!

So, though I haven't tried the new model BELs, I doubt I would ever buy one again.

[nr2d]

I have had the STi in both my '06 and '08 G35X sedans. I have it mounted just above the nav screen. I used rubber electronic equipment box "feet", 2 at each point, for a total of 6 "feet". You can get these "feet" @ radio Shack. I also have hard wired it in using the Beltronics wire harness. It works great.

Rich Dunklee
NR2D