The V1 is the most sensitive detector available. The Escort 9500 is a close second and the Bel STi is the third most sensitive detector. All of them will provide you with outstanding detection. You will have to read about the differences with each detector and decide for yourself. Example, the V1 has arrows, the 9500i has GPS functionality and the STi is totally immune to all radar detector detectors. If you live in an area where detectors are illegal, the STi is your only choice. I have both a V1 and STi and they are quite different. If the 9500i was undetectable by the Spectre, I would have purchased it over the STi. The 9500i is arguably the best radar detector currently available, but it extreme sensitivity is your number one factor, this is the detector you want. The arrows are fantastic and will help you find the location of the officer every time. With my STi I find myself looking everywhere for the officer and many times I'm unable to locate him. The STi's audio ramp up are horrible. It's detection range is great, even besting my V1 on 35.5 ka, but when valentine makes the V1 undetectable to Spectre IV I'm sending mine in for the upgrade.

radardetector.net is the best forum for RD information.

 

^ THanks, Great info there Virus

 

I've got 06 built in nav and a 8500xt. The radar is on everytime I drive. The nav is closed unless i need it which means it's closed 95% of the time.

You'll get much more use out of radar than you will with nav

 

^ I think EncoreCestMoi hit the nail on the head. My navi is in my glove box 98% of the time. I only bring it out if I'm going into unfamilar territory.

My radar detector on the other hand is mounted and on 100% of the time.

Lastly, all the detectors you're considering are good. My 1st choice would be the V1 and then the Escort.

 

I was wondering, does anyone use a radar detector where it is illegal in that state? I'm tryna get one for VA, I hate fatass cops.

 

i have v1 w/ latest upgrade. Trust me, go with v1 and you will never leave home without it. My v1 saved me so many times especially traveling from LA to SF on the 5 fwy. Go with v1 and you will not be sorry.

 

9500i. Garmin glove friendly gps.

 

I previously owned both the V1 and 8500 X50 and recently purchased the 9500ix. Both previous detectors worked well but the V1 had too many false alarms, imo. I will mention that my 8500 had to be returned on more than one occassion and I was really hesistant to purchase the 9500ix. The V1 does have the bogey counter and directional arrows but I found the directional arrows only useful on the highway. Other areas I always found it difficult to locate the source due to the arrows jumping around; usually due to multiple sources. With the expert meter on the 8500 X50, and 9500ix, you can see the frequency band of each source and their respective strengths. I ended up preferring the expert meter over the bogey counter but others may disagree.
The feature that sold me on the 9500ix is GPS. The autolearn function blocks the false alarms very well. It is amazing to drive without having any false alarms. I also like the fact that the detector visually lets you know that it is receiving a false alarm with a rotating satellite figure. I find myself paying much better attention to alarms since I rarely get a false alarm. It also has speed camera, red light camera and speed trap locations but I have not had one of these alerts yet.
The other detector I considered was the BEL GX65.
Honestly I think any of these detectors is worth consideration.

 

Unless you do a lot of driving in areas you are not familiar with go with the Valentine 1. By far the best unit out there

 

 

^^ hahaha, but welcome to forums, SJShore75.

 

Passport Escort has released a new product called Passport IQ. It`s pretty much serves both as a GPS and also a radar detector that is built in to a nicely packaged all-in-one unit. You guys should check it out :] And yessss let`s keep bringing old threads back to life! Haha jk. I second that paky. Welcome to g35driver, SJShore76