As the title says... If you had a choice to get one, which would you get... GPS or a Radar detector? the GPS would most likley be the garmin nuvi or a used kenwood/navigation unit and the radar detector would most likley be the v1 or the escort. So which buy first?

 

I think it depends on how much driving you are going to do in areas you aren't familiar with. If your like me and do 95% driving around town then get a radar det. I have a Beltronics 940 and I cant imagine anything else working much better most of the time it will alert before the cop is visible. If you do go the gps route, look on ebay. I just got a new nuvii 250w for my wife for 180.00

 

I agree completely! The first thing I did when I bought my car was purchase a radar which has already paid for itself 10x over!

The good thing about both is that you can use them in any vehicle, at anytime. I was going to buy a gps unit but have managed to get along just fine without one b/c I don't travel outside of the area I know very often. When I drive a car without a radar, I feel vulnerable!

 

Right now I am doing 70% of my driving in area I know, so GPS is not really needed right now. But in a few month I am going to be doing 100% of my driving in an area I am unfimiliar with. BUt I dont want to get any tickets. So i dunno

 

well if you were looking to pay full retail on the garmin or the v1, look into the belltronics and the nuvii on ebay. you can probably get both. I would not steer you wrong on the detector. I used a passport for years before the I got the 940 and I will never buy another escort/passport. I think there over priced. I haven't got the nuvii yet so I cant speak for that, but the price was definitely good. one thing I can say is the "w" models look much nicer than the square screen

 

I'd say get the radar detector first. I have the V1 and would never drive without it.

 

Is there any major differences from the v1, escort, and beltronics?

 

Escort 9500i pwns

 

From what I'm told, Bel and Escort are the exact same thing with different names! The valentine is a totally separate entity altogether.

The only major benefit to using the V1 is that you get the little arrows pointing to where the radar is coming from; but as far as performance goes I hear it is pretty much a wash b/t the V1 and the 8500 x50. I haven't used the escort 9500 or the bel version of this unit so I can't comment on its performance but I hear the benefit to using the 9500 over the 8500 is a reduction in the number of false alarms the detector puts out!

 

V1 shows you where and how many cops around you. Once you see it in action you can't live without it. What other detector can do it? AFAIR this technology is patented and therefore avilable only in V1.

 

Where can I purchase a V1 for the best price? also what is the newest model number out? I want the most uptodate model out there.

 

Ask yourself what situation would you rather avoid more. The chance of getting lost or being pulled over? In the perfect world, you'd have both but for now, I think the radar detector and mapquest will suit you best.

 

V1 is their only model and you can upgrade any unit by sending it back to manufacturer. I suggest you to read their website, they give a great explanation of how and why it works. Google "valentine v1".
As for purchase, I purchased mine from Valentine Labs directly but you probably can find something used. They all should be equivalent in performance.

 

Not really, the V1 pwns.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

 

Thats cool! I guess the v1 is worth the extra bucks. I don't think I'm going to junk my bell, but that is good to know.