Every body swears by Valentine 1. From my own experience, the 8500-x50 is a far better detector. Performance and looks wise. I owned both. Although the arrow indicators are very useful.

 

Anyone else? I am about to push the click button to buy a Valentine. Do the arrows really work? I think it would be great to know I am getting a reading from the side and I can ignore it but this one is coming from up the road ahead so I better slow down.

I do like the look of the Escort better but I am sure I will like the look a speeding ticket even less. I want the one that lessens the chance of the speeding ticket them most.

2003.5 5AT Sedan Black/Black Premium/Winter Packages

 

I have the Escort 8500 myself and I think it's great.

Their detection capabilities are about even, so main differences is on features:

V1
1. arrows

8500
1. costs much less (~$250 new vs $400)
2. less false positives
3. auto-mute

Both will tell you the number of bogeys, although the 8500 uses a bar chart format rather than a number, but this indicates the strength of each individual signal.

 

Don't leave the Escort out in the sun all of the time. I have seen several start saying service required, and they tell you not to leave it in the sunlight. I swapped my guts out with another and returned it. Problem fixed.

6MT Leather/Aero/Premium/18's

 

Buy either. I think they both have a 30 day return, if you don't like the way they work. I tried the 8500 (not the -x50) for a week and perferred my old V-1. Others prefer the Passport. I know a few times when the arrows saved my butt with radar coming up from behind on the highway.

Different looks, different philosophy and design. Your choice. Look at after-sales and long-term service as well.

<font color=blue>[i]GroundingGear™ Equipped </font color=blue>

 

Can We get some more feedback on this??? I'm in the market for one and I was completely sold on the Valentine till I read this....Please Help!!!

Danny

 

Since they both have 30 day returns, just get both and return the one you don't like.

 

Does anybody have any pics of their radar install hard wired? I've read some of the installs in the DIY section but there's no pics on the actual install. Thanks!

 

Here's a pic of my hardwired 8500 using Mike's mount. I ran the wire up into the head liner, over to the driver side A piller, down to the driver side lighter socket. You can also see where I installed my Blitz R-VIT. Ignore the mess in the back of my garage :P



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I have owned two Escorts and four V1s and swear by the V1. The arrows are especially helpful. Also consider this. For most areas of the USA, X band is not used by enforcement personnel. It is old technology, but is still used to open doors in shopping centers, etc. Often, a real pain for most radar detectors in that it produces false alerts. With the V1, you can disable X band completely.

03G35c/C_Blue/Willow/5AT/Prem/Splash/ SteetPilot 2610/V1/SAT/XM/Borla True Dual Exhaust/Gialla Grille/Z Intake/Dynamat Door Kit.

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Both the V1 and Escort can disable X band. The Escort, however, has better false detection and the auto-mute feature is nice.

 

I have the Passport 8500 as well, and I love it. I'm looking at the new 8500, but I may also try out the Valentine to see which I like better.

 

i dont understand why more people dont see this as a location question.... v1's and 8500's pick up different radar in different situations differently. I have read many reviews testing detectors and such and i really think it comes down to personal preference of not only features... but what kind of protection it provides. For example one may detect better over hills (something that i dont really need out in southeast texas where it is always flat lol).... now some may detect better around turns or whatever or around trees or something.... something i would want because i live in a community called "the woodlands" which as u may have guessed has nothing but 100 foot tall pine trees all around.. also by the same token 8500 detects pop radar whereas the v1 may detect laser better (im not sure sinc ei havent read the reviews in a while). So whatever ur police force there uses.... is what u would want to base ur decision on. Bottom line.... ur not going to be disapointed with either.

2004 Black on Black g coupe 6spd.... aluminum pedals, clear corners, z tube, and pop charger. soon to have 19" volk gt-c's and PIAA xtreme whites in the clearance and corners
Houston Texas

 

Raznips,

well stated.

g35mt

 

I didn't know the X band could be disabled! I bought an 8500 x50 and it went off on the X band all the time so I returned it. Guess I should have read my manual before returning it... Hmmm....

2004.5 G35 Sedan 5AT Diamond Graphite/Graphite Leather
Premium / Bose / Sport / Aero / Sunroof / Tint / Bra / K&N / XM