Purchased an Escort 8500 x50 (red) before going on a 6 hour trip from Raleigh, NC to Helen, GA (Oktoberfest baby!). I'd been toying with getting one and I figured this was a perfect opportunity to get and test one. 245.7 of my approx 350 miles (one way) was on Interstate 85, so most of my results were under a-typical highway conditions. Drive times were 6am-12:45pm on sat. and 12:15pm-6:00pm mon. (just to give you an idea of conditions). My comparison was against a pretty run-of-the-mill approx $100 Cobra radar detector I have used for about 3 years that I was given as a gift.

My reason for purchasing the 8500 x50 over the V1 was several fold. First, the V1 hasn't been updated in years, and it looks like it too. I understand looks do not = performance, but when I'm driving a luxury sports coupe, appearance plays a larger factor than when I was driving my 97 Ford Mustang. Secondly, I read many excellent reviews, with just as many putting the x50 over the V1 as there were ones doing the reverse. Third, I was leaving in less than 24 hours, and you can't exactly go to your local retail outlet and pick up a V1 (which I think is stupid, btw).

So it came down to looks vs. arrows (signal direction arrows on the V1) vs. availablility. The x50 won. Grabbed it from Best Buy on the way home, knowing full well I could save some $ on ebay, but I needed it for the trip the next day, and I managed to convince myself that after shipping it would not be THAT big of a difference (shut up, shut up) than getting it on ebay.

Besides the sturdy packaging (better be for $300+), the first thing I noticed was the substantial size of this guy. Much bigger than my $100 Cobra. I also like the suction-cup-window-mount much more than my Cobra. The cobra slid onto it's window mount much like the x50, but the x50 has a "latch" mechanism that is engaged/disengaged by a top button. This means that when I floor the car from a dead stop, the x50 does not become a flying death missle headed towards my head like the cobra did. The x50 would have to either 1.) detach from the window (suction cups give way) or 2.) God would have to push the top release button of the x50 in order for this thing to go anywhere.

The coiled power wire is cheesy, as are all coiled power wires. The x50 power adapter does have an "alert" light that flashes whenever the radar detector gets any sort of alert. The adapter also has a "MUTE" button. I found the "alert" light and mute button on the power adapter completely useless. I have a powered cell phone mount coming out of the drivers side cig. lighter, so the detector had to be plugged into the passenger side. Unfortunately, not only can you not reach the adapter when it is plugged into the passenger side, you can't see it either. I was ok with this, however, as I plan to mount it from my rear-view mirror and use hard-wire it to the mirror power wires. I might buy the remote alert/mute kit and run it somewhere driver-seat accessible, don't know.

The display and buttons are intuitive. I almost instantly knew how to change the modes of the detector (city, highway, auto) and display "DIM" settings without looking. The "MUTE" button on the actual detector (vs. the mute button on the power adapter) is really annoying. It's part of the display, so it's hard to see. I also have a hard time knowing whether I pushed it or not. I'm also afraid of pushing too hard and making the suction-cup mirror mount give or move or whatever. The mute button is stupid, rethink that Escort - it's not like you do not have plenty of unused button real estate on this thing...

It's loud enough. My Cobra was too quiet to hear if I was in the middle of a ROCK OUT fest. With the x50 put to Piercing mode or whatever it's called (loud mode? I forget) and the volume cranked, it's plenty loud. It lets you add an external speaker too if you want, that's kinda neat (considering integrating it into my car PC system with this ability).

As for performance, I was really impressed. The sensitivity on it is very good, several times I picked up a cop loooong before he could have ever clocked me. It also picked up cops that were behind me. All in all, I felt confident in pushing my speeds a little higher than usual (I usually go about 9-10 miles over, I pushed it to 15) with the x50 on my side.

Yes there are false positives, but I don't mind this. You start to get a sense for what is and is not a false positive anyways, and I'd rather make this choice than have the radar detector make it for me. Because of this, I left the detector on "Highway" most of the time, only switching to "Auto" when I was in a signficantly developed area (with automatic doors, security systems, etc). Auto does effectively decrease false positives.

I plan on ordering these this week:

http://mysite.verizon.net/ccm.gerber/quickconnect.htm
http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/Conn...rRadarDetector

to get the thing off of my windshield and under my rearview mirror. I'll let you know how that power adapter works (if it works) as there has been no feedback about it that I can find.

All in all I'm very happy so far. Things I wish were different:

- A better remote display (like the V1) so I could leave the display off completely and use a remote one.

- Mute button on the detector sucks

- I wish the color was amber instead of red

- Directional arrows would be w00t

Do I regret the purchase? No. Would I buy it again? Yes.

 

correction. The V1 has been updated recently to include POP detection.

and you should get a laser shifter since it integrates well with the 8500.
I have the V1 and zr3 laser shifter. I can attest that both work excellently.

 

Yes I plan on getting a laser shifter at some point. Probably after it's too late

 

You shouldn't have to use the Mute button at all if you have Auto mute enabled. Also be sure to change the display to the multi-bar graph mode which tells you the number and strength of different signals. And definately hardwire it.

 

I already have it in ExpertMode. The auto-mute is nice, yes, but sometimes I want to mute it immediately. For example, this weekend I stayed at a Hampton Inn. Everytime I drove up to the hotel the detector would start going nuts. I would have liked to press the button immediately, rather than waiting for it to auto-mute. Similiarly, there are several places along my daily commute that always trip a false positive. I would like to mute those immediately rather than wait for auto-mute.

 

Having owned a V1 for a few years and recently driving my brothers car with the x50, I would still side with the V1 despite the cost difference. One thing that bothered me was that the mount that comes with the x50 allows the unit to "bounce" on bumpy roads since it only holds one end of the unt. The V1 mounts holds the unit and allows for a third point to pivot on the glass limiting movement. Also, after having the arrows/bogey counter on the V1, I was less comfortable not knowing where the signals were coming from using the x50. I'm sure for some, the arrows doesn't make a difference but it makes a big difference for me in situations where you're side by side with another car speeding and a cop is coming from behind with radar noticing you light up your brakes. In those situations, with the arrows, I would just let off the gas and draw less attention to myself knowing the G35 LEDs are fairly bright.

 

As would be expected. I have never read or heard of a V1 owner saying they would go with any radar detector other than the V1 they own. Likewise, I have never read or heard of an x50 owner say they would ever own anything other than their x50.

I have not really experienced this as of yet, but I also do not think this is much of a problem as I will be getting the rearview mirror mount, which is much more sturdy and allows the detector to be kept in place a little better by having the detector resting against the bottom side of the mirror.

First I'd like to mention that the x50 does, in essence, have a bogey counter, so really the arrows are the only "feature" that the v1 has that the x50 does not. Secondly, your presented scenario is definately interesting, and begs a couple of questions.

First, I know that Radar guns used by police use an "Average" speed. I know this for several reasons. First, my buddy is a cop and confirmed this. Secondly, if you notice I said "he confirmed this"... I knew to ask him this question because I was pulled a few years back. I was going about 95+ in a 65 and was being extremely aware of my surroundings because of it - specifically I was looking back and checking merge ramps onto the highway, as I knew they loved to sit on those and clock people. This was a 4 lane interstate with medium traffic density. Past a ramp, looked back, State trooper. I slam on the breaks but he pulls off and catches up to me, pulling me and asking me to come back to the car with him. He points out the radar reading on his gun and says he clocked me at 90, but that 90 was an average, and as I slammed on my breaks I was probably going faster than 90. Still, he could only write me down for what the gun said. Luckily he wrote me down for 85, which allowed me to plead it down to 74 (9 and under = no insurance points in NC at least).

In this scenario, which is much like yours, if you simply let off the gas, you actually raise your average speed, and actually hurt yourself more, than if you slam on the breaks.

So yes, you are less "obvious", but is that a good trade off? Honest question, I do not know the answer.

I agree that the V1 definately is an excellent product, I never said it was not equal, or perhaps better than the x50, so there is no need for anyone to defend it. My review includes taking into consideration that for as many people who love the V1 there are as many who love the x50. Additionally, after weighing the appearance of the units, the arrows on the V1 and the purchase availablility, the x50 won.

To each his own, thanks for your all your feedback, more is welcome. Radar fascinates me, so does finding ways to get one over on the cops, as legally as possible

I have one of those radar-detector sized Uniden BearCat police scanners. Been thinking about integrating that into my car, it's pretty sweet.

 

Based on my scenario of getting tagged from behind, it will only help if there are more than 1 car on the road and if it's more of a boarderline speeding situation. You obviously were going well beyond the speed limit and after lighting up your brakes immediately drew attention to yourself if the radar gun didn't already.

Say if two cars were traveling side by side 10mph over the limit, you notice the radar signal from behind you and let off the gas while the other guy keeps going. That would make it appear as if he's speeding and not you. Or, if both of you had a radar detectors that went off at the same time. You would let off the gas while he slams on the brakes expecting the speed trap ahead of him when it's actually behind both of you. Cop sees the brake lights and focuses attention to him while you cruise back down to the speed limit. Sure, I might be over analyzing the situation but similar events has happened to me.

 

Don't over analyze Espresso; I recommend slowing down asap as long as there's no one on your tail. Slowing down gradually is better, but if the cop is right there its too late and your only chance is to react quickly before he locks in a high reading. The idea is you see him before you have to screw around with slamming on the brakes, but sometimes its your only option.

Anyway the only thing so far that bugs me about the Escort is the POP detection gives me a TON of false alarms (probably why the default is OFF), so many in fact I will have to turn off this detection; I don't know how the v1 is with POP.

 

I have the "blue" version. I went with the bracket that was being sold on the 350z forum - seems pretty similar. Go and get yourself a couple of the sticky rubber feet to place on the 8500 where it contacts the rear view mirror - that will eliminate any virbration/rattles. I tried to make my own quick connect. The fit is way too tight on the sockets. I finally went and stripped the wires with an exacto blade to tie into. Works great!

 

Good look. I was going to pick up some velcro or something for a solution so that way the damn thing doesent drive me nuts with the rattling anymore.

I really want to run it to the mirror, but I really like my auto-mute button down by the cig lighter, but its going to be a much bigger pain to get that to work.