Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
A Passport 8500 or a V1?
The simple answer is: do you mind getting tickets or not? There isn't a single indepndent test that the V1 doesn't win. Don't pay attention to ads, pay attention to independent tests. There is only 1 best and then there is the cr*p everyone else sells. Buy a Passport if you don't want the best protection. Buy a V1 if you are serious about speeding.
V1's are only sold directly through Valentine. The price is fixed at $399. All other radar detectors are sold through dealers. Even used ones on E-bay go for as high as $385. The V1 is the best and everything else is...well, everything else. (stop being cheap and buy a V1)
I already have another V1 wiring kit and remote display for my G when it arrives.
04' G35 Coupe(on order)
6-sp Diamond Graphite/Willow w/Premium
The simple answer is: do you mind getting tickets or not? There isn't a single indepndent test that the V1 doesn't win. Don't pay attention to ads, pay attention to independent tests. There is only 1 best and then there is the cr*p everyone else sells. Buy a Passport if you don't want the best protection. Buy a V1 if you are serious about speeding.
V1's are only sold directly through Valentine. The price is fixed at $399. All other radar detectors are sold through dealers. Even used ones on E-bay go for as high as $385. The V1 is the best and everything else is...well, everything else. (stop being cheap and buy a V1)
I already have another V1 wiring kit and remote display for my G when it arrives.
04' G35 Coupe(on order)
6-sp Diamond Graphite/Willow w/Premium
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
This is a picture of the main unit positioned behind the rear view mirror. The right hand side of the unit, the side with the rear facing radar detection, has an uninterrupted view out the back window. The unit is not visible from the driver's side, it is blocked by the mirror.
88848-ValentineMirror Position.JPG
88848-ValentineMirror Position.JPG
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
That looks a little low. Can you see yours from outside the car from the front? I have mine behind the sunglass holder with the sensor sticking out of the side so you can't see it from outside the vehicle.
Russ
Black w/willow, 6MT, nav, & aero
Jax, FL
Russ
Black w/willow, 6MT, nav, & aero
Jax, FL
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
There isn't a single indepndent test that the V1 doesn't win. Don't pay attention to ads, pay attention to independent tests. There is only 1 best and then there is the cr*p everyone else sells.
Have you ever read the independent tests at radartest.com? The Passport 8500 beats the Valentine1 there. And that's a independent test.
BTW, there are people that believe that the V1 advertising dollars do quite a bit for it's reputation, if you know what I mean. I don't know when the last time I've read a Car and Driver magazine without a Valentine1 full page ad. They advertise as much as Tire Rack in Car and Driver. No wonder Valentine wins their radar tests.
All I'm saying is that you should keep an open mind. Sure, the V1 has got to be a great detector, but the Passport is a great detector too. I've also read many times that the Passport has a much better "falsing" performance than the V1.
Have you ever read the independent tests at radartest.com? The Passport 8500 beats the Valentine1 there. And that's a independent test.
BTW, there are people that believe that the V1 advertising dollars do quite a bit for it's reputation, if you know what I mean. I don't know when the last time I've read a Car and Driver magazine without a Valentine1 full page ad. They advertise as much as Tire Rack in Car and Driver. No wonder Valentine wins their radar tests.
All I'm saying is that you should keep an open mind. Sure, the V1 has got to be a great detector, but the Passport is a great detector too. I've also read many times that the Passport has a much better "falsing" performance than the V1.
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
Anyone happen to come up with the cost of a replacement ash tray door yet? I suppose I could just remove the whole unit and replace it with an insert, but it's going to be hard to color and texture match my black dash. Or maybe I should try matching it to the silver buttons, or the chrome trim around the temperature and volume buttons.
-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe
Titanium '03 MX-5 Shinsen #532
-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe
Titanium '03 MX-5 Shinsen #532
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
-----------------------------------------------
That looks a little low. Can you see yours from outside the car from the front? I have mine behind the sunglass holder with the sensor sticking out of the side so you can't see it from outside the vehicle.
Russ
---------------------------------------------------
The manufacturer suggests mounting the unit as high as possible on the windshield, near the centre, with uninterrupted views out the front and back. They also recommend keeping the unit below the tint line of the front windshield, which may degrade the signal. Other then that placement is at the driver's discresion.
That looks a little low. Can you see yours from outside the car from the front? I have mine behind the sunglass holder with the sensor sticking out of the side so you can't see it from outside the vehicle.
Russ
---------------------------------------------------
The manufacturer suggests mounting the unit as high as possible on the windshield, near the centre, with uninterrupted views out the front and back. They also recommend keeping the unit below the tint line of the front windshield, which may degrade the signal. Other then that placement is at the driver's discresion.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
Jack,
No - I'm still waiting for Jayson at Nissan Wholesale Parts to get back to me with the cost.
Larry
Larry Bushaw - 6MT coupe - "Objects in mirror are losing!"
No - I'm still waiting for Jayson at Nissan Wholesale Parts to get back to me with the cost.
Larry
Larry Bushaw - 6MT coupe - "Objects in mirror are losing!"
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Billerica, MA
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
Hey zorro, the only place it's illegal in the US is Virginia and Washington D.C.
As far as radartest.com, the guy who operates that page is the biggest moron I've seen. He has got a personal vendetta against Mike Valentine and Patrick Bedard from Car and Driver. Yes, Patrick Bedard has helped Mike Valentine in V1 research. BUT, C+D has always been very honest and extremely objective in how it tests their vehicles and radar detectors. They claim to buy every unit independent of manufacturer. Even the V1. They don't just test from straight ahead, they actually do some real world testing. Check out the Q&A from radartest.com. I forget the guys name, but someone asks him if there are problems between him and Mike Valentine. He claims that he is innocent of any pissing contest and says that whatever friction is strictly be Valentines' doing. Over the next page or so, he then goes on to bash Valentine again and again to the point it's juvenile.
I've seen Automobile rate V1 behind others based on ergonomics and falsing. The V1 is smaller now and is never obsolete. You can upgrade. I just bought a new unit last spring. I just sent my 9 year old unit back to get upgraded for my parents' anniversary gift. They just bought an extremely fast Subaru Forester XT.
Anyway, the V1 is by far the best with it's superior range, arrows, indicators and bogey alerts.
As far as radartest.com, the guy who operates that page is the biggest moron I've seen. He has got a personal vendetta against Mike Valentine and Patrick Bedard from Car and Driver. Yes, Patrick Bedard has helped Mike Valentine in V1 research. BUT, C+D has always been very honest and extremely objective in how it tests their vehicles and radar detectors. They claim to buy every unit independent of manufacturer. Even the V1. They don't just test from straight ahead, they actually do some real world testing. Check out the Q&A from radartest.com. I forget the guys name, but someone asks him if there are problems between him and Mike Valentine. He claims that he is innocent of any pissing contest and says that whatever friction is strictly be Valentines' doing. Over the next page or so, he then goes on to bash Valentine again and again to the point it's juvenile.
I've seen Automobile rate V1 behind others based on ergonomics and falsing. The V1 is smaller now and is never obsolete. You can upgrade. I just bought a new unit last spring. I just sent my 9 year old unit back to get upgraded for my parents' anniversary gift. They just bought an extremely fast Subaru Forester XT.
Anyway, the V1 is by far the best with it's superior range, arrows, indicators and bogey alerts.
Re: Valentine 1: In-Dash Installation
The guy's name is Craig Peterson. Even when the V-1 soundly trounced all others in a test that he did, he only reluctantly gave it top spot. He then made several rather erroneous statements to try to discredit the V-1 even after he gave it #1.
<font color=green>GG</font color=green>
<font color=green>GG</font color=green>
