This has prolly been asked a billion times but which one is the absolute best. The Valentine 1 or the Escort 8500 X-50. Both have great reviews. I currently have the regular 8500 and it works great. I just hate having to pay for calibration and stuff.

foobs

 

You're right...the topic is probably like beating a dead horse by now . I think it pretty much comes down to preference. I have a V1 and I love it. The reviews for the 8500 is also pretty good and there are people who have owned both and liked one or the other. Personally, I believe you get what you pay for

 

i have a Valentine 1, easy to hardwire, works awesome. no tickets. comes down to price and preference.

 

Absolutely! It's a total matter of preference. I've used both the V1 and the x50 (currently use the x50) and am very pleased with it. The x50 has a few more "advanced" radar user features, but I rarely use them. The V1 is also great and very well known in the radar community.

Either one you choose, you'll be happy!

 

V1 - I've never seen a defendant in court who had a V1.

 

V1 is permanently upgradeable. When a new one comes out, mail yours in, for like $100-150 you'll get the brand new one.

 

no kidding about being discussed to death. I don't think the performance differences between the 8500 and the V1 are really significant from what I can tell. You save $100 by going with the 8500, but the V1 gives you directional arrows. I don't think you'll really go wrong with either, but I wanted the directional arrows, hence I have a V1.

 

I have an 8500 x50 (blue display) and I love it--I have used a v1 as well and I like both of them, but the x50 (this is in my opinion) beats the v1 in Ka band detection range, but gets smashed in X band detection. Now, who needs X band protection nowadays? However, i got my first ticket since i have had the x50 on monday (6/13) for doing 85 in a 60--I ran into a laser trap. Detector worked just as it should (LIDAR is basically undectable until you are going through it) and it picked it up as I was going through it. I am a little angry (not at the detector, just the fact that the HWY patrol was actually using LIDAR so they can nab people with detectors, if they would have just used damn Ka then I would have been fine). Anyway, either way you go is fine, I just think the x50 is better b/c of the longer Ka range, and I turned off X band anyway since it isn't used around here.

Hockeyplay95

 

The only thing the v1 has going for it is the arrows, I don't like the fact that they haven't really done that much with it for so many years; its in desparate need of a new digital display for one. Both are upgradeable, the x50 matches if not exceeds the detection of the v1; they both are extremely well made. These are the "best of the best" you really can't go wrong with either if you think $100 is worth it for arrows go for it otherwise I would stick with the escort...

 

I went with the Escort 8500 and i haven't gotten a ticket since (knock on wood). Might sound stupid but the the reason i didn't choose the V1 is because it looks horrible....a big black square on your windshield....IMO the Escort looks sleaker and performs the same if not a tad better for the cheaper price...can't go wrong with that.

 

Looks are unimportant to me when it comes to a radar detector that works. Granted the V1 is not the best looking radar detector on the market, but from my experience and according to my buddy who calibrates radar guns, it's a WINNER!

Oh....btw, if you do a search, you'll see about a thousand posts that you might find useful.