I ordered a V1 given the high marks and raves from different ones. But I have a quick observation when it came in today. It's huge!! Any of you find it to be way too big? I know it's supposed to be good, but any of you find issue with it? It makes it so conspicuous and just looks a little outdated from purely the "box" perspective... Any thoughts? Other detectors I've seen are so much smaller...

 

if you think the new ones are huge, you dont want to see the older versions...ill trade ya!

 

hes got a point, i had the old version myself. Now i have the new one, Way smaller and lighter... Its not bad though. Just mount it out of the way and you will never notice it.

 

That's the one thing that's always put me off on the V1, even though it performs great. I'm going to pick up an X50 Blue since I think it will look nice and perform well.

 

I am interested in getting one as well.

Could you possibly take comparison pictures of it? So I can comprehend actually how big it is?

Also, when you guys say "older models", you just mean radar detectors in general, right? There aren't older/ newer models for the V1?

 

i mean older versions of the v1. the newer ones (iirc software v1.8 and above) are smaller than the previous versions. i have software v1.7 which i think was the last of the bigger case. i dont really mind the size. mine is mounted to the left of the rearview mirror. doesnt bother me at all.

 

I really don't care about the size of the radar. I rather have a bigger radar than paying for a ticket.All i know i had the x50 and the v1 side by side and the v1 came out no.1 everytime there was a cop. The x50 picked up more junk than anything i can imagine. Those x50 are better off helping you to locate an automatic door.

 

Hmmm, I may have to re-think this out. I thought they performed on par with each other. I'm so used to all the escort false alarms and thought the x50 was better in this area. Sounds like the V1 is tops.

 

I've never had a V1 but my x50 pings off at the same places going back and forth to work every morning from automatic doors.

If I was a cop, I could make a killing. Just get an x50 and find the spots where the automatic doors set it off and park right there.

Damn officer, I thought you were the automatic door!

But seriously, my x50 works ok. On the highway, autodoors are not a problem and in the city I'm usually not doing 90 in highly populated areas
around shopping malls and gas stations. My x50 goes off on the trip back and forth to work at several places from autodoors. I know where those places are

I've had my x50 go off several times when I was at the bottom of a hill
the cop was at the bottom of the other side of the hill popping people as they came over the crest of the hill. Not sure how a radar detector can pick up a cop thru a hill but they can.

 

no issues with it.. its fine

 

I switched from a Passport 8500 to a V1. IIRC, the V1 is actually thinner, but wider.

Regardless, it's hardwired next to the rearview, and is completely out of the way - you won't notice it.

 

I'm getting tint soon and trying to chose between a metal, ceramic, or dye/metal combo tint. Does anyone know if metal tint on the rear windshield will decrease the range of a V1 detector when the radar signal is coming from behind? How about metal tint on the front side windows? Will that decrease range for side radar signals?

I currently have the old 8500 (not x50) and Im tired of all the false alarms every time I pass a business/store. I will get a V1 soon, at least they have the 30 day return if I don't like it.

 

Has anyone hardwired their V1 yet? Any issues or roadblocks with the install?

 

Its going to be hard to find someone who has both on hand. Since you can send in the old models for the upgrade. Thats what i did with my old one and it came back visually i guess you could say the same except the new style is about 1/4 inch less in height. I dont recall any length diffs.

As far as performance i was a beltronics man till 1998, i got an escort and had it for about 2 weeks when i returned it. It used to go off randomly on the expressway and i could never find a reason. I went directly for a v1 after that and have never looked back. People will bitch that the v1 has no features but all i need myself is my radar detector to DETECT! Thats all, and a mute button ! No other bells needed. Once you have the arrows, you WILL wonder how you ever made it without them. The V1 is really the best choice for serious drivers.

 

any other weigh ins about the V1? Any supporters of other brands?