which are the best radar detectors for under $100 - i've looked all over the place and i keep getting mixed reviews about each one so i've turned to the scion community to help me out -

which one do you use?
how sensitive is it?
how good is the range?
and is it durable?

btw i get my scion monday biznatches!

 

Warning - non helpful post ahead.

From what I can gather, nearly all radar detectors under 100 bucks are all but useful. Not to mention, it doesn't garauntee you won't get a ticket. I'd recommend just staying within reasonable amount of the speed limits, and take your hundred dollars and take a bath in 1000 pennies.

 

i am allergic to copper

 

^^1000 pennies is just 10 dollars...
no radar detector will guarantee that you won't get a ticket... not even the top end ones... though some state that they will pay for your first ticket... blah blah... i wouldn't get one... save your money.. and get something else...

 

I got a rocky mountain radar from overstock.com that was $210 for $79 on a limited number deal.

But otherwise the other cheaper ones really are crap.
Maybe a second hand decent one from ebay?

 

i've heard good stuff about valentine.
in ohio, they almost always use laser...and they are good too. they will be just after a bridge, bouncing it off the mirror and nab you.
i just try not to speed

 

I have a Escort Passport 8500 x50. They're pretty good for the price.

 

ive had several different brands and types of detectors and so called jammers, none work well enough to justify their price. the jammers dont do anything and the detectors always seem to detect everything but the cops and when they do its usually too late.

becides you cant safely go 100-150 mph on any road in america that would have a cop on it and whats the point of speeding if you cant go that fast? you wont get anywere significantly quicker unless youre driving across the country and you lose all that time you make up stoppin for gas.

 

the only "radar detectors" that actaully work are these things that go in the front of your car behind the grill. what a cop does is shoots his laser at your license plate/grill area of the car. then jammers then scramble the radar reading on his gun, by this time your radar detector should beep and you slow down so when the cop shoots at your front windshield your down to a decent speed. this system is like over $500 I heard so take my advice and just drive the speed limit

 

DAMN! they're gettin gooooood with this stuff....

 

I use the Escort Solo S2. I haven't gotten a speeding ticket since I have had it. I have had it for 2 years. I do a lot of driving across the south east states. I have put at least 50,000-70,000 miles while using this detector. It is a cordless detector but you can get the smart cord power cord for it and the range will be a little better. Its can also be upgraded with the latest software to run the newer freqencies that come out but Escourt is the only one able to do this. I paid $315 for it and it was work every cent! I have only a a few false alarms with this detector. If you buy a detector for $100-$150 you will have thousands of false alarms, I gaurantee this. I had a cobra radar detector before this one I paid around $100, all that detector was good for was false alarms.

 

police scanner? works better ;)

 

i have a cobra radar detector that i got a few months ago. even though it does give plenty of false alarms it does a good job of detecting the police hear in florida. it has 3 different lights for 3 different warnings. 1 is for a false alarm, 1 is for a cop, and 1 is for emergency vehicles. and i'm happy with the product. sure it's not fool proof but it does give a little peace of mind from some of those sneaky cops.

 

Last one I used was a Valentine One I borrowed from a buddy for a trip.

If I were into speeding,and thought I needed a radar detector, there is nothing I've ever used, or been around (my dad is a truck driver) that I would compare to the range and accuracy of the V1. Sure it's $400, but it is an awesome piece.

 

I dont think 100 is enough... Get a nice one. If you drive fast then spen dthe money and it will help a ton, but if you just want to have an idea of where cops are, then buy a cheap one. THis is an item where if you buy the best (valentine, 8500 x50) you will see a difference.

 

k40 calibre looks very nice.

laser and radar detection front and back. laser diffusion. bluetooth techhnology for wireless readings. and custom console install so you only had a couple of extra blinking leds under the speedo.

hmm, but it's about $1600 installed.

www.k40.com

 

You want to go get yourself a Valentine 1... The thing is just AMAZING!!!!...

http://www.valentine1.com/

 

You can also get a Laser Jammer. Those however run $1300. And yes they are leagal. Lasers are lasers, so therefore your not breaking FCC harmful interference laws. I can garentee that cops wont like it, and probably will give you more grief.. but they won't know how fast your going.

 

a police scanner wont do me too much because... well... the only conversation ill probably hear is "ok i am about to pull over this kid in a tc: - which therefore provides me no protection

 

to be honest, i have a laser jammer and its sweet, but where i live (and drive) i dont encounter laser speed traps much. But again, buy the very best you can afford. It will pay for itself the first time you dont get a ticket going 100.