[trixie]

The performance of the 8500 may be over rated. I will even go so far as to say that Escort paid-off the "independent testers" (Radartest.com, etc) that successfully swayed my purchase away from the V1. This theory is hinted at by C&D after their recent testing concluded that the V1 was much superior to the 8500. If true, it wouldn't be the first time that a major detector manufacturer cheated.

I bought my 8500 in January 01 after my 1990 model Solo died. The durability of the micro-small, magnisium-cased 1990 Solo lasted long beyond obsolescence brought by Ka band. Thinking that I was an Escort loyalist and that the 8500 was the best, the purchase was easy. My 8500 died a few months back and I now question the reliability of the 8500 in addition to the ethics of Escort. I feel that I was robbed of $299 and I will never buy another product from Escort. I'm saving for a V1

 

[renov8r]

Escort hasn't been "Escort" for quite some time...

Back when Valentine worked for Cincinati Microwave and Escort was the best they were an excellent company that didn't need to cheat.

The holding company that bought Escort also owned Bel and they are not run by "tech heads".

Valentine is hard core!

The performance of the 8500 may be over rated. I will even go so far as to say that Escort paid-off the "independent testers" (Radartest.com, etc) that successfully swayed my purchase away from the V1. This theory is hinted at by C&D after their recent testing concluded that the V1 was much superior to the 8500. If true, it wouldn't be the first time that a major detector manufacturer cheated.

I bought my 8500 in January 01 after my 1990 model Solo died. The durability of the micro-small, magnisium-cased 1990 Solo lasted long beyond obsolescence brought by Ka band. Thinking that I was an Escort loyalist and that the 8500 was the best, the purchase was easy. My 8500 died a few months back and I now question the reliability of the 8500 in addition to the ethics of Escort. I feel that I was robbed of $299 and I will never buy another product from Escort. I'm saving for a V1

 

[teamTMS]

Valentine One baby!

I've had my Valentine One for many years, it has been through 3 upgrades (from non-laser, to front-only laser, and now to the latest smaller chasis with front/rear laser and a faster CPU).

So far (knock on wood) I've not gotten a single speeding ticket with the Valentine One. I use the concealed display on my MDX and my Integra (two kits each hardwired into the car).

I love my V1, would not trade it for an Escort. PERIOD.

My friends and I have tested the V1 against the Passport and Bel units (each time the V1 wins). Our test is by no means scientific, but we each have a detector in our cars. As we drive we notify each other via 2-way UHF radios (which gives us great radio range).

NOTE: some of the cheaper radar detectors read the UHF/VHF radio frequencies as radar signals and goes nuts for some reason.