The next thing I'm going to be buying will either be a GPS or a radar detector. I'm torn between the two, but right now I'm leaning towords a radar detector. I know the only two worth even considering are the Escort and Valentine. Is the Valentine really that good? At least I can get the Escort at a store rather than buying online. Any comments?

 

I just did the GPS, and have done the radar detectors in the past. All in all, the GPS is a really nice addition.


I got the Lowrance iWay 500C after much research and plus it has a $100 rebate on it right now. I have only had it for a couple of days and it has already proven it's self a worthy addition.


On the note of detectors, I have had many in the past and they are only as good as your interpretation of the warning signals. After my last one failed I decided that if I ever wanted that type of toy again I would go down the radar jamming device path instead of the alert system. BTW, I have gotten tickets in the past even with the detector. (Music, side tracked and BAMMMMMMMMMM)

 

personally i would go with the GPS. i have had mine almost a year and over here in Germany where the sings are not easy to read for me it has done more then prove its self worthy of taking up realestate on the windsheild.

I have a bell detector and honestly i havent had any issues with it at all.

Most of the time they are more for name then other things you cna get a cheap one that will detect most things around you.

When driving truck they were illegal so of course i never had one in my truck BUT my bird dog was just as good as the rest of them on the market and i paid less then a 100.00 for him. and it would pick up more things then some of the fancy ones.

But again it all comes in to what you hear or how you precive what your hearing.

if i had to look at one or the other the GPS would take it in a heart beat.

If you travel alot or even at all it is great.
I hav emine set up for the bike,car,mountain bike, walking etc...
I can go acrossed town and find a addresse and pretty much garuntee it will find it with in a block of where i want to g even if all i have is the street and a 100's block of the place.

for me it is well worth it after a long time of hunting addresses in a big truck and trailer to drive right to it with out having to do anything but look at it or listen to them tell where to go (the wife being the other one) is well worth the money i spent on it.

 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAS JAMMER'S THAT WORK. I DRIVE OVER 120 MILES PER DAY THEY WORK
GPS OR OK BUT UNLESS YOU DRIVE A LOT IN UNKNOWN AREA'S MAKES IT A PLAY THING
RADAR DETECTORS OR JAMMERS WORK ANYWHERE ANYTIME

[IMG]local://upfiles/99/06900D8EFD0A43F7AC683F4B0D89E243.jpg[/IMG]

 

Yep that's the thing. I drive the same route everyday so a GPS isn't really that important to me. I think I would benefit much more from a radar detector.

 

If they are like the old one they work great till you forget to turn them off and go threw a 25mph zone with it jamming you at 55mph. and you eat a ticket for it.

Seen this one happen.

So i never looked in to them after that. but i would love to find out more about them and how the newer ones work.

I know the old ones from back in the days where they were really crude workign and looking im sure they ahve gotten better now.

 

I just got the escort today and it is sweet. I love how it comes with a case and everything. In the parking lot of the store I installed it, and right as I pulled out of the lot K-band started going off. Sure enough about 5 cars ahead was a black crown-vic. I can't wait to try it on the interstate.

 

I have a Valentine 1 and a Streetpilot 2620. I don't know which I'd give up first. The V1 is awesome, far better than anything else on the market, I think. The SP is a great gps, easy to use and easy to see, day or night.

My .02

 

From what I have read between the V1 and Escort, the V1 goes off with more false alerts than the Escort. The upsides of the V1 are that it has a rear radar detector and the arrows.

I went on a 100 mile interstate trip not to long ago and the Escort was picking up every cop at least 1 mile away. I even got a POP warning way before I could even see the cop.

 

From what I have read...the high-end Escorts and Beltronics are supposed to be the best. I saw a huge and in-depth review online. If I can find it, I will post it.