Clean cars are radar/laser magnets!

[sneek]

I am starting to think that detailing makes us radar and laser targerts. I think that the police here like to target clean cars. The reason I say this is because i drive an accord ( not even close to fast) and they seem to like to tail me.

I am thinking about getting a radar detector because I am starting to find that police cars, marked and unmarked see to tailing me all the time !!

I don't think I am a lead foot but usually I am 5-10k over the speed limit just to keep up with the flow of trafic.

Does anyone have a Valintine V1? Bel RX65? I don't trust radartest.com because they have a feud with valintine one and also the guy from radar test does work for other radar companies

[jfelbab]

Cars that catch the eye also catch the law's eyes. I know they like to tail my "arrest-me red" MR2. I had one tail me for three miles and then when I pulled into the office parking lot he parked behind me and proceeded to check out the license stickers on my plates. I think he thought he was tailing a kid but when he saw an older guy his facial expression visibly softened.

That said, a decent radar detector is a lot of money ($300-$400). It is a lot cheaper to just change your driving habits to stay within 10% of the posted speed limit.

Unless you are on a very long trip the time saved by the few mph more you are running now is minimal at best.

[STG]

I have two Escort 8500 X50s. I prefer the 8500 X50 over the Valentine 1 after using the V1 for two months. The X50 is internally the same as the Bel RX65. For what it's worth the BLUE LED X50 is much more readable than the RED LED X50 - I have both.

Note that Mike Valentine uses a 2002 (!) Car and Driver radar detector test in his advertising. His V1 is compared to the older 8500, not the 8500 X50. Valentine like to quote the "latest" C and D test because THEY HAVEN'T PUBLISHED ON SINCE 2002.

The BEL RX65 and Escort 8500 X50 have beaten the V1 in most if not all other comparison tests published after 2002.

The X50 has an expert mode which will show simulateneous multiple hits. The arrows on the V1 are not useful to me.

If I get a Ka alert, I DO NOT CARE which direction it is comming from and I DO NOT not take the time to look at those arrows. I glance in the rearview looking for tailgaters as I slam on the brakes!

Here's Valentine's questionable ad:

[Teak]

Re: Clean cars are radar/laser magnets!

Originally posted by sneek
I don't think I am a lead foot but usually I am 5-10k over the speed limit just to keep up with the flow of trafic. [/B]

If you are keeping up with traffic you should not have a problem, just remember the 85% rule. The 85% rule is, you are not driving faster or slower than 85% of the traffic around you, you are keeping up, you pass some people and some people pass you. If you driving alone (no other traffic) and you 5-10 over the limit becareful, as tickets are free money for the municipalities and municipalities are tougher than others.

As to the original questions, yes police do look things out of the ordinary and shiny cars are usually out of ordinary.


Teak

[TrufflePig]

yeah cops sometimes have nothing better to do.

i once had a cop pull me over only to ask me my address. like come on, do something better with your time.

only becausae he saw some young kid, was the reason he pulled me over. literally, the pull over was like 45 seconds.

but yeah cops are attracted to nice cars because they think oh b/c they drive a nice car they must be able to afford the ticket etc...

[Paramedic]

Laser detectors usually work okay. If law enforcement is running traffic they will usually have the laser gun on standing outside the car and when the pull the trigger its too late! They already got your speed. The detectors do not go off until the pull the trigger. They do not emit any type of RF for the detectors to pick up. A radar detector will alert whenever the radar gun is on in the law enforcement car, as well as in the city due to security systems, drive thru intercom systems, and other interference. The safest way to NOT get a ticket is drive the speed limit with cruise controll if you have a lead foot!! Most cops sit and hide then turn the radar off and when the notice a fast car they will flip it on and check you out.
Cops definately have more things to do in medium or large cities to run traffic on people all day long. Some bigger depts have a traffic unit which all they pretty much do is enforce traffic and the other cops respond to calls, but the traffic units will handle incidents too, but they take the road rage compaints more often.

[Labtec]

always when i drive by police cars they stare at me like i was robbery the bank, i have cheap laser detector whistler brand, its maybe not the best but its enough for me because i always drive under the speed limit

[SiriusRIMZ]

x2 on the Escort 8500 50X. I had mine stolen recently (another story) but it saved me many many times. Its a great radar, and is as good if not better than a V1. It IS worth the money.

[RamAirV1]

V1 rules, though the RX65 and X50 are pretty good too. V1 will pick up laser scatter, the others will usually not. Nothing is going to protect you 100%. You have to pay attention to your surroundings. My V1 has more than paid for itself many times over. Cops here will ticket you for 5 over!

Driving at the 85th percentile speed here, which is 15-20 MPH over the posted speed limit, will get you a ticket in a hurry.

And the arrows and bogey counter are extremely valuable. Many times I have passed a cop thinking it was the radar car, only to find out, thanks to the arrows, that he was still waiting down the road. If I was running a BEL or Escort, I would have gotten a ticket.

Cops don't pay as much attention to me when I'm driving the GTO comapred to the TA. Never got a ticket in the TA (nor the GTO), even though the Meguiarized black certainly was attention getting. The black TA is a poor radar target due to the black (non metallic) paint, and the RamAir fiberglass hood. In controlled testing, with several passes, a top of the line Ka band radar could only pick it up at abouit 520 ft. A Vette would be even better with the all fiberglass body.

Get a black car with pop up headlights, and no front plate, and you are almost invisible to laser.

RamAirV1

[2001somws6]

My car coor sticks out like a sore thumb. And how shiney i make it. I use radar all the time. And it has paid off many times.

Just becareful there not pacing you. And not to weave in and out of traffic.

[RamAirV1]

Originally posted by 2001somws6
My car coor sticks out like a sore thumb. And how shiney i make it. I use radar all the time. And it has paid off many times.

Just becareful there not pacing you. And not to weave in and out of traffic.

When I ordered my TA they had one on the floor the same color as yours. That sure is an eye-catcher! You don't see that color a lot, though many TA owners were seeking that color!

Good point about the weaving in and out. I gave that up a long time ago. That really helps to keep one out of trouble.

RamAirV1

[Lydia]

As to the original questions, yes police do look things out of the ordinary and shiny cars are usually out of ordinary.

I'm beginning to realize that a little more. Not that my truck is especially shiny (I'm ususally too busy working or detailing other cars to do mine lol), but I have white racing stripes on a dark green truck, so I often have police watching me closely, or following me. Sometimes other people look at me weird too, because I don't usually go much over the speed limit, and they expect someone with racing stripes to go faster.

Anyways, like he said up there, police look at things out of the ordinary.

[sneek]

Can the X50 detect if the police are behind you?

my cars not even "nice" its a silver 2003 accord sedan... i don't really consider it nice, but it is clean!

[STG]

The X50 can and does detect radar gun to the rear of your car. Radar signals bounce off objects, including vehicles, buildings, signs, etc. in front of you and are reflected into the front mounted X50 antenna.

Mine can pick up a Ka band signal 2,000 ft. + behind me in town.

The V1 has a rear antenna, but it's value is questionable. For it to function, You must mount the V1 with a clear line of sight out the back window. If you have a pickup truck with a load. or are towing a trailer - forget it. In a regular passenger car, this means you need to mount the V1 just below the rear view mirror so the rear facing antenna can be between the front passengers, and front seats/head rests. Make suire that nobody sits in the middle of your rear seat.

Mounting the V1 so high on the windshield compromises its ability to detect laser / laser scatter.

Laser is very difficult to detect because of its extremely narrow beam. Laser manufacturers recommend that officers aim laser guns (all laser guns must be aimed and shot like a pistol) at :

1. Front license plate

2. Headlights.

(Both arte lighly reflective.)

Since officers are aiming lasers BELOW THE HOOD LINE OF YOUR VEHICLE, your radar/laser detector needs to be as low as possible on your windshield.

So you have a choice with the V1. A marginal benefit at rear radar detection and a loss in front laser detection, or better front laser detection at the cost of rear radar detection.

If you do mount a V1 just under your rear view mirror, you have three problems:

The V1 is in your line of sight and partially obstructs your vision.

Thje power cord runs from the unit to your power socket, right down the middle of your windshield. (You have to hard wire the V1, tapping into a dome light to avoid this.)

The V1's display is highly visible to police behind you. remember the clear line of sight for the rear antenna out the back window? You can use the V1's optional remote display - Extra $$ - standard with the X50, but the remote displays are on the power plugs for both detectors. Depending on where your power socket is - in the middle of your dashbord or down on your consel, you may or may not see it easily.

[Monk]

Aren't there lots of detectors on the market. My local shop is touting some unit that has front and rear capabilities for about $2500. No way am I spending that. But aren't there alternatives to the X50 and V1. I would not trust anyone who uses and old C&D study and calls it the "latest"