[bamboobuild]

Hi folks,
Merry Christmas to all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I apologize for this question and I know it has been posted million times before Just need a quick verdict from anyone of you who has used either one of Escort 9500ix or Escort Redline.
Is there a substantial difference between the two?

Thanks

[avocet]

9500 has more features, redline more sensitivity.

Can't go wrong with either. Personally I would give up some sensitivity for a reduction in falses. The 9500 is a great commuter unit because you can block out known falses on your route.

[bamboobuild]

Thanks avocet. Does more sensitivity means it goes off all the time (even on door openers and mall security systems? )

[Coolieman1220]

V1

[jlcolon2001]

V1 ftw

[bamboobuild]

Coolieman, jlcolon,

Other than directional arrows, where else V1 dominates Escort?

This is going to be my first radar detector, Do I have to something special to have it installed or these units are plug and play?

[avocet]

units are plug and play. i disable all x band on my detectors, so that eliminates 95% of all falses. there is no x band used in B.C. i think it is used very little across n. america.

i have two 8500's and the x50 version tends to false a little more than the regular 8500... the x50 apparently has much greater sensitivity, so it makes sense. my bro has a redline, and it seems his falses way more than my x50. again, makes sense. the 9500 is essentially an x50 8500 with gps capability. i would LOVE to have that, but i already have two 8500's... just can't justify another one.... yet!

my 8500's have probably saved me over 15,000 dollars in points and fines over the 6-7 years i have had them. that is no lie. i have the x50 hardwired into my helmet for the motorcycles, and have the 8500 for the bimmer commuting.

before i had a bel, and i thought that was the cats ass at the time, and a uniden before. again, cats ass.

you will need to learn how to interpret the detector. if you think you can just plug it in and never get a ticket, you will be sorely disappointed.



i bought the regular 8500 because i sent the x50 in for an 80$ service. i just cant drive without one!!! lol. long out of warranty, they sent me what appears to be a brand new unit as "repaired". not bad eh? plus a new cord!

me? i am an escort believer. i have no experience with the valentine, but it seems there are just as many stories like mine with v1 users.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

V1

+1

[bamboobuild]

Wow lot of +1s for V1. Now I am completely confused.
Does V1 carries GPS?

[Coolieman1220]

get the v1, 30 day money back, you'll keep it. v1 looks cooler, its construction is of higher quality and it lasts longer. the bogey counter is very helpful as well the arrows are genius, whats the point of an alert if you have NO clue where it's coming from?

who needs a gps? learn how to read it and you'll be fine. rj11 wiring is easy too.

[Ricer X]

all good units, I prefer the 9500i

[anerbe]

Had the BEL STI, 7500, 8500, 8500, 8500x50 and now the V1. My 8500x50 kept overheating and cycled thru self calibration. My first 8500 got stolen and the second one also is stuck on self calibration. The magnesium case of the V1 has been ROCK solid. No overheating. Never a hiccup in its 7 years of running. The escorts were great when try worked, but I was always wary on their endurance and performance once they threw up errors.

[xG35c]

I just went from an older Escort 8500 to a new V1, and I'm not sure it was a good change. YES, it is remarkably sensitive and those arrows are nice to have BUT it picks up and tracks every K-band door opener on my urban commute, sometimes tracking the max of 9 at a time, as well as frequent laser falses from LED taillights and what must be the sun. I have changed the programming to calm it down a bit, but seeing it flashing like crazy even though the audio usually stays muted can still be annoying. I was probably a good candidate for a GPS enhanced Escort, and would pony up the additional hundred bucks if I did it again!

[bamboobuild]

Thank you all for your responses
Seeing last few comments on sensitivity, esp from xG35c.. I'll be driving mostly in Chicago downtown (lots of malls, automatic doors n all), I think Redline or V1 is going to be overly sensitive for my case?

[jlcolon2001]

Originally Posted by bamboobuild

Coolieman, jlcolon,

Other than directional arrows, where else V1 dominates Escort?

This is going to be my first radar detector, Do I have to something special to have it installed or these units are plug and play?

I have no experience with the Escort unit, but when I was looking for a radar detector I read good reviews of them too. The V1 was my fist radar detectors and all I can say is that since I bought it in 2002 I haven't got any speeding ticket. I drive 50+ miles to my work, 5 days a week in roads infected with police patrols. The arrows is what set the V1 apart from the competition. The ability to know the direction from where the radar is coming is priceless. This is by far the best investment I have made.

[eaglesfan83]

V1 +1!!! best investment I ever made. Has saved me from many many tickets.

[anerbe]

Originally Posted by bamboobuild

Thank you all for your responses
Seeing last few comments on sensitivity, esp from xG35c.. I'll be driving mostly in Chicago downtown (lots of malls, automatic doors n all), I think Redline or V1 is going to be overly sensitive for my case?

Mostly urban driving, I be very tempted with the GPS, but how much will you actually speed in a real urban setting. Ultimately you want a radar detector to pick up each and every potential threat. Any highway/road trip driving, V1 all the way. In these cases, you need all available information on your threats (location, type of radar) to avoid tickets.

[fl335i]

+1 for the V1. I've been running a V1 since 2002. Gave the 1st unit to a family member and I bought a 2nd one in 2008. Love it. I disable X band. It's a radar from the 1970's that only circle k doors use. Love the arrows and bogey counter.

[FCBuff]

V1. The arrows are the difference maker for me. Have had many an alert, look at the detector, and what do you know, signal is behind me. Ignore and drive on...

[SilverII]

9500ix

[hipnotic]

v1 without a doubt. only heard good things about them and plan on getting one too

[eppisgood]

Originally Posted by xG35c

I just went from an older Escort 8500 to a new V1, and I'm not sure it was a good change. YES, it is remarkably sensitive and those arrows are nice to have BUT it picks up and tracks every K-band door opener on my urban commute, sometimes tracking the max of 9 at a time, as well as frequent laser falses from LED taillights and what must be the sun. I have changed the programming to calm it down a bit, but seeing it flashing like crazy even though the audio usually stays muted can still be annoying. I was probably a good candidate for a GPS enhanced Escort, and would pony up the additional hundred bucks if I did it again!

Are you putting it in Logic mode? I feel you shouldn't get that many falses with a V1 in the uppercase L mode. I've never gotten a laser false with my V1 in it's life, 5 years now. I've only had a few laser hits as well, laser still isn't widely used out here (California) other than with our highway patrol, and even then 9 times out of 10 they are using Ka. I've never had law enforcement use K or X bands, so you can actually disable those if you feel comfortable enough.

And another +1 for V1.