driver4t5's Full Review: Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar Detector
Oh, how I truly believe that speed limits are arbitrarily set by agents of The Man.
Weeks ago, I did a head-to-head comparison of the Passport 7500 and the Valentine One. This had the results of a man-vs-boy confrontation with the Valentine One thoroughly trouncing the little Passport. The Valentine stayed while the other went home. I also alluded to the coming of the Passport 8500, which was purported to be much stiffer competition. I ordered it after receiving the 7500 and seeing that it wasn't going to beat the Valentine. The backorder was a little over a month, but well worth the wait. This clocks in at $299, which is smack in the high-rent district, although still considerably cheaper than the $400 Valentine One. This model is currently NOT available in stores, however, I expect this to change when the initial demand crunch is met.
The Passport 8500 is the next-generation radar detector from the former Cincinnati Microwave. Though its shape is similar to the 7500 (with slightly larger exterior dimensions), its shade is not, opting instead for a silvery finish. I admit it looks quite sleek and pretty, but the last thing I want a detector to do is to draw undue attention from cops or thieves. Radar detectors should come ONLY in flat black. Any other color and the engineers might as well adorn it with a neon sign saying "STEAL ME".
Many of the features are a direct copy of the 7500, from the mounting to many of the displays and programmable options. For details on accessories, mounting, and specs, consult either my review of the 7500 or their website - www.escortradar.com as I try to keep the length of this review manageable.
Significant changes from the 7500 model that I will mention are an extended detection range, VG-2 invisibility, and the inclusion of the SmartCord MuteDisplay as standard equipment. I view all of these as positives, and the first two were DESPERATELY needed to keep up with the Valentine and the Bel-980, which is also emerging as serious competition. Another feature, SpecDisplay, shows the actual frequency of the signal. I don't see where this is useful at all. I just need to know X, K, Ka, or Laser, which are the four basic detection groups that exist and are picked up by the 8500. Fortunately Passport didn't disable this existing functionality. Other changes are minor and are primarily window dressing.
Three sensitivity controls exist: Auto, Highway, and City. I found these to be functionally equivalent to the 7500, with the same pros and cons. To tell the truth, I could paste the review of the 7500 in here and it would be 85% correct.
The real test is on the road. My benchmark is, of course, the aforementioned Valentine One. I put both radar detectors beside each other and began my normal driving rounds. Where I was most watchful was for K and Ka band frequency. These were chronic weakspots with the 7500 and I wanted to see if the 8500's boasts about improvement had substance.
Despite its increased sensitivity and range, the 8500 did no better or worse about alerting on false signals than the 7500. Still, this was better than the hair-trigger Valentine. X-band performance was slightly improved and was equivalent to the Valentine. It took a while to find some K-band as it's not used much in these parts, but when I did, both detectors sounded within a second of each other, with the Valentine enjoying a slight edge. Still, the Escort afforded enough time to react. The Troopers use Ka band and I ran into several nests of them along I-4 and I-95. The 8500 did INDEED have greatly improved performance. I was skeptical at first, but time after time it would chime in within a second of the Valentine and on occasion, beat the benchmark. While the Escort was still overall second, this was a much-improved performance.
The Achilles' Heel that still exists, though, is protection from behind. The Valentine did a much better job of reporting signals from the rear than the 8500. This is an area that the engineers must have overlooked during their zest to improve the K and Ka band performance. Generally rear attacks are rare, but it only takes one to ruin your day.
Florida does not use VG-2 detection nor Laser, so I could not run tests for these. Anyone wishing to sponsor my transport to a vicinity that uses these technologies is welcome to do so.
The 8500 comes with a one-year warranty and can be upgraded in th future in case the legal eagles bring out new artillery.
In the end analysis, I found the Passport 8500 to be a competent radar detector that is a fair value for its price and performs almost on a par with the Valentine One with the exception of 360-degree coverage. So was it worth keeping at $100 less? No it wasn't, although the decision was made easier with the 30-day money back guarantee that the 8500 offers and the fact that I'd be facing about a $50 loss selling my Valentine on Ebay. Escort is honorable about taking detectors back, as I experienced no hassles with shipping them the 7500 and getting a refund (though I ate the to and from postage). If I'd bought these at the same time, head-to-head, buying both new, I'd still go with the Valentine as its increased rear protection makes it worthwhile.
Passport 8500 made its presence known and scored some points. Unfortunately, it couldn't score enough points to dethrone the still-benchmark Valentine One. I recommend it as a secondary choice in the never-ending fight against The Man.
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