Don't skimp out on the last detector you'll ever buy
Written: Mar 12 '08
Product Rating:
Effectiveness:
Ease of Use:
Durability:
Pros: Directional arrows, counter, currently the most sensitive detector on the market, tough casing
Cons: Lots of false positives due to sensitive detection
The Bottom Line: Save up for the V1 and avoid the urge to pick up the cheaper competition. The V1 beats them hands-down in features that matter, sensitivity, and build quality.
tomboyster's Full Review: Valentine One V1 Radar Detector
After my last (out of three) Escort X50 detector went haywire, I finally bit the bullet to see if paying a premium for a V1 would get me a better detector. Well, I must thank Escort for helping me open my eyes to what I've been missing all this time.
I've read lots of comments for and against the V1's bogey counter and directional arrows and I think it's safe to say that most of the negative comments are from proud Escort owners who have never owned a V1. I was one of those; I loved the Escort's sleek look with written alerts, not just flashing lights and beeps, so going to a V1 seemed like a downgrade, so I didn't care about the arrows and only slightly better sensitivity according to the reviews. Boy, was I wrong.
The bogey counter tells you how many are around you which is very helpful when there are two traps ahead of you. The most important feature is the directional arrows and rear-antenna - you will toss out your detector 'with 360 degree detection' when you come across radar ahead AND behind you. You know where they are and more importantly, the rear antenna is as sensitive as the front one and not an afterthought marketing "dimple" off to the side.
I've read reviews that say the V1 is only slightly better than the competition in certain situations and in using the V1 in real driving, I can conclude that there is NO comparison - the V1 is significantly more sensitive in the city and VERY significantly on the highway. For me, the extra warning time over my X50 averages out to about 30 seconds in the city and about 2-3 MINUTES on the highway.
The only negative point I've read others mentioning is more false positives due to the super-sensitive nature of the unit. That's something I can live with, knowing that it will pick up a real signal well before the competition.
My conclusion? Save up for the V1. The features blow the competition out of the water and you can even see and feel the difference in build quality - it has a metal casing, not plastic. It's not cheap though, and that's why most people go for the competition.
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