Pros: Easy to use, Flexibility, Sensitivity, A few new features including POP protection. Cons: Still expensive, Blue LCD costs $40.
I purchased my first Escort Passport 8500 back in '00 and had owned it up until last year. Because I rarely go over the speed limit, I made the decision to sell my 8500 along with my collection of miscellaneous radar devices. I have since learned the ...
Pros: Superior detection capabilities. Loaded with customizable features. Nice design. Cons: Expensive.
In the ever competitive cat and mouse chase world of police radar and drivers who want 'protection' from their lead-foot driving tendencies, radar detection companies are always trying to keep in step with the radar gun producing folks who are doing...
Pros: Much improved K and Ka band range, sleek design, easy mounting, easier storage, SmartCord Cons: Flashy color attracts undesirables, poor rear protection.
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...
Pros: Does its job and does it well. ExpertMeter. High quality item, too. Cons: Lacking voice feature, maybe? Of course, a bit pricey.
There I was! White-knuckled and sweating, pedal to the metal... flying down the interstate at 100 mph. I suppose there were a lot of things on my mind as I flew towards Dallas, TX in a borrowed 1997 Jaguar XK8 (review to come, I promise), but being ...
Pros: Clean/Clear display; Band selectable; Customized for driver Cons: EZ Program! NOT!; Long unit; Windshield mount
The Escort name has been around for over 20 years. They have dominated the detector market with the Original Escort, Escort Passport, and late 80s Solo. After one of the founders had departed from the company (Mike Valentine) the company hasn't produced...
Pros: Bright LED lights, detects and warns off safety issues immediately, easy to use Cons: None
As good ole Sammy Hagar would say ~ I can't drive "55"!!! I want to, but I can't. I am what you would call a "Defensive Driver". I am very safe, very aware, and have no other distractions when I drive, i.e.; I don't text, play with the radio, read, gab ...
Pros: Excellent proven detection ability, robust programming options, good looks, great warranty fulfillment Cons: Easily marred plastic case
Intro Although I live in a state where radar detectors are completely verboten, I purchased one in Joliet, IL, while on a cross country road trip. Until I reached California, the trusty Escort 8500 gave its occasional beeps, chirps, and buzzes to ...
Pros: detects most radar well, small Cons: not the best in its price range
I have been using this radar detector a great deal lately because of some troubles I have had with my vehicle which have forced me to drive my friends car a bit. He has owned this radar detector for some time and has said that it generally has done a...
Pros: Programmable, High Performance Detection, Easy to Mute Cons: Expensive
Background
My commute to and from work puts me in my car about 2 hours a day. I have owned escort and passport radar detectors for about 15 years and have never been disappointed.
Pros: Good Sensitivity, Good Price, Upgradable, Covers All Bands Cons: Lacks Features of V1, Silver Color Is More Appealing To Theives
For the many people who require the best protection from cops and who can't afford the Valentine One comes the Escort Passport 8500! The Passport 8500 is $100 less than the Valentine, and it is put up as a very competent competitor. I was able to use a...
Pros: soothing HP blue display, automute is a must, raspy brap alerts not annoying, smartcord Cons: no SWS on x50, length, no voice, no directional arrows
After hours of reviewing articles, radar tests at speedzones.com, radartest.com, http://www.radar-detectors.com
,
motortrend.com and others, I narrowed it down to x50, rx65, and V1. Not an easy choice for me. THE SKINNY ON THE THREE DETECTORS escort ...
Pros: Detection range, very little falsing, FREQUENCY DETECTION, travel case Cons: Silver paint, no autobrightness, V1 windshield mount is much smarter
For those who have read already this review please go right to the bottom and see an update as of 10/20/09. For those who have read already this review please go right to the bottom and see an update as of 10/26/08. For those who have ...
Pros: Expert Meter, loud, audibly distinct alerts, soothing red display Cons: expensive, windshield mount is flimsy
My previous radar detector was a Whistler 1490, I loved the text display, and it seemed to be a quite sensitive detector, sometimes *too* sensitive, falsing when there was no radar around and I was the only vehicle on the road, it would often false with ...
Pros: Performance (for the short time it works) Cons: Quality, Reliability, and price
I won't bother with any glowing performance reviews. Others have pretty much filled this space with them and I agree, it is a great detector - WHEN IT WORKS! I purchased one of these units from an online retailer in the Spring of 2004. By the end of ...
Pros: Extremely sensitive, Nice looking, Smart Cord Mute, customizable Cons: Pricey, seems to be a lack of quality control
BACKGROUND I have had Escort Radar detectors all the way back since they were owned by Cincinnati Radar and the detector had an analog signal meter and was the size of a the entire box the new ones come in. I've since been through a 4500, ...
Pros: good all around detector. among pinnacle of detectors Cons: just 2 k/ka band signals at once, range on x/k band less than v1.
The package: The Passport 8500 comes in a metal case with instruction manual, smart power cord, windshield mount with suction cups, and additional suction cups. The windshield mount is a small piece of metal bent into a V shape that can be bent if ...
Pros: Multi-functional display, AUTO mode, silver color, trade-in allowance Cons: Not that small, For $300 hardwire kit should also be standard
I had been contemplating getting a new detector for a while and had been eyeing the 8500 and the V1, but quite honestly, my old Passport 4500 had been performing faithfully and I couldn't justify the cost. Well my wife took care of that, it was a...
Pros: Increased Ka sensitivity, ZR3 laser shifter compatibility, Expert mode. Cons: No way of knowing if Radar is coming from Front or Rear.
The Escort Passport X50 radar detector has been released. http://www.escortradar.com/x50
.htm
According to the hype on the webpage, there are only a few improvements over the old basic 8500 model. Most importantly, it has a little better range over ...
Pros: Excellent range, great sensitivity. Cons: Doesn't save you from Laser, price is better than V1 but still expensive.
I got my Passport 8500 on December 9, 2003 and I wanted to wait before I posted about the quality of the detector. I figure two months of testing allow me to give a fair analysis of this detectors performance. I did substantial research on the ...
Pros: Great detection, sound, well built, sturdy, easy to use. Cons: Suction cups don't do hot weather well.
Road trip! My wife and I had a trip planned to Texas from North Carolina. The last time I made that trip I bought a Bell 880 and it worked well enough for that trip. The Bell 880 which I wrote a review on broke shortly after that trip and I wouldn't...
Pros: Sensitivity, programmability, headphone jack, voltmeter Cons: weight, silver finish causes reflections and draws attention
The Passport 8500 is simply a tremendous detector. I've owned a variety of models over the years from Uniden, Whistler, and Bel, and I can say they're all worthless when it all comes down to it.
Pros: Detection range, programming options, Smart Cord.
Cons: No choice of hardwire/cigar-lighter cord, few too many false alerts...but pros far outweigh cons.
READ THIS FIRST: Following is my original Escort Passport 8500 review exactly as submitted in 2003. Read to the end where I have added comments on my newly-purchased 8500 X50, August, 2004. ORIGINAL 8500 REVIEW: ...
Pros: Quiet, sleek form factor, excellent range, expert meter Cons: no direction information, limited rear range
If not, you may not get it before the holidays.
I ordered a couple of weeks before thanksgiving and it took about 2 weeks to get the 8500 (not counting the Thanksgiving weekend). Actually, that was better than the 3-4 weeks I was quoted by...
Pros: Performance, ease of use, looks Cons: May be a bit of a wait until Escort gets caught up with orders
Well, maybe not a massacre, but the Passport 8500 may be enough to make Valentine think about a new model, new pricing, or a new design. During a recent car caravan to a football game (Go Blue!), my new Passport 8500 actually picked up a state trooper's...
Pros: Excellent sensitivity, limited amount of falses,good features, well built, solid Cons: Poor company web site, no visor clip
We just purchased our new car, a Chrysler 300m, and it was also time to upgrade our radar detection. I didn't need a new one, just wanted a new one, and because of this situation, it gave me a lot of time to do my research and come to a decision. Believe...
Pros: Range,traveling case,display,easy to use,very small amount of false alerts,did I mention range? Cons: It might be helpful to have some sort of directional finder for radar
After reading some fine reviews on this site and many others and then coming to the conclusion that the 2 best are the escort 8500 and the V1.I decided to make a purchase I called V1 and they told me that it would take up to 2 weeks before I received one...
Pros: Performance. Cons: Laser detection is useless.
I am by no means an expert on radar detectors. I have used them for many years, but never purchased a really good (expensive) one until I bought the Passport 8500. I did a lot of research into other detectors and decided this was the best one for me....
Pros: Most "bang for the buck." Minimal falsing. Doesn't look like a "little black box." Cons: Heavier than most detectors in its class.
Windshield mounting clip is not the best design.
I have owned my Escort Passport 8500 for 6 years now and it still performs the same as the day I bought it, that is to say, outstanding! COMPETITION... Valentine One, BEL 970/980 PERFORMANCE... First and foremost, Escort Passport 8500 ...
Pros: Good Detection, Ease of use, Selection of Programmable Options. Cons: Relative Price, Size, Color, Display in Expert Mode hard to read
For those of you considering the purchase of a high end radar detector (Passport, Bel, Valentine) my best advice to you is to do your online research. I have read tons of material about the nature of radar, radar detectors, and online reviews (like this...
Pros: Sleek look, good range, programable features, top of the line Cons: non-direction capability
Here is it guys my opinion of the two best radar detectors out there. Depending on who you listen too these two detectors are by far the best in the pack of high end detectors.
Recently I upgraded my vehicle to a high end sport sedan so the...
Pros: Extreme range, DSP Processing, few falses (no more banks!), well built. Cons: Not loud enough, sometimes Ka is detected too far away to be useful, lol.
First of all, let's clear up the confusion about the whole Passport 8500 vs. Valentine 1 fiasco, but let's do it in a clear and truthful manner presented solely with facts. No hype, no bias, just facts.
Pros: Works like a charm, great range, auto mode is wonderful. Cons: Not in the stores yet.
I have had my Passport 8500 for about a month and have been very happy with it.
This last weekend I was driving out 101 east (many speed traps) and was a little worried about my new $300, radar detector. I have yet to see a cop and have had very...
Pros: Excellent Range, Easy programmability, Looks great.
Carrying case is great for storing/hiding the passport Cons: Suction cups and windshield holder are flimsy
Company does not value customers
I bought the Escort Passport 8500 X50 last year when it first hit stores. I picked it up at Best Buy and was eager to install it in my car. It looked cool, with its LED screen and it was easy to program, which was great. It took me 5 minutes to ...
Pros: The best radar detector I have ever used Cons: None at this time
Let me start out by saying that the X50 is the best radar detector I have ever used and it paid for itself the very first day I used it. I have used many detectors over the years including the Valentine One and nothing can touch the 8500. I have ...
Pros: Smart Cord, ExpertMeter, Range, AutoMute, AutoSensitivity mode Cons: Blue Display costs more than the Red Display
I have had five radar detectors during my 25 years of driving. I am not an expert, but I can offer an opinion on the X50. During my 25 years, radar detectors have improved. Each detector I owned seemed to be better than the prior, until the Escort ...
Pros: Great range over all. EZ progaming, Alerts Loud enough. Cons: Besides a few false alerts, NONE. Visor mount would be nice.
Price: I purchased this unit at Best Buy in San Antonio Texas.I walked out with the whole package for $324.74 tax and all. Ya it was kinda steep but why settle for something less that does not save you. Plus I felt better buying it from a store because I ...
Pros: Excellent Sensitivity, Minimal Falses, Advanced Meter Cons: No Radar Direction
A couple of months ago, the Passport in my new Pathfinder stopped working. I needed a good detector for my long business trips in the Pathfinder and that I could use in my wife's car when I used that.
Pros: KA, K Range excellent Cons: Read my story, No voice alerts ,numeric numbers with strength bar should be added
I was traveling on I-35 south from Austin, Tx to Corpus Christi, Tx and in order for this occur I had to travel through San Antonio. I am in college and have always had high end radar detectors through my years here ( I previously owned a Bel vector ...
Pros: Best photo camera radar detection at this time. Therefore, most sensitive radar detector now. Cons: Display slanted away from driver (if in Asia or Europe). Case is longer than RX65.
Well, after about 2 weeks of testing the new RX65 and the X50 together, it turns out that.... surprisingly, the X50 does indeed react faster than the RX65 and warns earlier. We did not do any of the "simulated" testing that some organizations like ...
Pros: windshield mount, volume level Cons: ExpertMeter is a gimmick, Smartcord isn't too smart
As far as radar detectors go, I am quite a fanatic. I have personally owned and tested nearly any decent detector out there.
A partial list:Escort, DSP Escort, Passport, Passport 4200,4500,5000,6800,7500,8500,Bel 535i, 745STi,846i,880,980,Nearly...
Pros: build, features, accuracy Cons: price, fit, need to reset unit at times if left on in cig lighter
Though this unit is not the cheapest on the market for a detector that picks up virtually all types of radar, it is a solid performer. The X50 red is the size of a large remote control and has decent hardware that makes installation and mounting a ...
Pros: usually gives ample warning on K, good protection from front, looks nice Cons: Escort lies to it customers, needs more laser sensitivity and radar sensitivity
***Update*** That's right guys Mike Valentine has once again made the best radar detector in the world even better. How is that possible? My friend ordered a V1 and on the top of the box was a letter telling of the Valentine POP protection update. ...
Pros: Many very useful features, good instructions, good detection Cons: limited rear detection (like you really need rear detection)
I was about to purchase a Valentine 1 for my cross-country trek for spring break, but after reading the reviews here I opted for the Passport, not only because it was significantly cheaper, but also because it seemed to be more up-to-date, and it also ...
Pros: Range/sensitivity, Custimization, Price to preformance ratio, Looks cool, Stable mount, custom displays look great Cons: silver is an east target for thieves
I purchased the 8500 in January 2004 and this is what I think about is so far. Features: The Escort 8500 is an amazing detector with state of the art range. The best feature in my opinion is the Expert meter. This very feature has saved me multiple ...
Pros: Multiple programmable options,smart cord,expert meter. Cons: Bad color,very long,sound is muffled when volume is all the way up.
This is the second Passport 8500,that I have owned. The first Passport had to be returned after 6 weeks,due to a speaker problem,but Escort sent me another one. I have had the second one for three weeks now,and I'm not to sure about this one either. It...
Pros: Detects at Great Distance. Durable. Easy to Operate. Great for the Price. Cons: LASER alarm is useless and gives repeated false alerts.
First, let me say that I don't drive substantially faster than the speed limit MOST of the time. I do however, run my radar detector ALL of the time. I would say that, with the level of advance warning given by the Passport 8500, less than 1 out of 10 ...
Pros: Works well enough to prevent tickets Cons: To many false KA's to get up to speed, poor durability, worthless laser detection
Almost exactly a year since my first review of the Escort 8500 I purchased a Valentine V1 directly from Valentine research. I took pretty much the same road trip I took last year, Mo to rural Ky, through TN into Rural AL and back. I bought the V1 because ...
Pros: Good looking, small, easily transportable, accurate Cons: No directional arrows, poor rear detection
Anyone who owns a Valentine-1 will tell you it is the best detector going, and indeed it has many strong selling points. But the new Passport 8500 has now taken top honors in the high-end radar detector market. Several new tests from unbiased,...
I've never used a radar detector before and I bought the passport 8500 after researching and reading reviews here and elsewhere. I have used it for a month now. The reason I bought it is to have some protection on a upcoming 4K mile trip from Dallas to...
Pros: LOOKS Cons: No directional arrows, not with true 360 degree protection
I borrowed the Passport 8500 for a couple of days to see it's capability in the radar domain. I found this detector to be good looking with handsome packaging. However I found this detector nowhere close to the V1 in functionality and capability. I'm...
Pros: Performance, ease of use. Cons: Weight, flimsy mount.
After purchasing a Bel 980 and subsequently having problems that required sending it back to the factory for service, I found myself in the market for another radar detector. All of the test data I had found showed that three detectors seemed to be head...
Pros: Great sensitivity on all bands, nice looking Cons: Can't tell you where radar is coming from. So-so build quality.
I owned a Valentine One for several years until it was stolen recently (my fault, left it in plain view.) I decided to save a $100 and purchase a Passport 8500 based on some of the opinions here on this site. I've now owned this unit for about a month....
Pros: Works great against Ka digital radar guns. Calif HP use Ka digital. Cons: None
This thing is great. Out here in Calif the Highway Patrol use this new Ka digital gun. Ka digital makes older detectors useless. When my old one went off I could see the officer (300 ft and less!). My wife bought for me for Christmas. It has a mode in...
Pros: Smart Cord, Programmable to your likes, ear piercing loud. Cons: 1 alert in 3 weeks, Service Required warning after only 3 weeks!
I carefully read all the reviews on this detector, Valentine One, and Whistler's line up before I went to Best Buy and bought the Escort 8500. I have had Cobra's and Whistlers in the past, but was ready to try something higher on the food chain. I liked...
Pros: It's small, kinda Cons: it stays on alert all the time when hot.
I bought the 8500 7 months ago, because my wife did not like the size of the Valentine One. When I drove my wife's car in the mid afternoon I noticed the 8500 would alert constantly in ka band. I could park the car in the garage and the alarm would...
Pros: Cool Lookin', Gr8 Detection!, Loud Alerts, All Band Protection Cons: Not immune to BEE II!, Pricey, LaserUSELESS, Arrows??????
The Passport's detection range is notable. I must say, in this prime aspect of detectors, they have surpassed the status quo. The Passport is sufficent to save you from many speeding tickets...Instant-On protection is solid. Even still, in this...
I have had the 8500 for three years and have now changed it to the main detector in my C5 because that is where I need the best defence. I live in an area with lots of hills and have found time and time again it performs better then the other so called ...
Pros: Outstanding detection range, picks up miles away, not hundreds of feet like most. Cons: Weaker rear detection. Rear detection works best if you align it between your seats.
Let me say first off that I have had this detector for about a month now. My opinion of the detector is based on my experience with it, and some tests I did on it.
First off let me discuss the effectiveness/ sensitivity of the device. These...
Pros: Cool display, doesn't false much, pretty sensitive from the front, counts sources of radar Cons: Awful suction cup mechanism, looks like a Remington Microscreen Razor, no arrows, weak rear detection
I travel quite a bit with a friend of mine who recently purchased a Passport 8500. This last trip that I took, it was his turn to drive, and he brought along his new radar detector. The trip was about 400 miles and we were hit with radar by by at least...
Pros: Long detection range, power meter very accurate, great audible alerts, intuitive controls, perfect display.
Cons: SmartCord...why all the bells and whistles? Reviews that include this "feature" are catering to BS.
I bought this detector in June 2002 and have been using it since (today is July 3, 2005 - over three years so far). I just returned from an 890 mile trip and, as always, for three solid years running, this detector is absolutely top-shelf compared to ...
Pros: Features, sensitivity, design, not alot of false alerts. Cons: None.
Well I have recently bought a Escort 8500, and I changed my review because before I did not have enough "experiences" to have a good review. Before I was too anxious to get like a 1 minute alert. I bought it off of Ebay for $255, it is a great ...
Pros: Better range on X-K-KA band over hills and around curves Cons: Like to see a back laser lens for maximum protection-better curve range
I have always been a Escort user from the the early 80's to now. I have own the big box Escort detector of the 80's to the smaller high performing Escort DSP of the late 80's and a few years ago purchased the new 8500. I try to read as much as I can of ...
Pros: Blue Screen, Loud, Great range, Nice 3 easy modes, dimmer, POP, VG-2 Immunity. Cons: Kinda too loud at times, safeway..., and a nice smash and grab thief eye catcher.
I bought this off of ebay for about $300 (thanks to taxes). It was to replace my cheap whistler 1730 DE. This thing is sweet and nice. It has the very stylish blue look that can grab attention from your friends in the car, and cars next to you unless ...
After trying several high-end radar detectors, I am pleased with my new Passport 8500 x50 Blue. Because there's already a plethora of detailed technical info available for this unit, I'll give you the condensed version. If you're reading this, you've ...
Pros: Works great and helps me to avoid tickets Cons: I think it would look better in black
I bought the Escort Passport 8500 on an Ebay auction for $180. I find it has about 20%-30% better range than my old $65 Uniden model that stopped working because of the power cord. So far it has saved me from about 7 tickets and I've had it on my ...
Pros: picks up multiple radar bands and lasers, good audible warning for approaching radar coverage Cons: none
The Escort Passport 8500 radar detector is one of the best performing radar detectors on the market today, and everyone who I know who owns one, loves it. Along with superior performance, the 8500 features a ...
Pros: It emptied my wallet Cons: It emptied my wallet ... Ticket No. ******
The Passport 8500 x50 was increasing my attention for days as I was debating upon whether or not I wanted to spend the money. After reading the many reviews and understanding how much traveling I would be doing for work, I came to the conclusion that it ...
Pros: Very sensitive yet with minimal false alarms. Cons: It's expensive. Weird phone cord power connector. Bigger than other detectors (but not bad.)
I had tried the original Escort Passport back in the 80's and that thing falsed about every 30 seconds. Escort had the "try it for 30 days" program back then as well, so it got returned. Since then, I have owned different brands such as Whistler and ...
Pros: better detection then 7500 Cons: Where is the radar signal coming from?
I purchased the passport 7500 about a year ago and like that alot. I just sold that on ebay and purchased the 8500 I notice a huge difference in picking up K and Ka at least double the distance as before. It also will display how many volts your car it...
Pros: Good range, consitent pickup of signals Cons: Expensive
This is deffinetly a review where its not worth it to drag it out way beyoned the very obvious statements about the unit. That is, so long as I make it over 200 words. The unit obviously carrys a pretty hefty price. I would have to say that it is most ...
Pros: GREAT PRODUCT, EXCELLENT COMPANY REPUTATION, VERY RELIABLE Cons: TOO EXPENSIVE, BUT CHEAPER THAT SPEEDING TICKETS
I Have Owned Several Different Radar Detectors In The Past, But I Always Come Back To Escort Radar Detectors. I Always
Have Had Confidence In Them And They Are Very Reliable.
The 8500 Has A Lot Of Great Features, That Several Other
...
Pros: Buttons have a good stable feel Cons: Radar counter is disappointing
I was disappointed with Escort 8500's radar counter. Instead of a number readout it only has two small vertical lines for Ka. If there's two radars, both vertical lines will light up. They call it Expert Mode. Sounds okay but for one big problem......
Pros: Offers comparable performance to the V1 at $100-150 less Cons: Still expensive
After having a pretty bad experience with a cheapo, junk Whistler 1660, I bought this detector thinking I would be getting the best. I was not disappointed.
There's only one detector better than the 8500, the Valentine 1. Why didn't I buy a...
I bought this detector believing all the other reviews I had heard about it, how it was the best, and twice as good as the Valentine 1 which is $100 more.
Listening to the hype I decided to invest the money. I used the detector for 2 weeks,...
this isnt as great as they say by rtautos ,Jan 30 '08
Pros: nice design , easy to use , priced well Cons: never went off when nailed with laser
bought mine brand new ( it was on ebay so who knows what i got ) but it was from a seller with good feedback and was selling alot of them , i was in a situation where i know i was hit with laser ..... however i never got a alert , one time i was the only car on the road , we came up a hill at night , the cop was sitting on the side road sideways and when our headlights hit him we could see he was pointing the laser gun at us ( held up to his eye like lasers are and not radar ) my 8500 is one the dash with a clear view of him , nothing . then as we go by him a car is coming up behind us , the cop then turns his lights on and pulls the car behind us over , luckily i wasn't speeding , however my 8500 never went off , i had a few occasions like this , so i sold it , now looking for something that wont let me down !!
Pros: No tickets, excellent KA coverage Cons: unit broke, even with good care, poor rear coverage
I've had mine for 2 years...and not one ticket yet! I'll tell you my real life experience here in Arizona where there is photo radar and MC cops w/ radar traps everywhere you drive. I also exceed the speed limit and drive all my vehicles to their full potential on a daily basis. KA and KA pop reception is very good. The X50 will pick up parked photo radar units about 3/4 mile away. It picks up KA Pop about 99% of the time, but had one very close call where it didn't pick it up til 25 feet away from a MC patrolman. Here are the definite PROs: can buy at any best buy, better than 99% of the other detectors, excellent K, and KA coverage, and I've never gotten a ticket! Cons: a screw fell out after 12 months of use and I had to tape the unit back together, the audio alerts are not loud enough, the unit's circuit board went bad at about 28 months of use, not so good rear radar coverage. I'm off to buy a Valentine one!
Pros: sleek looks Cons: worthless for laser, too many false alerts
I am fairly new to the escort brand; my girlfriend has a 7500 and i was amazed at how few falses she gets. With the X band off, she gets only a rare K band false (and that is in a parking lot of store with a motion detector). My 8500 performed like this for the first month after I purchased it, but after that it has been terrible. The same stores that never set it off are now setting it off. Last week, I was speeding in the left lane, as soon as i get over the top of the hill, a cop is shooting LIDAR at my vehicle and the 8500 never went off. This detector is useless against laser/LIDAR. The falses it gets for K band make it unreliable. I would not purchase this unit again.
Pros: Worked well in the beginning. Cons: Design flaw causing unit to over heat.
The Passport 8500 works well when it works. They have a design flaw that costs $85 to fix! IT OVER HEATS AND GOES INTO SAFE MODE in about a half hour. Started after is was about 1 year old. The fix is only fixing it with the same parts that didn't last in the first place, duh! I am not the only one with this problem. I personally know others, have seen it listed on the web as a problem and if you call Escort it is like, Oh yeah, we can fix it. They should do a recall and fix it for free. Will not buy another Escort they don't back what they sell.
No Falsing but Poor for Photo Radar Detection by ursulakjd ,Dec 30 '06
Pros: Highway use great, no falsing. Very good detection of K, Ka bands, ok for laser Cons: No adequate warning provided for photo radar that operates on Ka band
I have owned the X50 for one year now, I gave my wife my Bel 980.
The big difference between these two units is that the X50 rarely if ever falses whereas the Bel would regularly go off in the city and on the highway. The Bel seems to pick up other detectors operating out on the road.
The X50 does not pick up photo radar vans that operate in our area (Canada) until after you have gone by, the Bel would always give some advance warning, usually 20 yards. Fortunately, the vans are usually easy to spot, I guess I prefer less sensitivity to frequent falsing.
Piggies don't stand a chance! by cody70 ,Oct 13 '05
Pros: Mad style (blue display), well though out re-programming features and settings, superior range and detection. Cons: None yet, believe me I'm looking for one.
I got this off of Ebay for $269, and it's awesome. I took it out of the box and drove around all day. I was tired of being on constant deferred adjudication for speeding tickets. Awesome range...just today, it picked up overhill, around a curve, and from a straight shot of highway at about 5 miles. If the cop shoots anyone with instant-on in front of you, you'll know it. It's really fun. It keeps the kids from fighting too (well, for the most part), as they're always looking for the cop.
Don't ask the wife, just do it. I wondered why I waited so long. You'll love it. It even interfaces with the Escort laser shifters.(Jammers) Need more money for that one...alot more.
Pros: Range, Detection, Easily customized Cons: Does not indicate which direction the signal is from.
This radar is simply the best radar detected. As mentioned in previous reviews, the radar goes off quite frequently. This is due to the nature that places like starbucks and other places that use electronic doors use a form of radar called "X" band. I have never seen this band used in the form of traffic inforcement and can easily be turned off to avoid false alarms. The range on this radar is outstanding and I can assure you that you will have slowed down by the time the cop has either passed you or caught up with you. The screen is very easy to read (especially at night!) and the alerts are very distinct. Overall, this radar is a very good buy and worth every dollar. After a ticket for 85 mph in a 60mph could be $350 anyway- And that is just one ticket! Buy this radar if you want the best.
I have owned several Radars over 15 yrs but the worst is the Escort 8500! twice I had to send it in for repairs! and both times they failed! I spent a lot of money on the radar and shipping and 29.99 out the warranty repair! of the time I have had it, I might have used the radar abt six months only! DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!
Great item. Very Pleased with Passport Escort X50 by doctorcard ,Jul 04 '07
Pros: Works great and looks really nice. Smart cord. Blue Color display. Cons: A little more $ than others but worth it.
I purchased this item off ebay. So far it has worked fantastic and saved me several times. On one or two occasions the warning was a little slower than I like but overall still had time to reduce my speed.
I bought the blue light x50 which matches my interior well. It has lots of extra features to meet more specific needs but I try to keep it basic and so far it is great. I love the smart cord which allows you to mute it easily rather than push the button on the unit itself.
Pros: extra frills, display, smart cord Cons: size and weight, no hardwire kit, cost, laser falsing
Well after 3 months of reading and testing I finally bought a detector. the passport 8500 is a fine detector but I found the new K40 better at weeding out the falses and the range was very good. The reason I am posting here is that I know a store that is selling the 850 new for 199.00 I don't know how long this will last. Please read my review on it and also visit the www.k40.com site and save yourself a hundred bucks. Any questions let me know
Pros: Wonderful range and configurability Cons: Quality control. Your first unit might not be up to par.
I've loved every one of the 5 ancestor models I've owned over the years. My first x50 was wonderful. It was stolen along with my car a few months back. The replacement appeared to work for a week, then did a couple 'self sync' cycles, followed by a 'repair required' display. Support gave me an RMA and asked me to do a reset to factory defaults. The detector appeared to work, so I didn't send it back immediately. It seemed to go off infrequently, but was hard to tell if was my imagination. Then one day I approached an officer writing a ticket. The alert started at full power at a range of around 150 yds and the officer was not in the car, so I concluded it was not detecting properly. Support is very responsive and gave me no trouble at all. These detectors are so superior to anything else on the market, I'll stick with this brand.
Escort Passport 8500 X50 Blue Worth buying??? HELL YEA!!! by robsonsf ,Dec 25 '04
Pros: Outstanding KA Range
Link with ZR3 for ultimate protection.
Cons: Display angled for Left hand drive
This detector is outstanding! Within 30 minutes of installing it I was warned of approaching KA Radar. I had such a long warning that I thought something was wrong with the detector because I couldn't see the patrol car at first. When the tone became constant I noticed the oncoming patrol car pass me. I was astounded by the range I have never witnessed anything like this before and I have had many detector's over the last 20 years. The range on the 8500 X50 detector is so good I feel totally at ease retiring my trusty old valentine. I totally recommend this detector. My only complaint is the screen angled for left hand drive makes for awkward viewing from righthand drive automobile. Does Escort make righthand drive version?
I have had the odd false alarm in Pop mode too so I have disabled it again however KA has been reliable. Here in New Zealand we don't have X or K band so they are switched off,no falsie's there. Do not waste your money on anything else. THIS IS IT!!!THE ULTIMATE!
Pros: Accuracy, Size, Durability Cons: Slightly pricey - but worth it.
I have had the Passport 8500 for over 2 years and have NOT gotten a ticket. The unit pays for itself ten folds. It has saved me countless times. I am not sure why people like the directional arrows on the V1 so much when - wouldn't you just be concerned about the radar approaching you from anywhere - not necessarily the direction it's coming from? I say - a whole lotta hype for the V1 - with no better sensitivity than the 8500. I have tried the V1 for 2 months. I sold it to a friend. The Passport Escort 8500 & X50 blow the V1 away hands down. There is no comparison. Wake up Valentine Lovers!
Pros: Works as well as 8500, I love my 8500 Cons: No performance enhancements to justify cost/purchase
I own the 8500 and bought the x50 for my fiancee and we just returned from a 1000 mile trip through some of the most tenacious states for radar traps and I have to say that the x50 was a great DISAPPOINTMENT especially for the hefty price tag. Operating both units side by side for the entire trip my 8500 performed as well as the x50. That is to say that the x50 despite its claims did NO BETTER or no worse than my 3 year old 8500 unit. Both units have the same features with the exception of POP which is not in wide spread use as of this posting. Unless you are color blind or must have a blue display to be the cool guy or gal then go with the x50 otherwise save a few bucks and get the 8500 or keep the dough in your pocket and stick with your current 8500 until Passport comes out with a unit that is worthy of its price tag.
Don't buy escort 8500 x50 by scotte1235 ,May 19 '07
Pros: Works sometimes Cons: $300 for sassy customer service!!!!
I bought an 8500 x50 March 15th. It worked for two weeks ok. Then upon a start up I got alarms for x, k and ka bands. Full bars and tones alternating between the 3. Unfortunately, I just missed Best Buys 2 week return policy. So I spent 20 bucks to return the detector to escort as they requested and after 3 weeks of " the technicians are not in yet" and "we told you at least 10 working days to fix it" I got my detector back with a brief note saying they replaced the antenna and power cord. The detector appeared to work for a couple days then the same problem came again. I called Escort again and kind of got an attitude. I was being really nice cause I needed the detector for a trip. They now have my detector and seem to want to try and fix this same defective one again! I've filed a grievance through my bank to get a refund. Wish me luck!!!!
Pros: Blue Cons: Died in 2 years after much trouble.
I got a 8500 x50 blue in 2006. First one was defective.... it kept showing "Service Required" messages. The replacement just died in July 2008 -- it won't turn on. It seems to have this trouble on/off for some time but a simple unplug/plug would fix it. Not this time. I read it seems 2006 was a bad year for Escort. My prior Bel's were just as good and lasted many years.Also the clip for visor it too tight and the rear sensor is blocked by the cushion visor
BEST DETECTOR ON THE MARKET by mnobles13 ,Oct 01 '07
Pros: No false alerts in the city Cons: A little on the expensive side but better than a ticket!
This detector is the best. Never gives false alerts and works well in the city because it never goes off because of sliding doors and other detectors. All of my other detectors I have owned in the past go crazy when driving through the city. Definitely worth the money!!!!
mine goes off when i honk the horn by masacure13 ,May 28 '08
Pros: looks stylish in the windsheild Cons: it goes off when i honk the horn
i have one also, but every time i honk the horn the laser alert sounds. if this isnt junk i dont know what is. i should give the thing back to the person i bought it from and tell him to "bend over, i would like to give this back to you"
Pros: Reduced Falses
Mute Button Cons: Not the 9500i
Very impressive radar detector. I thought about splurging and getting the 9500i for the Mark Location feature, but the x50 has worked very well. The range is huge and I'm not getting as many falses as my last radar detector. I'm sure it's saved me a bunch already.
Blood Pressure returning to normal! by researchit ,Jul 11 '04
Pros: TOP Range, easy to use, well laid out, great features Cons: somewhat cheesy mount but works very well.
After several "problems" with the local and state officers
and unfortunately a hefty ticket I realized that a new detector was in order. Have you ever considered that if you add the fine $ to the Insurance premium increase,(spread over 5 years)how cheep this tool really is?? After much reading I settled on the X50. This is by far the best detector I have been around.
It has great features like the separate alert tones that help weed out local alarm systems, the placement of the controls, features and most of all the range. I have on many occasions wondered where the &%$@
the law was before finding him. On Ka band the range (shooting over a hill) was better than 2 miles! Highway distance could top 5 miles. Overall I would say Fantastic.
I purchased it from radarbusters,radar roy was helpful, FAST and honest. I totally recommend them.
BLUE LED X50 2 MONTHS TRIAL TEST by maxx941 ,Oct 26 '04
Pros: Overall Best performance per dollar money can buy for a highly functional RD Cons: Alerts aren't as loud as I like, but I have 2 12's in the trunk.
Well like everyone else I was torn between the X50 and the V1. I choose the X50 for its great ability. Blue LED and awesome detection range. I would highly recommend this Radar Detector to ANYONE!! Seriously. It saved me 3 times already. 1 was POP radar, 2 KA. Sensitivity was excellent, and with Auto mode on, it really does well. I shut X off completely and might K since I think all cops around here are using KA now.
Final thoughts on the Blue Led X50 Passport.
Great Functions and ability to program the RD to your liking. Excellent Blue LED color display that stands out very nicely. Great Range.
You want good quality, weeds out alot of the false alerts, THIS IS FOR YOU!!!!
Pros: great Ka range Cons: more K range would be nice
I've had this detector for a road trip down I5 from Vancouver Bc to San Francisco. What I can tell about it is that provides ample warning time on Ka band. I've picked CHP ka signals over the curve with enough time to slow down from about 100 MPH to 65 without any braking lots of time. I would like a little more range on k band. I've had a close call on K band. Also the expert meter is very handy on spotting multiple radar sources. Over all, I think it is well worth the money. I'm going to try a Valentine one and a X50 and decide after that what's best for me, but I can already tell that Escort Passport is a good performer.
Escort Passport 8500 X50 is Superb by cmsxqt ,Jul 15 '04
Pros: Range, loud alerts, extremely customizable, solid, with a great power cord. Cons: Pricey, not cordless, no electronic compass.
I have been on the ultimate hunt for a radar detector over the past 2 months. I have tried numerous units and have been disappointed by all except the 8500 X50. PNI's Silver Bullet and Escort's Solo S2 weren't sensitive enough for me. Bel's 995 and Cobra's XRS-9700 were plagued by too many false alarms. The X50 works great. It has spectacular range and nice loud, distinguishable alerts, instead of annoying voice alerts. The unit feels solid and doesn't vibrate/shake much when mounted on the windshield. The power cord has the modular plug connector vs. a regular pin/socket D/C adapter. This is a good things, because that is usually the first thing to go on a detector. Anyway, I am very happy with my purchase. Best Buy had the unit on sale for $284, I had a 10% off certificate, so I only ended up paying $256 for one of the best, if not the best, radar detector on the market. I'm glad my search is over, the folks at Best Buy and Circuit City were getting to know me too well!
Pros: * Photo radar detection * Accuracy - low amount of false alarms Cons: * Heat bothers it more than previous models * Suction Cup failure
As an owner of prior models from Escort, I went ahead and purchased the 8500 when my 7500 just stopped working. I think the Phoenix heat played a part so I am trying to protect my 8500 a bit more.
Without any expectations, I was very impressed the first time I approached a photo radar van. The 7500 wouldn't spot it until you were right on top of it having your picture taken. The 8500 alerted me while it was a block away. That may not seem like a great distance, but when you consider that Photo radar is a tight beam slicing across the traffic lanes and very hard to detect ahead of time, I was thoroughly impressed.
Radar detectors aren't psychic so there is no defense against instant on or the intersection cameras that rely on the road sensors. But with the 8500, I can relax a little bit when it comes to worrying about where they put the van today.
It has paid for itself now thanks to it's photo radar abilities and it's detection of the officers hiding behind the medians........
Pros: Excellent range
Progamability
Smart Cord(Mute Button
Sleek Look
Ease of Use Cons: Price
False POP alerts
I tend to drive faster... too much confidence
I just got the X50, the next day I drove to San Antonio from Dallas
I tried to run the X50 and my cobra side by side but the POP kept falsing so i unplugged the cobra
on the way to san antonio i picked up Ka from a cop and that was about it. couple of X and K from automatic doors and school buses. So far detection range was very good. it still falsed POP when i passed heavily populated areas with a lot of stores
on the way back to dallas, i picked up laser, and believe it or not i had time to slow down, i was surpised, i thought i would have gotten a ticket surely. it think it helps i have a black car and no plates. i also picked up Ka and K from a cop and those speed sensors.
so far so good, i have no problems. I am very happy with it. I am still figuring out what Pilot mode to use, now its the Symbol H A or C with a dot moving across the screen. Also i disable X in city mode.
Pros: The customer support people are very polite! Cons: I'd like it to last awhile!
Google this one up, you'll find out, after not too long it goes out of calibration. After the 12-month warranty, you get to pay another $60 for "re-calibration." No thanks!!!
I have used it from chicago to florida and the entire east coast.I really don't know how I would have made it without it.It was like having the cops in the car telling you when to slow down.This thing never lies.I would definitely recommend the product. And to tell the truth I would not want anything better.My kids were able to point out the patrol cars.
DON'T BE SO QUICK TO BUY THIS by retired5chief4 ,Jun 27 '06
Pros: Well made, easy to read screen. Cons: Don't Trust it. Goes off all the time
I put my new 8500 X 50 on the windshield and I got on the interstate. After about 5 miles I passed a local Police car running radar. My new X50 just sat there and did nothing. That was the only time it was quiet all day. After that it went off by every gas station I passed. It went off so many times I have no faith in it. It would go off on two lane roads where there was nothing else around.
I will try it for another day or so but this thing is headed back. Way too much money for something you can't depend on.
I've had the 8500 est.Jan.... by j.blaze_dt3000 ,Aug 19 '02
I've had the 8500 est.Jan. 2000 and it has been a charm in every situation. I landed one ticket in the city when i doubted the detector thinking it was another store automatic door opener that was setting it off, but it wasn't. I have learned a valuable lesson. Whenever the detector goes off, slow down. Even in the city, automatic door opener or cop be happy that it warned you.
I have used so many detectors, that I have lost count. Most of which have been $100.00 or less. I had a Bel 895 Express as my last detector, and it did an ok job of detecting. The problem in my area is that most of the local city cops and highway patrol have all gone to Ka band digital radar, which is so hard to pick up. I finally spent the money, $275.00 off ebay, and got me a 1st class detector. The Escort X50 will pick up Ka band radar in plenty of time to slow down. I picked up a local city cop, using his radar off and on, to try to be tricky, and I picked him up over a hill at 2.5 miles away! So if your serious abaout radar detection, especially on the Ka band frequency, buy this detector! Look on Ebay for deals. I sure did.
Pros: the factory will pick up the price of shipping.... Cons: can't think of any...
if this thing is like the rest of the product line it's a piece of junk..the one I bought ,a Escort C65, doesnt work half the time and even after returning it to the factory for "service" it came back still not what a $500 piece of hardware should...almost most got a BIG ticket ...(95 in a 55 zone)...but saw the Officer pointing the radar gun and the set never did a thing... look around there are better buys at a lot less money
Passport 8500 overheats / self-calibrates / service required by kasmir ,Sep 09 '09
Pros: Audible sounds similar to the "old-school" original Passport - my wife's requirement. Cons: My Bel 955's cousins are slightly more sensitive and a better value.
My refurbished Passport 8500 (from Escort's E-Bay store) worked great all winter, but in the summer sun it gave me overheating problems as others have reported. I am an electronics tech., so I took it apart, separated the boards and applied a liberal amount of thermal heatsink grease to the top of any IC's that came close to contact with the waveguide/antenna on the other board - using it as a heat sink. 3 months and so far - so good!
Gone through many and this is my favorite. by pekm ,Dec 18 '04
Pros: Multiple band "screen," mute button on DC plug in. Cons: Pricey (but fair)
I have had many detectors over the years. Some I broke over time, the others I just wanted more features or something new to play with. I decided on this model due to the great coverage of bands and 360 area.
It has been very reliable, and does a fairly good job of eliminating false-alerts. The feature I like the most is the fact that you can see all bands it is picking up and the strength of each (2 Ka, 2 K, and 4 X). It is great because in certain areas I know to expect a high X and medium X-band. But when the K or Ka shows up...there is something hiding.
I rarely speed, but it is fun to monitor what is going on around you. It also covers the SWS, although few places actually make use of that technology...which is a shame.
I have had this product for about a little over a month now and have found little to none interference esp. when I keep it in "auto" alert, and even after it goes off slow to strong it takes a couple of minutes before you know it's source. That shows it's long-range capability as described at 3 miles radius. All I can say is... WOW!
Even though I am a former Cinti Microwave technician (old manufacturer of Escort Products), this has to be the BEST they have ever come out with!! Never leave home without it. Greatest sensetivity, especially when traveling late at night or early morning when it's still dark as I do and you can't always see the police.
The Escort Passport 8500 Just Got Better!Introducing the all-new ESCORT Passport 8500 X50 - the most advanced and sophisticated detector ever! There's...More at Hayneedle
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