Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar Detector

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.

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.

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

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!!!!

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.

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.

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.

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!