Radar Detector for Non-Enthusiast

[txautofan]

If a friend or family member, in no way an enthusiast, wanted a good dash mount radar detector, without any issue of price, what would you recommend? I would think the 8500 X50 or 9500ix (because it works well and is quiet). It seems V1 and Redline are geared towards enthusiasts.

Agree? Disagree? Wonder what I'm talking about?

[GreenRadar]

it all depends on what they are looking to spend, I get a lot of your typical high school teens calling in, and 90% I get them to go with the 8500 x50, and the other times usually the 995, 955, or Whistler 690SE

But I usually suggest the 8500 x50 for the most part

[txautofan]

it all depends on what they are looking to spend, I get a lot of your typical high school teens calling in, and 90% I get them to go with the 8500 x50, and the other times usually the 995, 955, or Whistler 690SE

But I usually suggest the 8500 x50 for the most part

Price is not an issue. They are willing to spend $500, if necessary. They want a quality radar and aren't price sensitive.

[aa2033]

The V1 isn't very interface friendly since the settings are difficult to program, but once they're programed, there is no real reason to mess with it.

I'm pretty biased, and i've recommended V1's to my friends, but i agree with the 9500ix because it's quiet, but i feel like the rampup issue on ka would scare the crap out of the user. My redline freaks out on Ka at full blast most of the time and i almost wet myself each time.

There are some good beltronics RD's that are available. Even the STI Driver is a good choice IMO.

V1 ftw though.

[Motor On]

Well I was actually asked this by someone who is not an enthusiast not too long ago.

The answer I gave him was:

Take a look at the 9500 series, the Redline and the V1. They all have strengths and weaknesses but the majority of your encounters are going to be the same amongst the three. The 9500 has GPS to cut down on Walgreens alerts, but it has to process more and can take longer to alert in some instances as a result. The Redline is more sensitive, but lacks the GPS, it is undetectable if you're planning on going through VA or to Canada anytime soon, one of the nice features is it can give you the frequency which allows you to identify the type of radar gun, which can help determining state local or county police. The V1 is equally sensitive but on slightly different frequencies, it is fast to alert, and has stellar range. The V1 like the others can tell you how many signals there are, and where they are. I've had great success with the V1 for the past 4 years, all will do the job but with different features strengths and weaknesses, and you need to choose the one with the features that are right for you. I proceed to give them the manufactures web addresses, and tell them to look for what features they want most, out of those 3 they will end up with a detector that will get the job done.

You don't need to be an enthusiast to appreciate sensitive detectors, and even if all you know how to do is find L mode on the V1 you'll be able to dramatically quiet the falses, if you can shut off X band all the better, and you can turn off X on the Redline or the 9500 or the X50. I know many people that just want to have the good alert and have zero interest in RDs beyond that that have been satisfied with each of the above detectors, and often times it comes down to you get what you pay for and results of testing from any number of semi to credible sources or a review they read in a magazine or on a blog. Also I got and used a V1 long before I considered myself an enthusiast, and most V1 users I know would not be enthusiasts, and you can actually say the same for High end escort users as well. But all understand that if you're going to use a detector use a good one, or you're going to get caught much sooner.

I'm of the opinion that the S7 8500s out do the X50 so I can't in good conscience recommend the more expensive inferior detector, and if budget is a concern then I point them toward the refurbs or some of the equivalent Beltronics V-series models.

[EscortRadar]

My "behind the lines" experience with your criteria of: 1) a non-enthusiast, and 2) no price limit, the 9500ix is a no brainer.

I have a lot of experience turning people on to the 9500ix with it's GPS capabilities and user friendly operation, including family and friends who I see regularly. The vast majority choke at the price but once they try it for a few weeks they are hooked and would never go back to a normal non-GPS detector. The lack of false alerts is easily the highest praised feature of the 9500ix.

[GreenRadar]

well if price isn't an issue, then the 9500ix would be the way to go, its just easy to use.

[OldGoat]

If a friend or family member, in no way an enthusiast, wanted a good dash mount radar detector, without any issue of price, what would you recommend? I would think the 8500 X50 or 9500ix (because it works well and is quiet). It seems V1 and Redline are geared towards enthusiasts.

Agree? Disagree? Wonder what I'm talking about?

Not many of us was an enthusiast when we bought our first device; so as innocuous and non-committal as that appears, perspective(s) often change after a few months with a new detector. Learning is fun and addicting

order both a V-1 and a 9500ix at the same time
alternate; a couple days with each


IMO, the PSYCHOTIC audio behavior of the 9500 destroys any of the quiet advantage of TrueLock. That being said, Auto-Sensitivity is a very nice feature that adds the benefit of not alerting when the vehicle isn't moving, yet will give highway sensitivity when at highway speeds without any intervention from the user. Purty cool feature

[GreenRadar]

order both a V-1 and a 9500ix at the same time
alternate; a couple days with each

Good idea, this way you know the advantages and disadvantages to each one!

[zerbey]

Honestly, I would make the same recommendations I'd give anyone else. You can teach someone to be competent with a Radar Detector in 15 minutes (not an expert, but enough to keep them out of trouble).

A $500 budget would get them any of the major dashmount units, the question is what do they want?