Seriously considering a Cobra...

[ckeegan]

The very first radar detector I ever owned was a Cobra. Then a Whistler, and then another Whistler. Honestly, I don't really drive that fast (+/- 15mph over), and it looks like Cobra has been stepping up their game in the past year or so. I am not interested in getting into Cobra debate, but I do have two questions.

First, is the GPS enabled 9970g really worth the extra $$, considering I live in an area with no cameras? Is this technology taking off enough to say it may be in my area within the next 3-5 years or so? I actually don't travel that much outside of my area, and the areas I do travel to, have very few cameras as well. Just an "if it were you" kind of a question.

Also, anyone with first-hand knowledge of the new touchscreen units (9965/9970g) compared to the previous model (9955/9960g)? Were there any other changes that I should know about. Prices on the 9955 and 9965 are virtually identical, but I have read some reviews that say the display on the touchscreen versions are not nearly as bright as the previous generation. Unfortunately, there are almost no expert reviews for the 9965/9970g yet.

Just thought I'd throw that out there. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Divewjason]

I don't like the idea of a touch screen on a screen as small as 1.5 inches. I have used the 9960G in the past for testing and I found it's performance to be good for what I paid. If you do not need a gps database, the XRS 9955 is the exact same detection platform as the 9960G, 9965, and 9970G. The OLED screen is easy to see in the sunlight. It picks up instant on fairly consistently but not as consistently as the higher end detectors that are out there.

At the pace the other manufacturers are moving, I'd say that the technology this Cobra provides will stand in 3 years from now as it did before. The reason I say this is that detection platforms aren't really improving for other manufacturers at this point in time.

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...60-review.html This is the review I posted. After that people started seeing that while Cobra has a lot of work to do, their platforms have improved by a significant margin. Please excuse the talk about FCC ID's. Someone asked me a question when I should of been in bed and the thread went in a totally different direction.

Hope this helps.

[ckeegan]

Thanks for the quick response. I know what you mean about the touch screen thing. That's what cracks me up about the new iPod Nano commercials. They must have chosen actors with the smallest fingers ever! It's 1.5" as well, with multi-touch no less.

Anyway, my primary concern is brightness. Honestly, if 9965 performance is on par with 9955 and the screen is equally visible in daylight, then I may go with the 9965 simply because I know the touch screen gimmick will yield higher resale to some kid on eBay buying his first detector a few years down the road.

[Jag42]

Seriously consider not buying a Cobra !

[Solidjake]

Just don't.... don't

[ckeegan]

I thought I was pretty clear in the original post, about not wanting to get into a Cobra debate. I am by no means set on it, but if I wanted this type of input, I would have posted in the "general" forum.

Seriously consider not buying a Cobra !

Should I seriously consider buying 690SE which only tested marginally better than the 9960g, with most tests showing 300 feet or less (5% or less) advanced warning?

Just don't.... don't

I tend not to take technology advice from people who use a Blackberry.

[ckeegan]

How about a 8500 S7?

The 8500 is twice the price. 955 and 995 are on the short list though. Most curve tests show the 995 detecting Ka at the same distance as the Cobra 9955 though, and the 955 only faired slightly (barely) better than the 9955 in the straight test with Ka, and identical in K and X bands. I understand that these tests are not the complete authority, but they're pretty much all any buyer has to go by, in order to get hard data.

It's a good thing you don't drive fast, since you're getting a cobra. Personally, If I didn't drive fast and wanted something just for kicks, I could find better ways to blow my fun money.

Seriously, it's like people don't have anything better to do. You probably haven't looked at anything Cobra in over 5 years, so unless you've done your research/testing, keep it shut.

[ckeegan]

So you're asking our opinion on them but don't like it when we say they are both garbage? You say you're seriously considering one, I say you seriously consider another detector like a refurb Escort 8500. Why bother asking when you won't take advice from people who actually know what they are talking about?

Read the original again. Not asking anyone's opinion on Cobra as a brand, but rather differences between this generation of Cobra versus last. Hell, most people haven't even considered Cobra an option in the last 10 years, but they're obviously improving. Do some research. Before I considered buying a new detector, I literally never thought I would give Cobra a first look, let alone a second.

[ckeegan]

I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOUR OPINIONS ARE ABOUT COBRA!!!

1 useful answer so far, and the rest is rhetoric from haters who have provided absolutely no facts to back up their opinions. Literally, not one fact or piece of data to support their opinion.

[kw79]

I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOUR OPINIONS ARE ABOUT COBRA!!!

1 useful answer so far, and the rest is rhetoric from haters who have provided absolutely no facts to back up their opinions. Literally, not one fact or piece of data to support their opinion.

Most on this site don't run Cobras because of poor performance but if you don't believe them, look at all the posts in this forum by Fritter (a LEO) who posts when he pulls someone over with a cobra. Everyone here is just trying to point you to something that will perform a little better. If you want a Cobra, thats your choice, but its an open forum, so everyone will post their opinions.



Also, search youtube for the Cobra(s). There are some encounter videos which might help you decide on which cobra to get (or something else if you prefer).