New member, new WRX, high mileage road warrior DFW

[speed-dreams]

Does anyone on here run the HP LIs?

yes, Radman159 on his 350z... it's an uber overkill...

[TSi+WRX]

Did you buy the WRX STi or just the WRX?

^ The '09 revamp of the WRX has made it into the machine that it should've been, since the inception of the new platform in '08.

The STI, currently, is a more one-off product, with the DCCD among its bag of tricks, but the WRX is, for all intents and purposes, on an "everyday driver" level, it's equal.


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Bark3rd -

For frontal-only protection, I'd recommend either the Blinder M45, J16 revision, - all four heads facing front or, alternatively, a dual-head LI unit (the "standard" will do fine, you don't need the high-powered variant).

If you're looking for rear protection, I'd do either a separate M45 system back there, or add in two "Slim" heads to "complete" your LI setup (as a quad).

The ZR4 is viable - but I'd advise caution, as well as would recommend that you utilize the non-traditional/"enthusiasts" mounting, of having all three of its heads forward facing.

The new Impreza platform has a rather problematic hardpoint profile, and I would recommend that, if you can stomach the aesthetic compromise (as well as slight compromsie in lighting output), for you to use VEIL to cover the lighting elements.

Selective protection of your front plate should definitely be considered as well.

[Bark3rd]

Ok, I ordered the Veil paint and plate cover combo today. I will look for a bra tommorrow and Im taking an sos pad to my reflector license plates. Need one anyway with all the trucks on the 287, 35, and 45 corridors I frequent. I got the WRX for several reasons, mostly because for a fraction of the price diff to the STI I can make alot more power and still have very cheap insurance rates. It also has a faster 0-60 time that the STI bone stock because of the 5 spd vs 6 spd shifting. I already have Cobb stage 2 mods plus an AP engine mgmt system, pretty sweet AWD 12 sec car for under 27k. Plus its a sleeper , in white it doesnt attract the wrong attention like the older gen STIs and their huge wings are famous for. Its the hatch model, Im liking it alot so far. The drivetrain whine and turbo/wastegate noises are intoxicating. Dead stable in the rain at 135+ mph too, where I drive its nothing but empty wide open roads with nowhere for cops to hide (usually). Backcountry rough, dirt, or gravel roads I fly down like a rally racer-bumps and potholes dont bother it. I will be competing in an Autocross next Sunday, should be a blast and good driving training. I'd like to hook up with some laser testing gurus around here at some point to test out my stealth. I wouldnt hesitate to paint it in flat black if that gave me more stealth, I dont care much about image or looks, just speed! Maybe a flat black ghost flame job for the front done out of Veil would be sweet. I appreciate the suggestions, The GOL tests on the Laser Interceptor are pretty stout, no comparison to the other jammers at least in this test, I dont know enough about them to judge if they are biased or not, they did have links to all the jammer websites (ironically with the exception of the LI product).
My headlight covers have a smoked effect, wonder if this helps reduce laser punch-through even before the Veil?

[category4]

If lots of rural highway driving with I/O radar as the main threat then I would agree with DJ and go for the 9500ci with 4 head LI. The extra sensitivity of the 9500ci might be the only thing that saves you from a well timed I/O shot.

I know that's why I went to the ci, after getting the LI's my main concern is I/O, the LI's are that good.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Ok, I ordered the Veil paint and plate cover combo today. .......... I wouldnt hesitate to paint it in flat black if that gave me more stealth, I dont care much about image or looks, just speed! Maybe a flat black ghost flame job for the front done out of Veil would be sweet. I appreciate the suggestions, The GOL tests on the Laser Interceptor are pretty stout, no comparison to the other jammers at least in this test, I dont know enough about them to judge if they are biased or not, they did have links to all the jammer websites (ironically with the exception of the LI product).
My headlight covers have a smoked effect, wonder if this helps reduce laser punch-through even before the Veil?

Honestly man don't waste your money on a bra for the car its not needed with the LI niether is VEIL or Laser Shield

Just get an LI quad(2 heads for front and 2heads for rear) with a V1(#1 highway detector) or you could get a 9500xi. And you will be golden

[Bark3rd]

More votes for the LI, looks like thats the way to go. Good points about the rural IO, is there a huge difference between sensitivity of the CI vs IX? I just tried out my IX for the firs time today, wow what an upgrade from what I was using. It seems ultra sensitive and I love how it counts down my actual speed right after the warning. Id rather have a V1 running alongside it rather than getting the CI when I already have the IX, argh decisions. My trusty Cobra ($68 at Wal Mart) has saved me many times, I have it mounted under the Escort just for kicks but it it spouts out false K and X bands when the Escort is on, what causes this?

[category4]

The ci is in a world of it's own. Here are a few of my radar encounters with the 9500ci and the V1. I would guess the V1 is superior to the ix in radar detection capabilities, and I have used them both.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Suz4JF2FkY]YouTube - Braselton PD running Ka[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbT2jODIcWc&feature=channel]YouTube - 9500ci K band IO save[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gujwxKekTI&feature=channel]YouTube - K Band Encounter I 85 S[/ame]

[Bark3rd]

I thought alot about getting the V1, it was the GPS features that attracted me to the IX. I run the same routes around texas and know them well, the cops here follow very predictable patterns. I know their hiding spots (but often forget while driving at night) and now can hit a button when I see a cop hiding but get no warning (IO) and the IX will remind me next time I am in that area that there was a trap there the last time I went through. I have always thought this would be the ultimate. I can also down load camera traps (DFW has alot of these) for warnings there too. I'm pretty sure the IX would have given warnings as well as the ones in the vids, this thing picked up a trooper driving the opposite side of the freeway this morning from at least a mile away, I was surprised. The GPS feature of the IX helps me when I dont have rabbits (which is often the case) and I can get a warning to remember the recurring traps in the small towns as I blaze through. They are always in the same place out in the sticks! I think I'll get the Li first then spring for a V1 backup.

Still wondering how the IX is causing my Cobra to false alarm.

[djrams80]

Do not run two RDs in the cabin at the same time. It's almost a certainty that they will interfere with each other.

[TSi+WRX]

^ +1.

If dual-detectors is your wish, the V1 (in-cabin)/9500ci (remote) combo is the only viable one....and as the others said, should give you better chances versus I/O RADAR (given that the two will perfectly compliment each other - with the 9500ci on long-range duty, while the V1 picks up even "quick trigger")

Honestly man don't waste your money on a bra for the car its not needed with the LI niether is VEIL or Laser Shield

I'm still hesitant to make this call.

Certainly, if Bark can get his vehicle tested by his local enthusiasts, and can "optimize" the install so that he has few (if any at all) weak-spots, I'd say that this is viable, but if he has to go without such, then "layering up" would be the wiser choice, if albeit overkill, and if-still with aesthetic compromises.

In-lieu of true testing/optimization, I'd say that he's left to try, as best-possible, to cover as many weaknesses as he can find.....

But with testing/optimization, I agree, he may indeed be able to shed some "dead weight."