refurbished 8500 vs refurbished 8500 x50 vs new v955

Hey guys, I'm looking to buy a radar detector for around $150-$200. I had a Cobra XRS 9485 (****ty, I know, but it saved me from a ticket more than a few times) that my friend gave me for about a year. Last week it shorted, so now I'm looking to buy a higher end detector.

I go to school at URI and live off campus in Narragansett. I do a lot of driving, both city and highway, in RI, Mass, Maine, CT, VT, NH and NJ.

From the research I've done so far, I've been lead to believe that the beltronics v955 and v940 are the best new detectors you can get in my price range, but a refurbished detector is another option. Escort sells refurbished 8500s for $150 and 8500 x50s for $200.

My questions are:

Is it worth the extra 50 for the x50, or are the 8500s and 8500 x50s pretty much the same?

Would you recommend a new v955 over a refurbished rd?

Are there any other options I am unaware of?

Get the refurb Escort 8500.

End of Discussion

I have the V955 and I could not be more pleased. Great response for K and Ka which is the primary mode here. It has definitely saved me a few times already. Last time I was traveling down a major neighborhood road and it alerted me to a K band alert. I was doing 55 in a 40 and it picked up the Sheriff's department cruiser a long ways off around a large turn or curve in the road. Sure enough, there was the sheriff waiting and looking to strike. It has saved me on Ka several times too. I'm sure the Escorts are good to but I'd go with new. There is a lot of talk about the S7 being better than the M4 antenna. I've read pro and con on both and all I can go by is what I observe. Good luck...

^Thanks for helping out guys. Now I'm wondering if a used S7 is better than a new M4 antenna. Is there a decrease in performance as a rd ages? and is it worth buying a used rd with a 6 month warrenty vs a new one with a year warenty.

As others have said, 8500 hands down. Escort stands behind them too.

From what I have read, the 8500 X50 is very similar to the Bel RX65. I cannot speak for the V955, but can definitely say I have been nothing but pleased with my RX65. I am a happy camper for sure.

In other words if 8500 X50 = RX65: go with the 8500 X50

Try and find an early version x50 or rx65 with s7 antenna.

I have have owned both the 8500 and the 8500 X50 refurbs both were poor performers, the 8500 started the service required message about one day after the two week money back trial period ended. These are old s7 units that had reliability issues even when they were new. I sent both of them back and purchased a new RX65 and have been perfectly happy with it.

Listen to what JAZZY told you. Go with the Refurb 8500!