An new member of the dark side... (me)

I was surprised how small the packaging was. It was all in there though, and when I first pulled out the v1, I was shocked by how much smaller/lighter it was than my x50, I mean, even the power cord caused it not to sit right, but I loved the feel on a real peice of metal, not plastic. I drove only around 8 miles, and got falses (obviously) and 1 KA threat, it picked it up about a half a mile away, and I got to the light and it J'ed it out. I was confused, so I shut it off, and it happend agian. I already kind of like the arrows, its somthing the other detectors dont have, but I cant comment on range yet, trying to figure out the programming and I drank too much to test drive it now.

Will report back soon :wink:

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Originally Posted by ReadyRadar

Was the scratch on the inside or out?

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Inside and they said it came from the factory like that and it was their fault.

i got a V1 unit with a faulty display. At night the bottom left side of the A would not dim down like the rest of the A. It PI$$ed me off. You know think about it in 1991 the V1 was $400 in 2001 $400 and now $400. What i think happening is the cost of things are going up and up but the V1 stays the same price! So i ask how can they do that? By cutting down on costs.Eg my .813 cover was much more darker in colour than my new .826 which tells me they have a new supplyer....I ask you guys how can they Keep the same price. You know if they pulled a 5 or 600 dollar unit out of the hat im there, i dont care about the price i just love to have a radar detector thats rocks more than the dude in the other car. I Think $400 is chicken feed for what it can do. You guys that think its too much buy a bell :lol:

Regarding the long-stranding $400 V1 pricetage, I think that Navin (Steve Martin, The Jerk) explains it best:

Navin: I've already given away eight pencils, two hoola dolls and an ashtray and I've only taken in fifteen dollars.
Frosty: Navin, you have taken in fifteen dollars and given away fifty cents worth of crap, which gives us a net profit of fourteen dollars and fifty cents.
Navin: Ah! It's a profit deal! Takes the pressure off! Get your weight guessed right here! Only a buck! Actual live weight guessing! Take a chance and win some crap! :lol:

Yes, I too have thought about the constant $400 price tag. But I'd bet there's a healthy bit of profit built into this thing already. And, even though there's been overall inflation since 1991, quality electronics components have gotten less and less expensive. I would think that you probably just got a bum component. Failures happen regardless of what you pay.

$500? $600? Count me out. $400 was hard enough to deal with. It was high fifteen years ago. It's still high. Anything higher, without significant new capabilities, would turn off what I would think do be a large part of their potential market. They get a premium right now for their innovation.

I hear what you are saying ghz1, when I had my 3.818 returned unit last year it seemed that one of the lines that make the (A) (top right one) seemed dim. Anyone else have similar dim angles or LED's.
I agree with ghz1 on paying much more for a pumped up V1 as well.
One ticket these days pays for itself, driving with a radar detector since 1985, lead foot, drive for a living, no radar tickets, OH YEA!

MY cell phone cost around $500 and it cost me money to run. My computer was $2500 NZ...(Thats 10 chickens in US :) ) Its a good one too..at the moment. So what im getting at is from 91 till now for them to keep the V1 @400 and for them to make a profit is amazing in it's self. I can see why Mike V will not sell to retail out lets etc it protects his sales/profit. If they sold a "V1 signature class" im there. Do you guys think they can improve with more money thrown at it? If so i really really want one :lol:
I know i sound like a want want person well yes when it comes to detectors I am. I don't even have a fast car...I can tell you i don't want another wife and i don't want another Job so i guess that evens it out :wink:

In day to day use, I 've seen no functional difference between Belscorts and the V1 in forward Ka range. The range is functionally the same with a stationary Ka speed reminder sign as well. This includes BEL 940, 960 and X-50. BEL "city all" mode is superb: one blip until a threshold is exceeded and then the audible band ID and ratemeter. However I am perplexed: I don't understand why the man tells me to "expand" as I am on a diet.

As for laser, the windshield mounting is critical. I still can't reconcile reports here with my wife's experiences using a Passport 5000 mounted high, without it being an Infiniti FX detector. The Passport 7500S has awesome laser range, but detects Infinitis and mercury vapor light instability as well.

The V1 package is dear to original Escort and Passport owners :) I paid $245 for my original Escort and $299 for my Passport. My income has gone up a lot more than any COLI or price comparisons, but I will not pay more than $300 for a Belsort or $500 for a Valentine product.

my 02
Bill

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Yes, I too have thought about the constant $400 price tag. But I'd bet there's a healthy bit of profit built into this thing already. And, even though there's been overall inflation since 1991, quality electronics components have gotten less and less expensive. I would think that you probably just got a bum component. Failures happen regardless of what you pay.

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i think his profit margin is still up.
probably only costs 45 dollars to make. V1 is one of the most expensive units out there ..Has been for a long time.I think he knows if he raised his price folks might buy elsewhere.

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Originally Posted by Radar_Dick

Air, you've made three posts tonight stating that V1's New units aren't as good as their returned units. You're basing this on a single personal experience. Only Fools think in terms of Always and Never.

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Originally Posted by AirMoore

I wouldnt... and I got a f*d up V1 because I bought new... have to love VR's move on that.

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Originally Posted by AirMoore

You went the right way ordering refurb... or used, their new units suck... goodluck and enjoy.

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Originally Posted by AirMoore

Anycase, goodluck, and I hope you ordered refurb/used V1's, and not new... it should be a solid unit for you like your other one.

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http://www.radardetector.net/Second-...ths-12386t.php

:roll:

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Why are you trying to nick pick Air on every little thing? :roll: Let it go. I understand you think Air is you nemesis but there is better stuff to do on here then look at every post by Air and nick pick away at it

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Originally Posted by MMeteor

I guess I shouldn't have owned a "souped up" RX-65 before the V-1 because it was an animal compared to the V-1 in Ka detection.
Around here there is no X-band use and my V-1 has been great with K band encounters.
I still to this day (after getting my V-1 back from VR and supposedly fixed with 2db greater sensitivity on Ka band they told me that will give me 25% or more range) get fair to poor warning on Ka band guns. I even have gone as far as getting my ad ready to go on e-bay and have taken pics of it to put it up for auction. The only reason I haven't sold my V1 is I really don't want to sell it and keep playing the horse trading game with a chance of getting a crappy belscort product with poor range as well with all thier service required messages and thier (Belscorts) nasty quality control/customer service issues. Seems like a no win situation so I'm just hanging on to the V-1 for now I guess.

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X2 on the KA band detection. V1 has tunnel vision on KA band as from what I have seen. The RX65 does a lot better around corners and over hills on KA band.