I am thinkin about finally buying a radar detector, but there is a ton out there. anyone have any suggestions on good ones? i would love to not spend more than around 100 bucks or so . I was lookin at the Cobra XRS9430
cuz i can get one for like 70 bucks, but what does everyone have to say?

Escort....'nuff said...

Then don't speed.

(Granted, I can't talk. )

a good one will cost you. Valentine1 and Escort are the top ranked radar detectors. I bought a cheap one on sale the day after thanksgiving and it works alright but has way too many false alarms.

I have the Cobra XRS9730 and like it alot. No complaints thus far.

I have bought a few cheapo's and they only pick up on a police car when they have their radar gun on. Which isn't all the time when they are driving. I don't do more that 5over but when I had a system in my truck i was worried about cops hearing it.

You can drive by a cop with a $70 detector and it won't do anything, I have passed cops that have people pulled over and still nothing.

You get want you pay for and I know that a few of the higher end detectors will actually pick up on the wireless connection between the cruisers computer and the station, or wherever it goes.

I have a V1 and could never use anything else, but that is beyond the $100 you're looking to spend.

You have to keep in mind also that more and more cops are using instant-on radar and laser, which renders radar detectors nearly useless. Only the very high end Bel's, Escorts and the V1 will give you even the slightest chance of picking up the scatter from the cops hitting a vehicle in front of you. If you drive smart, ie. using rabbits to attract the attention of any LEO's and doing the PSL when you don't have any rabbits then you can get by with a basic detector or no detector.

If you're in an area where laser is very prevelent, then a laser jammer would be the way to go. They're legal in most states, and cost again is high, $400-$1000.

If you want something that beeps at you anytime you drive near buildings with automatic doors and occasionally alerts you to a LEO who leaves his radar on all the time then a cobra will work for you. Check out this site for more info on radar detectors and laser jammers. www.radardetector.net

IMO, you'd be better served putting that $100 in your IRA. Just drive smart, use your rabbits. Take a look at that site, do some research (there's a cobra forum there), and make your own educated decision.

Sorry for the long post.

They'll only get you in trouble. I use my two eyes constantly. 9 times out of 10 you will get pulled over doing something stupid. There is the occassionaly swarm out that use helicopters and undercovers to pull over a group of speeders, their its just bad luck. Plus if you do the math, you won't save much time and you definitely won't save gas speeding. Be smart and visual look around and in mirrors and good luck.

i bought a cobra radar detector from Mickey shoor and it cost liek 49.99 well we just drove from livonia,michigan to boston,mass saved us 5 times

Cobra...

Beltronics Rx-65 or 75 Pro, They are the best out there and have been tested up against all the radar detectors. Its teh samne company that makes Escort but it ahs a few hidden features. Herer is a great website when I was looking for a nice radar detector. Radar Busters

Doesn't the V1 pay for the speeding ticket if you get one????....

I've driven with a radar detector for almost 20 years.... I started with a cheap one back in the late 80's that I thought was cool. It wasn't long before I had a brick tossed through my window just for that item. Shortly after I invested in a Bell Vector 3 and drove with that for several years with great satisfaction. When I bought my GTP I decided to upgrade to something with Laser detection. I took a couple of steps down from the Vector and bought a Bell 870 thinking that the sensitivity would be similar to age old Vector that I was using... Much to my surprise, the old Vector was much more sensitive with fewer false alarms. The Laser detection is useless.... If the detector responds to laser, you've been hit. There is virtually no "debris" from laser radar. There have been a couple of times when I've had it aimed at me, and being mounted in the same location as Bobby's the detector did nothing.

I guess I'm just adding to the rest of the responses by saying that a detector won't save you most of the time. You need to rely on your own alertness, AND the detector. Even then, it's not bullet proof.

I will say that you get what you pay for..... The more you spend, the greater the sensitivity and less false alarms.....

My next detector will be the V1.

I have a s-cobra. Picked it up a pawn shop for $30 right after I got the GTP. I knew my foot was gonna be in it alot. It picks up everything, including fire trucks and ambulance. It will also pick up highway patrol lazers but can't tell you how far or close they are. Now its time for a new one. every time I turn it on or off, it gets real staticy like its shorting out...

Mine does everything if I pass a constrution site it tells me what do do and teh speed limit. With rail roads, firetrucks, abulances and any other emergeny vechile it says that it is. And in NY they use laser and the trick is to make sure there are always cars infront of you. B/c you can only detect the laser when its on you but if the cop pointas it at a diff car like one in front off you or off to the side it goes off and give you enough time to drop gears and slow down. B/C the worst thing you can do when passing a cop speeding is hit the brake. It screams out GULITY and they go right after you.

i want to get the valentine one but its way expensive im gonna wait a lil while longer... haha