Radar detectors

General discussions on all non technical car related topics

Moderator: The Mod Squad

Radar detectors

Postby BZR4AGE » Mon May 11, 2009 11:31 am

Hi guys.

Just wanting what people thoughts are on radar detectors. Are they worth it?

Basically I never really had infrignment notices before up until this year..one for doing 61k at a 50k zone, which I admitted it is my fault, and one for crossing yellow lights at an intersection, which I think was a bit unfair (as the light only turned yellow as I crossed the line, and it was a 3 lane intersection which i needed to cross, and apparently, because I couldn't make the cross within the yellow phrase..it is warranted for a ticket). So Just within this year, i've got $300 of fines....a bit unlucky :cry:

Anyway...can I get a decent radar detector around $250 mark? What would you guys recommend? And aren't they suppose to be banned in the near future?

Thanks!
User avatar
BZR4AGE
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 542
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 5:47 pm
Location: Auckland

Postby postfach » Mon May 11, 2009 11:37 am

Pretty sure most people would recommend the Beltronics GX65/RX65 or the Valentine 1. Definitely not in the $250 range though.
Last edited by postfach on Mon May 11, 2009 11:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
postfach
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2205
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 11:45 pm
Location: North Shore, Auckland

Re: Radar detectors

Postby Mr.Phreak » Mon May 11, 2009 11:57 am

BZR4AGE wrote:Anyway...can I get a decent radar detector around $250 mark?

Nope
Image
User avatar
Mr.Phreak
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2700
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 6:10 pm
Location: Gisborne

Postby BZR4AGE » Mon May 11, 2009 2:01 pm

What about a BELTRONICS VECTOR XR650?

There is one on trademe which I placed a autobid for.

How much is this one worth second hand?

Cheers in advance
User avatar
BZR4AGE
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 542
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 5:47 pm
Location: Auckland

Postby AE82 FXGT » Mon May 11, 2009 7:39 pm

I can vouch for the Beltronics xr sti, great detector, not in the price range however...
Previous: '85 AE82 FXGT, '92 AE101 GTZ, '92 AE101 GT-APEX, '04 SE3P RX8, '05 Mazda 6 MPS, '97 NA8C MX5, '03 GSX250, '08 ZX6R, '13 GROM
Current: '07 GRE156 BLADE MASTER G
User avatar
AE82 FXGT
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1594
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 1:51 pm
Location: Lower hutt

Postby Boosted_162 » Mon May 11, 2009 10:27 pm

BZR4AGE wrote:What about a BELTRONICS VECTOR XR650?

There is one on trademe which I placed a autobid for.

How much is this one worth second hand?

Cheers in advance


I got the XR950. When i got it (2006) it was the best detector out at the time, even beating the V1. Altho it cost nearly 4 times your budget. Ive only had 1 ticket and even then no radar could save me (instant on from behind on a onramp).

I am finding it seems to false a little bit now which is annoying, might need software upgraded. Altho ill probably get the hidden STi from Bel.

One thing to watch out for, is the new camera vans are on K band. Most radars come with K band turned off, but i find its easy enough to turn on and off. But i notice that radar direct is advertising one (Escort 9500i) with GPS that filters out town K band - pretty clever! Altho that is a bit out of your range at $888+gst!

So pretty much, the answer is no. If you find a good one under $250 i can bet you its stolen property.
Current:
1996 KZN185 Hilux Surf
2008 Mazda2
Boosted_162
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 3624
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 1:02 am
Location: Kaukapakapa

Postby Bling » Tue May 12, 2009 12:09 am

I think you were just unlucky in both cases.

I would have tried to get off that traffic light one as its BS.

I personally wouldn't waste money on a detector. It won't protect you against traffic lights nor fixed speed cameras. Around town I don't think they are all that helpful. Looking miles ahead / behind while driving is the best form of defense imo.
User avatar
Bling
** Moderator **
 
Posts: 15990
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:02 pm
Location: Quake City

Postby slighty_sykotic » Fri May 15, 2009 8:35 pm

As they have said above, if your are going to get one, you have to be prepared to buy the money, otherwise it will annoy the hell out of you and you will ignore it.

Big thing to remember is they are still trying to ban them, and it will happen eventually.

When this happens, only the bell STI XR will be hidden from the radar dectector detectors. But you are looking at around 800-1.1k for one of those.
Proud member of the "No Irrelevant keywords in TM" campaign
User avatar
slighty_sykotic
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1749
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 8:38 pm
Location: Palmerston North

Postby deaf_rattle » Fri May 15, 2009 8:44 pm

slighty_sykotic wrote:As they have said above, if your are going to get one, you have to be prepared to buy the money, otherwise it will annoy the hell out of you and you will ignore it.

Big thing to remember is they are still trying to ban them, and it will happen eventually.

When this happens, only the bell STI XR will be hidden from the radar dectector detectors. But you are looking at around 800-1.1k for one of those.


how good are the radar detector detectors? will they pin point the car the radar detector is in?

although if it came to the crunch, id sell my v1 and get the bell.
as they will be even better, cause more police would leave their radars on?
User avatar
deaf_rattle
Old Skool User!
 
Posts: 8039
Joined: Fri May 17, 2002 1:32 pm
Location: right where he belongs

Postby Dell'Orto » Fri May 15, 2009 8:55 pm

I believe there already are radar detector detector detectors available to police overseas 8O
1988 KE70 Wagon - Slowly rusting
1990 NA6 MX-5 - because reasons
2018 Ranger - Because workcar
1997 FD3S RX-7 Type R - all brap, all the time
OMG so shiny!

Quint wrote:Not just cock, large cock.
User avatar
Dell'Orto
** Moderator **
 
Posts: 17494
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2003 5:07 am
Location: Straight out the ghetto, Lower Hutt

Postby Bling » Fri May 15, 2009 9:04 pm

Yeah the radar detector people must LOVE it each time something gets banned... they sell a shed load more new improved units :lol:
User avatar
Bling
** Moderator **
 
Posts: 15990
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:02 pm
Location: Quake City

Postby Jason T » Fri May 15, 2009 9:09 pm

Our cops have got smart radar is off untill they see a car going fast

V1 goes you just got a ticket

Go fast you expect tickets

I have a near new Passport 7500 brought to stop wifes ticket friendly driving replaced with a GPS type for pole cameras a month latter

$200 its yours...will slap on tardme next week
Fixing Toyota's since '87
User avatar
Jason T
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 286
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:46 pm
Location: Auckland

Postby deaf_rattle » Fri May 15, 2009 9:12 pm

Jason T wrote:Our cops have got smart radar is off untill they see a car going fast

V1 goes you just got a ticket

Go fast you expect tickets

I have a near new Passport 7500 brought to stop wifes ticket friendly driving replaced with a GPS type for pole cameras a month latter

$200 its yours...will slap on tardme next week


the only fine i got with the v1 is from a cop with a laser, but i still managed to shave enough speed off to keep my licence.

its not a cop detector, so long as you remember that you should be fine
User avatar
deaf_rattle
Old Skool User!
 
Posts: 8039
Joined: Fri May 17, 2002 1:32 pm
Location: right where he belongs

Postby Jason T » Fri May 15, 2009 9:19 pm

My V1 has saved large tickets a number of times

Open road proves many a time cops are leaving off untill they see cars going fast not wanting to warn people with detectors

V1 beeps = brake NOW

Laser you just got a ticket.
Fixing Toyota's since '87
User avatar
Jason T
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 286
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:46 pm
Location: Auckland

Postby deaf_rattle » Fri May 15, 2009 9:21 pm

Jason T wrote:My V1 has saved large tickets a number of times

Open road proves many a time cops are leaving off untill they see cars going fast not wanting to warn people with detectors

V1 beeps = brake NOW

Laser you just got a ticket.


correct

pretty sure they get 2 readings with the laser, as i was going well over 150 when i picked it up on the v1, jammed on my brakes and got done for 137 (3 ks more and i wouldve lost my licence)
User avatar
deaf_rattle
Old Skool User!
 
Posts: 8039
Joined: Fri May 17, 2002 1:32 pm
Location: right where he belongs

Postby FXGTV » Fri May 15, 2009 9:36 pm

I got a second hand uniden radar detector off someone on Toyspeed. It only cost me 70 bucks and saved me heaps in possible tickets over the years. Sure, it wasn't as flash as a beltronics or v1, but it gave enough warning to keep me happy. I still have it actually lol. PM me if you want a cheap radar detector :lol:
1988 r31 TI Skyline.
1982 ra60 Celica (my Aussie Toyota and axle stand warrior).
ex: 1991 Corolla, 1989 fxgt-v, 1985 aw11. 1992 sw20 gt-s. 2002 glxi Lancer wagon (work hack)
next car - another a-dub please!
User avatar
FXGTV
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1703
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 7:57 pm
Location: Brisbane

Postby BZR4AGE » Sat May 16, 2009 2:23 am

Thanks guys for the input.

I just managed to buy a pretty good condition beltronic RX65 pro from trademe for $300.

Will see how this goes and give some feedback
User avatar
BZR4AGE
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 542
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 5:47 pm
Location: Auckland

Postby B1NZ » Sat May 16, 2009 9:58 am

My dads car has an inbuilt Bell radar detector, I think it cost about $1500 about 5 years ago and he also had some sort of jammer installed in parellel with it, The detector has a display unit that sits inside and a sensor unit that sits inside the grill plus 2 sensor units that sit on each windscreen.

Gives you about 200-300 meters warning for fixed speed cameras - sometimes even more depending on what angle the vans are parked. He always speeds and has never had a ticket since having it installed, I was with him once when a cop with a laser pulled us over because he knew dad was speeding but couldn't get a speed reading (Re jammer) so just gave him a lecture about speeding.

The only way to avoid fixed pole cameras is to have a GPS type one and plug in all the coordinates, theres a website somewhere that lists all of them.

In saying that I have never owned a radar detector and I havent had a speeding ticket for over 7 years now, I usually stick to 10km/h over the limit unless Im following someone that wants to be my radar detector :lol:
Subaru GF8 Wagon
Subaru GC8 rally car project
http://www.hccc.org.nz - Keep up to date with all motorsport events in the Wellington region
User avatar
B1NZ
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 6043
Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2002 7:20 pm
Location: Capital City

Postby Bling » Sat May 16, 2009 11:15 am

Laser jammers are illegal so I guess he was lucky the cop didn't realise that was why he couldn't get a reading.


B1NZ wrote:In saying that I have never owned a radar detector and I havent had a speeding ticket for over 7 years now, I usually stick to 10km/h over the limit unless Im following someone that wants to be my radar detector :lol:


^^ 'Thats how I roll' too

8)
User avatar
Bling
** Moderator **
 
Posts: 15990
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:02 pm
Location: Quake City

Postby fivebob » Sat May 16, 2009 11:29 am

BZG|Bling wrote:Laser jammers are illegal so I guess he was lucky the cop didn't realise that was why he couldn't get a reading.

AFAIK NZ has no specific legislation governing the use of Jammers.

That being the case Laser Jammers are legal as they only emit IR light, Radar Jammers are illegal because the emit RF signals for which you need a licence.
User avatar
fivebob
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 3879
Joined: Fri May 02, 2003 5:12 pm
Location: Tauranga

Next

Return to General Car Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 28 guests