toy guy has a good set up for 240 for the V1...hides the detector in the dash well without too big of mods....but tom's setup is the best way to go by the looks of it..

 

The Escort passport 8500 is awsome, I have mine hardwired and have never been pulled with it since i got it... The range on it is awsome and it never gives me false alarms, when it goes off it is a cop..

 

i have a cobra and i love it. if you really want the best and don't worry about the cost, then do a lot of research on which one is currently the best. I bought mine 2 years ago and found a good deal online. I think Valentine is still the best and then Cobra. Cobras can be bought any where from Best Buy, Fry's, or online. The cheapest price I found online was through mySimon.com. No tax and no shipping and handling charges. For Valentine, I think you have to buy direct.

Since you live in CA, know the laws. Detectors are legal but if a cop is having a bad day, he can give you a ticket just for where you mount it. So know where you can mount it. Also, if you get caught by a laser, then you're screwed cause lasers are too fast for you to slow down. If you have to slow down, don't hit the brakes. Tap it. Use the hand emergency brakes more. It won't make the front of your car dip down. If the cop sees the front of your car go down and sees your brake lights, then he knows you saw him and is slowing down cuz your speeding.

Another thing when shopping for radars, the detection radius. If you're in the city, you don't need a 5 mile radius cause the buildings, ATMs, automatic doors, gas stations, etc... will interfere and will give false readings. If you're in the middle of nowhere, then a 5 mile radius would be good, especially if you drive to Vegas a lot.

 

so you would all say that detectors are worth the money? How can i find out if my local police man has laser?

 

apg96 Just walk up to your friendly local cop and ask him.. if he asks why just tell him im sure he wont mind at all... LOL Hey TomRitt just out of curiousity isnt one of the main reasons the valentine 1 is better is because it has the rear sensor... which infact is mounted now in your dash from the looks of it.. so what did you do to keep the rear sensor working?

 

The display is in the gauge cluster but the actual unit is hidden behind the rear view mirror. You can;t see it from the drivers seat/window but the rear sensor sticks out the side of the mirror.

 

dude... that is so awesome you have to do a write up and everything on it.. that is just too cool!!!

 

Most local PD cannot afford laser guns and the training for them. One way to find out IS to ask them directly, but don't do it in person. If they ask why, say it's for research. If you want to be creative, say you're written an article about them. If you live in an up scale city like Bevely Hills or Calabasas in CA, the most likely they would have the money for a laser gun, but it doesn't mean every cop uses one. Remember in CA, it is NOT illegal to use/own a radar/laser detector. It is only illegal if your radar/laser detector affects the functionality of the radar/laser gun. (Go to the CA website and search for the actual law about this and print a copy to put in your car.) With that in mind, you can call your local PD and tell them you're considered buying a radar detector and want to know all the legal stuff regarding it. Some of time they'll tell you what they are or are not using.