I am planning on spending big cash on a radar detector in the near future, but for right now I have the opportunity to buy a couple cheap ones for dirt cheap and want to know which is worth it. Either one is better than none at all.

Cobra SSR 50 - I can get for $25
Cobra ESD 9290 - I can get for $35

I'm guessing the ESD 9290 SHOULD be better, but is it really?

How about you just keep it within 5 mph of the posted limits and leave the speeding for the track . Better for you (no tickets or an accident) and safer for everyone else..

I have no experience with these. And I never believed in radar detectors until I witnessed a Valentine v1 in action. It is by far the best you can buy. Look them up. I'll be purchasing one this year. They are SPOT on.

Yes the best radar detector is not speeding. I've been there and done that, you don't gain anything by speeding but you do gain a good chance of loosing and potentially allot.

I don't think you read his post, he wasn't asking for your opinions on posted speed limits.

grothe3297venge said:

How about you just keep it within 5 mph of the posted limits and leave the speeding for the track . Better for you (no tickets or an accident) and safer for everyone else..

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I always keep it within 10, but on the highway I end up looking down and seeing 70+ when it's posted 55. Also, today I took off at a light and looked behind me to see a cop, also looked down and saw I was going 50 in a 40.

I usually speed past speed traps around 10 over on accident and never get stopped. But I would like to be aware of the trap from now on instead of taking chances. They always surprise me at night but never stop me since I'm usually the only one on the road.

BringinDaBEEF said:

I have no experience with these. And I never believed in radar detectors until I witnessed a Valentine v1 in action. It is by far the best you can buy. Look them up. I'll be purchasing one this year. They are SPOT on.

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I'm not looking to drop cash on the high end ones yet. Just getting one of these cause it's cheap.

Boostdriven said:

Yes the best radar detector is not speeding. I've been there and done that, you don't gain anything by speeding but you do gain a good chance of loosing and potentially allot.

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I stay within 10 most the times, unless it's a highway or a main road with low traffic. Around here most the time everyone does 55/60 in 45's including the cops.

I only have until tomorrow to choose which I want before the price goes up a bit, in which I won't bother purchasing one. Anyone got opinions? I'm open to them.

I never had one of those but my old man wen I was young he had one of the cheap radar detecters and it went off well how it's supposed to work but will also randomly go off when he passed a gas station but personally man what you pay for is what you get get a more expensive one because you don't want the radar to go off and then slow down and the cop already got you going 20 over so get one that has a longer radius

You're not going to get a good radar detector on the cheap you will get what you pay for, No protection. You cant cheap out on radar protection. Just get a valentine one for the trip and you can return it within 30 days money back guaranteed. I did that returned it and got my money back. Ended up buying one the next time for keeps. Been using it 9 years now love it. Same goes with an Escort get it and return it thats all.

frankie sanchez said:

I never had one of those but my old man wen I was young he had one of the cheap radar detecters and it went off well how it's supposed to work but will also randomly go off when he passed a gas station but personally man what you pay for is what you get get a more expensive one because you don't want the radar to go off and then slow down and the cop already got you going 20 over so get one that has a longer radius

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I can't afford a good one though. I ended up purchasing the $100 9290 for $37 shipped since it said limited quantity available.. I figure if I don't like it I will sell it for $30. I'll leave feedback of it when I get it.

ceedawg said:

You're not going to get a good radar detector on the cheap you will get what you pay for, No protection. You cant cheap out on radar protection. Just get a valentine one for the trip and you can return it within 30 days money back guaranteed. I did that returned it and got my money back. Ended up buying one the next time for keeps. Been using it 9 years now love it. Same goes with an Escort get it and return it thats all.

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If only I had the money to spend on that, it's a great idea. Buy one for one month and return it and buy another for the next month. By then I would be close to affording one for keeps.

Although I will probably get some heat for saying this, reason I am not spending any big bucks is because I'm working on getting rid of my DSM and getting an S2k Love DSM's but S2k is one of my dream cars. Maybe I will end up with a DSM daily driver one day or something

doesnt matter if he does 2 over or 20, you never know what kind of cop youll be passing. i bought the cheap walmart cobra one off a buddy and its just good to know when to slow up. i cant decide for you but either one will do good enough.

bowens1414 said:

doesnt matter if he does 2 over or 20, you never know what kind of cop youll be passing. i bought the cheap walmart cobra one off a buddy and its just good to know when to slow up. i cant decide for you but either one will do good enough.

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Which Cobra model did you buy? Hows your experience with it?

I've had various cobras and valetines over the years. Honestly, they've all been a waste other than on the interstate. In town, by the time it goes off, you're done. Not even worth it. I have been lucky enough to pick up a few cops from miles out on the interstate though, however, most cops are smart enough to flip their gun on and off, so you can't always pick up on it.

My opinion- they're a waste. I never really did speed much, just wanted one because everyone else I knew had one. I just use the cruise and never worry.

honestly couldnt say, its the 60 dollar one from walmart, i got it off a friend with no 12 plug so i spliced it into my radio, it does the job it will catch most ka band at 1-2000 feet which is plenty enough on average streets.(cutting it close on highways) it will not pickup laser, only our troopers use them here in ny. its good enough. you get your moneys worth(avoiding one ticket) so either or if theyre only 30 have at it.

now my neighbors got a valentine haha lemme tell you that thing is ridiculous!

thats something i forgot, these arent a cop detector so you cant rely on it. but if you have good judgment, and intellegence on the roads these can be very useful

I use a RMR C430 just to know when they are lurking around. I like knowing they are in the area so I don't get caught off guard not watching my speedo.

Tyeler18 said:

I've had various cobras and valetines over the years. Honestly, they've all been a waste other than on the interstate. In town, by the time it goes off, you're done. Not even worth it. I have been lucky enough to pick up a few cops from miles out on the interstate though, however, most cops are smart enough to flip their gun on and off, so you can't always pick up on it.

My opinion- they're a waste. I never really did speed much, just wanted one because everyone else I knew had one. I just use the cruise and never worry.

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Without one, I always end up accelerating past them while they hide in the corners at night. I end up seeing them in my rear view and praying they don't pull out

I do understand that it will be too late most the time, but I rather have something that nothing.

bowens1414 said:

honestly couldnt say, its the 60 dollar one from walmart, i got it off a friend with no 12 plug so i spliced it into my radio, it does the job it will catch most ka band at 1-2000 feet which is plenty enough on average streets.(cutting it close on highways) it will not pickup laser, only our troopers use them here in ny. its good enough. you get your moneys worth(avoiding one ticket) so either or if theyre only 30 have at it.

now my neighbors got a valentine haha lemme tell you that thing is ridiculous!

thats something i forgot, these arent a cop detector so you cant rely on it. but if you have good judgment, and intellegence on the roads these can be very useful

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It's probably something similar to the one that I saw for sale for $30, it's retail said $60 on it. I ordered the one that retailed for $100 because even if it's not better, it shows the signal strength instead of relying only on the beep speed.

Seems like I should look into a valentine then for the future, since everyone is speaking so highly of them.

I don't know about other places, but I know people with detectors around here and luckily for us sometimes it is a "cop detector" because some cops ride around with it on constantly.

1990TSIAWDTALON said:

I use a RMR C430 just to know when they are lurking around. I like knowing they are in the area so I don't get caught off guard not watching my speedo.

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I googled it and it says it has a micro-scan feature to try to help against instant on's. Has it helped you? I don't think the one I ordered has that.

hahaah i have a cobra that i got for free, and it only lets me know when im pulled over . it works sometimes, my brother on the other hand has the passport redline that goes for $500 and it works amazing

The Rocky Mountain Radar (rmr) unit I use has a passive fm chirp that is blended with the return radar signal that confuses the radar "to a point" then their radar will bust right thru like at closer ranges but it will pick up the police gun from a good two to four miles out. The laser part has an active jammer in it and it has only went off once but worked good I guess because he didn't come after me. I was in a truck pullin a trailer to pick up a DSM of all things. My locals leave theirs on a lot so its easy to know that they are lurking close by. Thats the only reason I use it. Just want to know they are close by.

42395_skyline said:

I am planning on spending big cash on a radar detector in the near future, but for right now I have the opportunity to buy a couple cheap ones for dirt cheap and want to know which is worth it. Either one is better than none at all.

Cobra SSR 50 - I can get for $25
Cobra ESD 9290 - I can get for $35

I'm guessing the ESD 9290 SHOULD be better, but is it really?

Click to expand...

Big cash is 35$? Wow i wish radar detectors were legal in canada. I used a passport detrctor was
Like 350$ worked great. And with lazer no matter what detector you get your fuqued before the alarm goes off 99% of the time.

1990TSIAWDTALON said:

The Rocky Mountain Radar (rmr) unit I use has a passive fm chirp that is blended with the return radar signal that confuses the radar "to a point" then their radar will bust right thru like at closer ranges but it will pick up the police gun from a good two to four miles out. The laser part has an active jammer in it and it has only went off once but worked good I guess because he didn't come after me. I was in a truck pullin a trailer to pick up a DSM of all things. My locals leave theirs on a lot so its easy to know that they are lurking close by. Thats the only reason I use it. Just want to know they are close by.

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Interesting never knew that they had that. I never looked into detectors much. Around here they seem to leave it on too so thats why I ordered it. Still hasn't come in yet

urbansmoker1 said:

Big cash is 35$? Wow i wish radar detectors were legal in canada. I used a passport detrctor was
Like 350$ worked great. And with lazer no matter what detector you get your fuqued before the alarm goes off 99% of the time.

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I said I am planning on spending big cash in the future not present. I ordered the one for $35 because it was dirt cheap.

I saw a review for one that picked up the signal 4 miles out I don't remember the price of it but it's on my list of things to buy when I have the cash. Got a major oil leak that I haven't looked into yet that's blowing out $30 of royal purple every week and need a new OEM key cause mine got bent. Also with christmas here I spent all my cash and am flat broke.

You get what you pay for, guarantee you a 35$ detector will get you tickets.

Probably better off buying yourself a nice dinner.

If you trust a cheap detector your gonna be more flat broke if you speed around.

urbansmoker1 said:

You get what you pay for, guarantee you a 35$ detector will get you tickets.

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Well it's actually $100 that I got on sale plus used a free discount I had. But $100 detector is better than none at all. My friends costs $100 and saved him from a couple tickets already. He did get one ticket, but unlike him I won't be going 100+ on city road or any road for that matter.

EDIT: I usually keep with the flow of 3+ cars. Around here if 4 or more cars do 60 in a 45 nobody cars. 2 cops flew by recently when I was going 50 in a 40 and they didn't pay me any attention.

Things radar "detectors" will not help with:
1. Instant on
2. Visual

Skip them.

I've seen a video of this stuff. It's kinda like a clear coat you put on your headlights, front bumper etc. they did a test, it didn't block the radar per say, but it kinda deflects it for a good distance to give you enough time to notice the cop. All radar detectors do IMO is tell you, you have been caught.

"8 is great, 9 your mine" seems to be a pretty common sentiment among LEO friends.

This seems to only apply to 40mph and up zones. 8 over in a 20 like my neighborhood will be a ticket.

OP drives an N/T anyways, how much speeding could that possibly encourage you to do?

Shit, in some places, you could be religious about going the speed limit as an absolute maximum and STILL need one of these to save your ass from tickets...

there's one intersection in this city in particular where many people have been hit with speeding even though there's no physical possibility their car obtained that speed in that short of distance.