new member, new car, noob questions(radar, bra, etc)
#1
new member, new car, noob questions(radar, bra, etc)
Just got an 02 turbo with 29k miles. It is stock except that it has a short shift kit. Love it, have already scared all my friends in it. I have got a couple of basic questions.
1. I want a radar detector and have been doing some research. It looks like the Escort Passport 9500ix and the Escort Passport 9500ci are excellent options. I am leary of the custom install on the 9500ci. I don't want some nuckle head drilling holes all over the place and pulling a ton of wire. But, it appears to be the best one. Has anyone had any experience with these custom installs? Is the ci worth the extra 1k? Or should I just go the basic window mount route? (I live in Redondo Beach CA if someone can recommend a facility)
2. What has been people's experience with the clear bra? Is it a highly recomended option?
3. Any good recomendations for a wash, polish, wax system. I have always just used meguiars in the past but I have never had I car I cared about as much as this one. And, how about the interior?
4. Probably gonna regret asking this...but...when I had the car inspected the mechanic told me it had 1 stage 2 over rev. He said that it wasn't a huge deal but that it was bad. He said mechanically the car was fine and drove great. He said it did have a low amount of stage 1 over revs (2,000 ish) and he has seen between 10-30K on a car with 30-40k miles. How bad is a stage 2? I know it is mechanical so basically someone downshifted improperly...but is there anyway to know how high it went?
Other than that the car is super clean...no cosmetic flaws on the exterior and the interior is like new. The guy who owned it before me only wore driving gloves so the interior is immaculate (don't think I am gonna wear gloves though).
Thanks and excited to be a memeber and a driver!
1. I want a radar detector and have been doing some research. It looks like the Escort Passport 9500ix and the Escort Passport 9500ci are excellent options. I am leary of the custom install on the 9500ci. I don't want some nuckle head drilling holes all over the place and pulling a ton of wire. But, it appears to be the best one. Has anyone had any experience with these custom installs? Is the ci worth the extra 1k? Or should I just go the basic window mount route? (I live in Redondo Beach CA if someone can recommend a facility)
2. What has been people's experience with the clear bra? Is it a highly recomended option?
3. Any good recomendations for a wash, polish, wax system. I have always just used meguiars in the past but I have never had I car I cared about as much as this one. And, how about the interior?
4. Probably gonna regret asking this...but...when I had the car inspected the mechanic told me it had 1 stage 2 over rev. He said that it wasn't a huge deal but that it was bad. He said mechanically the car was fine and drove great. He said it did have a low amount of stage 1 over revs (2,000 ish) and he has seen between 10-30K on a car with 30-40k miles. How bad is a stage 2? I know it is mechanical so basically someone downshifted improperly...but is there anyway to know how high it went?
Other than that the car is super clean...no cosmetic flaws on the exterior and the interior is like new. The guy who owned it before me only wore driving gloves so the interior is immaculate (don't think I am gonna wear gloves though).
Thanks and excited to be a memeber and a driver!
#3
1. I want a radar detector and have been doing some research. It looks like the Escort Passport 9500ix and the Escort Passport 9500ci are excellent options. I am leary of the custom install on the 9500ci. I don't want some nuckle head drilling holes all over the place and pulling a ton of wire. But, it appears to be the best one. Has anyone had any experience with these custom installs? Is the ci worth the extra 1k? Or should I just go the basic window mount route? (I live in Redondo Beach CA if someone can recommend a facility)
4. Probably gonna regret asking this...but...when I had the car inspected the mechanic told me it had 1 stage 2 over rev. He said that it wasn't a huge deal but that it was bad. He said mechanically the car was fine and drove great. He said it did have a low amount of stage 1 over revs (2,000 ish) and he has seen between 10-30K on a car with 30-40k miles. How bad is a stage 2? I know it is mechanical so basically someone downshifted improperly...but is there anyway to know how high it went?
Actually I would wear the gloves...it isn't to keep the car clean, it is to help hold on...DOH!
Drive safe.
#7
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#8
Great color choice! Let the mod begin!
1. go with k40
2.clear bra is worth it
3.Meguiar quick detailer spray is good enough for in between (you can have a detail guy do the work if you don't have time and don't want to mess up anything.
4.Type 2 over rev is pretty bad for your engine but if you are thinking about a 3.8L engine rebuild than I won't worry too much
I think those gloves were to blame for the Type 2 over rev! Just kidding!
1. go with k40
2.clear bra is worth it
3.Meguiar quick detailer spray is good enough for in between (you can have a detail guy do the work if you don't have time and don't want to mess up anything.
4.Type 2 over rev is pretty bad for your engine but if you are thinking about a 3.8L engine rebuild than I won't worry too much
I think those gloves were to blame for the Type 2 over rev! Just kidding!
#10
+1 for the V1. (Sorry, but the K40 is inferior based on multiple tests) I am not a fan of allowing hacks to install stuff in my car, and many hidden/concealed detector installs can trade off sensitivity for concealment.
I am very happy with Zaino, but really it is the prep PRIOR to applying zaino or wax or whatever that matters. There is a detailing subforum here with some good threads... search back in time to find more posts. These integrated 'wash, polish, wax SYSTEMS" are for non-pros. Pros find stuff they like for each step, then integrate those based on what the paint needs (and what the client demands for the final protectant). I really like the Menzerna compunds/polish/etc stuff for prep.
I've never heard of ONE singular overrev of any type. Did you actually SEE the print out? The DME logs how many rotations occur at what speeds (actually it is firings, even if the spark is cut IIRC) . A single count means that there was only one portion of a rev in which it was over speed... it would not concern me in the least- provided it was a count of one, and not a mechanics interpretation of "oh, these counts must have been all from one type 2 event"
If your paint is pristine, then the bra might make you emotional life easier. Otherwise just view a repaint as maintenance at some point in the future.
I am very happy with Zaino, but really it is the prep PRIOR to applying zaino or wax or whatever that matters. There is a detailing subforum here with some good threads... search back in time to find more posts. These integrated 'wash, polish, wax SYSTEMS" are for non-pros. Pros find stuff they like for each step, then integrate those based on what the paint needs (and what the client demands for the final protectant). I really like the Menzerna compunds/polish/etc stuff for prep.
I've never heard of ONE singular overrev of any type. Did you actually SEE the print out? The DME logs how many rotations occur at what speeds (actually it is firings, even if the spark is cut IIRC) . A single count means that there was only one portion of a rev in which it was over speed... it would not concern me in the least- provided it was a count of one, and not a mechanics interpretation of "oh, these counts must have been all from one type 2 event"
If your paint is pristine, then the bra might make you emotional life easier. Otherwise just view a repaint as maintenance at some point in the future.
Last edited by ard; 09-09-2009 at 09:43 PM.
#11
Yeah he showed me the computer. I wasn't and am not familiar with the computer program as it was my first and only time seeing it. But, I remember seeing a stage 1 over rev section that showed somewhere between 2-3k. There was below it a stage 2 (or maybe level 2 or type 2 not too sure on the lingo) and it showed 1 stage 2 over rev at around the 700 hour. He had his laptop hooked up to the car and was showing me the screen...didn't get a print out.
So as far as cleaning the beast the best option is to have a professional detail it? Now does that mean finding a reputable guy that will come to my house or taking it to a "car wash" that offers high end detailing? I've always been leery of those places.
As far as the radar detectors go...I was using this site as a reference:
http://www.radartest.com/
Not sure if it is a reliable source but they seem to highly recommend a GPS radar detector. That is why I was leaning towards a Escort Passport 9500ix. But I had always heard V1 was the way to go.
So as far as cleaning the beast the best option is to have a professional detail it? Now does that mean finding a reputable guy that will come to my house or taking it to a "car wash" that offers high end detailing? I've always been leery of those places.
As far as the radar detectors go...I was using this site as a reference:
http://www.radartest.com/
Not sure if it is a reliable source but they seem to highly recommend a GPS radar detector. That is why I was leaning towards a Escort Passport 9500ix. But I had always heard V1 was the way to go.
#12
1. So a count of one is not a concern.
2. I cannot afford to pay a professional to do it as well as I do it. Here is a link to a 'major detail' I did: https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ate-996tt.html I don't know what detailers charge, but getting someone to futz with the car for 12 hrs has got to cost money...
3. Valentine only sells direct. THEREFORE, all the "radar test sites" who actually make money selling detectors, or selling click through, or selling advertising, do not test Valentines. I do have a suspicion, however, that the gap has closed in recent mdels- but they still don't have the directional indicators. Not sure what use GPS is in CA since I don't think there actually are any fixed radars in the state...
Oh, look into laser jammers too...
A
2. I cannot afford to pay a professional to do it as well as I do it. Here is a link to a 'major detail' I did: https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ate-996tt.html I don't know what detailers charge, but getting someone to futz with the car for 12 hrs has got to cost money...
3. Valentine only sells direct. THEREFORE, all the "radar test sites" who actually make money selling detectors, or selling click through, or selling advertising, do not test Valentines. I do have a suspicion, however, that the gap has closed in recent mdels- but they still don't have the directional indicators. Not sure what use GPS is in CA since I don't think there actually are any fixed radars in the state...
Oh, look into laser jammers too...
A
#13
I see that you're in CA. Most radar detectors don't work well anymore in CA due to "instant on". By the time it senses the radar... it's too late. You need something like Escort 9500ci but it is over a K plus $1300 for professional (conceal) install (in the Bay Area).
About clear bra, 100% worth it. One time the clear bra on my car needed to be replaced and I had to drive the car without it for a week. I felt like the car was naked and I had to stay so far behind the car in front of me. (maybe it is a good thing)
About clear bra, 100% worth it. One time the clear bra on my car needed to be replaced and I had to drive the car without it for a week. I felt like the car was naked and I had to stay so far behind the car in front of me. (maybe it is a good thing)
#14
I don't know WHAT you are talking about...
MOST chp radar in the bay area and throughout northern ca is 'Ka always on'. Instant on is rare. In my experience.
I see Ka all the time, Chp rolling with it "ON" continuously - or sitting on the side of the road, radar fully on, watching for guys moving noticeable faster than the pack- or guys at the front of a bunch. From a LEO point of view there are SO MANY speeders, they don't really need to try and ambush people with instant on- and it is a PITA to set up and do it.
(Laser, OTOH, is basically 'instant on' and is approved to be used that way- hard to detect, which is why you want a Blinder or lidatec jammer)
No radar detector can 100% detect and protect from true instant on. Concealed or otherwise.
If you are saying that is not true, I'd ask you to explain technically, how does the escort 9500ci protect against instant on compared to other detectors (like the Valentine with POP)?????
A
PS Edit: I always run my V1 in "All Bogeys" mode- so that if there is a CHP up ahead, and he is triggering his Ka, I will likely get a whiff when he checks a driver ahead of me. Last week I drove 400 miles with my wife in northern CA, and she finally said "Wow, that thing is amazing". We'd get a blip, slow down and look and pretty soon see a CHP one way or the other. Many times a mile away.....
Last edited by ard; 09-10-2009 at 10:21 AM.
#15
Wow I can't believe that radartest.com site is still around and believed. When I was first researching detectors almost 10 years ago that site was around, its sponsored (or owned?) by escort if I'm not mistaken and is completely biased.
I wouldn't bother with that ci detector, just go with a windshield mount detector. You should also get a laser jammer with the money saved - Personally I'd go with the V1 (valentine1.com) and m1 blinder for laser (www.blinder.net).
I wouldn't bother with that ci detector, just go with a windshield mount detector. You should also get a laser jammer with the money saved - Personally I'd go with the V1 (valentine1.com) and m1 blinder for laser (www.blinder.net).