In the various cars, I currently have a Passport 9500ix, a Passport RedLine, and a Valentine V1, all of which are windshield mounted.

They work fine, but I'm thinking of upgrading to the Passport 9500ci, which has laser jamming, is custom installed, and is claimed to be undetectable: https://www.escortradar.com/store/passport-9500ci.html. It's around $1700 uninstalled, but I'm thinking it might be worth it, and better than getting a nasty ticket or going to jail.

Any thoughts or experiences?

 

w00tPORSCHE has this installed....was just showing me last weekend. Its awesome....looking to do the same insted of my V1. The install looks like it came with the car.

 

I would get a better lidar jammer. Do you homework on the escort shifters. They get owned all the time.

 

I have Valentine and Laser Interceptor, but wish I got the Passport with the GPS. I might change down the road, but I'll probably always have a different mod in mind that trumps the detector upgrade.

 

u could get the 9500ci for about $1000.

make sure to get it from authorized escort dealer.

the most important thing is to install the front shifters correctly.

however..if i were to do it again, i would get the v1 (hardwired, programmed to my needs and perhaps with remote display in the rear view mirror) & Laser Interceptor (once again, important to get it installed correctly)

BOL

 

we should switch..

 

I've had my 9500ci for a couple years and am happy with the reliability, functionality, and design. I've never owned another detector so no basis for comparison. The GPS feature IMO is of limited use unless you have a habit of running red lights, in which case u prob need a shrink, not a better detector ;-)

 

just got a 9500ci installed but haven't picked the car up yet. Just seemed to me like the best all-around solution, and high-end shops have done tons of installations so they can do the custom display/stealthier installs more easily and with less problems.

I think at a certain speed...having the "better" laser shifter might not matter so much, because of an experienced and trained officer's visual observation presented in court. Maybe I'm wrong about that. Mostly I'm aiming for low-moderate percentage "over" warning and protection. Of course the best tool in the world is called the Mk-1 Eyeball.

 

IMO the GPS is great about locking out false alarms you have passed three times. Such as automatic grocery store doors. Very very little in false alarms which is worth it to me.

The laser jammers aren't even close to the Laser interceptor. There are a couple of lidar guns, can't remember which ones, that it doesn't jam at all. I can say this though, the test vehicle they use had a large front end. The worst case scenario. Given the small sloped front end of the 911 makes for a small taget and makes the 9500ci adequate. I would not even consider the 9500ci on a vehicle with a large flat front end. That being said, I have had the 9500ci on my Carrera for four years and it has saved me numerous times. I Have not got a speeding ticket and believe I'm sure I have tested the system. The key is to slow down quick before you are close enough for the LEO to get your speed.

I am very satisfied with mine. Built in, stealthy, and no taking a detector down all the time. Always on ready to go.

 

The only advantage of the GPS feature IMO is that is automatically eliminates false alarms in frequently driven areas. I happen to like this feature. No red light camera's where I live (yet).

 

I did some research on the rear view mirror thing and what I surmised was that it would be a very bad decision. My reading led me to believe that the V1 needs to be in a prominent place, for the sensors to work properly. Ideally, around the rear-view mirror. I have mine up just to the right of the mirror, on the passenger side. Then I have the remote display down by the shifter, in the bottom of the front console.
The beauty of mirror display is that you can hide the detector, I think, but then it won't work as well. Plus, the mirror thing is a bit expensive. All around - more money for less accuracy didn't seem to make sense to me.

I think the GPS would help me on my daily commute - I go through a ton of falses. Way too many! I took a look earlier today - thanks to the thread and the link in the OP, and found the 8500ci plus (I think that's what it is). I could swap my V1 for that, and retain the Laser Interceptor. Does anyone know if the 8500ci plus is the same as the 9500ci, other than laser? There didn't seem to be a good comparison tool on their site.

 

My bad, I forgot that the GPS has the false alarm lockout feature too. Also you can store speed traps along your route in the memory. We have a ton of red light cameras in NYC so I'm constantly reminded of that feature.

 

its important to find out which bands the local LEOs are using.

in southern cal, no enforcement agencies use the x or k band.

Its either Ka or laser..

only in very rural area will they still use the x or k.

u can program the V1 to ignore the x or k.. thus eliminating the annoying falsies.

v1 has the highest sensitivity and the arrows do help.

 

Forgive the dumb question, but what's the difference (if any) between a laser jammer, interceptor, and shifter? And if the laser thingy in the 9500ci isn't good enough, any suggestions regarding something better?

 

This guy Radar Roy is kind of a legend. Or not, I guess you can decide for yourself

http://www.radardetector.org/

Escort 9500 review by Radardetector.org

the comments section below the review has info about the Escort "zr4" laser shifters not being effective enough. (see enclosed pic