Valentine one stealth display!

[aNoodle]

I actually really loved the Passport 8500 and I would recommend it to anyone. The V1 and the Passport 8500 are both great detectors. I would say that there are only three main factors to look to make your final decision:
1.) Price difference (if that matters to you).
2.) V1 has the directional arrows and bogey counter.
3.) 8500 is much smaller/more compact than the V1...V1 is annoyingly large, IMO.
I'm trying to be as un-biased as I can here, so I gave the 8500 a plus and the V1 a plus...people either prefer the 8500 or the V1...I am a 8500 fan.

I got rid of my Passport 8500 because I wanted a remote install radar detector. I purchased the Whistler 3400 radar detector. It requires professional installation and it features one sensor mounted in the front (but it does provide 360-degree protection...it's rear detection performance, based on my experience, is similar to that of the 8500), a laser antenna (to detect laser) mounted on the windshield which is a pretty small piece, and the main control unit which features the display and buttons and integrated speaker, which tells you all your info. I wanted this remote install setup because it is much more discrete when a cop pulls me over (he can't see it at all), no annoying chord(s) hanging down from the windshield, and no radar detector unit sticking on my windshield to get in my field of view. If I'm not explaining the way the remote install radar detector looks/works, just let me know, I will post a few pics showing the unit installed in my car.

Yeah post a few pics of the sensors and the display. Considering I've gotten 6 tickets since getting my BMW...I'd be into getting a detector if it was integrated into the car.

 

[MrElussive]

This first picture shows the display unit. It gives you all the status/radar info and has an integrated speaker inside that makes the noises when it is detecting radar or laser.

This second picture shows the laser antenna. This picks up and detects laser...I guess it's hard to see, but it is basically a small piece that is suction-cupped to the windshield. I placed it behind the rear-view mirror as you can see, so I can't see it and cops will just think it's part of the rear-view mirror. There is also one sensor mounted in front of the car, behind the grill...this detects radar (X, K, and Ka bands) and provides 360 degree protection. It is mounted in the front, but it does a good job even for rear detection...its rear detection performance is similar to that of the Passport 8500's rear antenna.

This radar detector is the Whistler 3400. I purchased it for $160 from this online store I found and installation was about $160-$170. Its performance is similar to that of the Passport 8500. The Whistler 3400 model is no longer available because it has been replaced by the Whistler 3450 (essentially the same model, but with POP mode detection and blue text display instead of green). I would recommend this radar detector to anyone as it is a really great value and its performance is really great.

 

[sirjustin1]

I had a Valentine 1 installed in my S4, best radar detector I've ever used. I mounted the unit in the rear window, made a custom little box out of some old Audi speaker covers, turned out real nice. Then I had the remote display in the upper left hand corner of the dash. Mounting the unit in the back window might have made it slightly less acurate but it sure beat the hell out of having anything in the windshield.

 

[MrElussive]

I had a Valentine 1 installed in my S4, best radar detector I've ever used. I mounted the unit in the rear window, made a custom little box out of some old Audi speaker covers, turned out real nice. Then I had the remote display in the upper left hand corner of the dash. Mounting the unit in the back window might have made it slightly less acurate but it sure beat the hell out of having anything in the windshield.

As long as it had a clear view through the front windshield, I'm sure it did fine!