[Joe166]

That is a very nice installation. I have the same setup, but I found the detector too obtrusive in that location. Eventually I removed the mirror mount and just used the suction cups.

Don't you find it to stick out too much?

 

[Joe166]

First post ... cut me some slack... All the advice on laser detection is to mount your V1 as low as possible on the windshield since they aim for your front license plate (a good reason not to have one) and will hit the V1 while fishing around for a reading. Laser is a pinpoint beam looking for a reflection back. Mounting your V1 up high just ups the chances that you won't get a laser warning, or if you do, it's too late.

I had the dealer run the wire to just in front of the nav display before I even picked the car up. I provided the V1 install kit, they didn't charge me. Love that Lexus service.

I always thought that with Laser you were always too late unless you managed to get a missed beam from the guy in front. Laser is very, very hard to detect. I think it is almost impossible. What I meant, though, was that it is so obvious there that someone might decide they need it more than I do, and it does block a little of my view. I have had a hard wired Valentine in my two seat TBird for years and I never take it out because it is virtually invisible from the outside as it is above the mirror. I don't speed all that much anymore, especially when the mileage goes down so drastically, so I prefer to be in a stealth mode.

 

[Joe166]

You did a great job, thanks for the information.

 

[Joe166]

How much does a typical laser/radar detector cost?

The two "best" ones (IMO) are the Valentine V1 which costs about $400 and the Passport 9500ix which costs about $500. The guy who builds and sells Valentines used to work at Cincinnati Microwave, which makes the Passport. I like it better. It has front and back receptors and is quite reliable. The Passport has a built in GPS and can learn and warns you about stop light cameras and speed traps, but I find the voice warnings annoying. I have one of each, but haven't used either one in months. I took one with me in my wife's car for a 500 mile each way trip and I forgot to get it out of the glove compartment. I find that I don't speed very much anymore, but I like to be kept informed as to what is going on around me.

A cheap radar detector will have so many false alarms because of door openers that it is virtually useless.