Used to be a radar detector would pick up signals from a radar gun in standy-by mode. If they aimed it down the road in your general direction, the detector would go crazy.

Most of the cops in our area now use instant on, seems like you only get a signal if it's aimed at you. That's not a lot of warning.

Are the new radar detectors reliable enough to avoid getting caught ?

Only if they are hitting the guy in front of you.

Here is my $.02 I have had one speeding ticket in the past 23 years. When I got it I had a radar detector. Since then I have not used one and have not had a ticket.

I have used a Valentine One for several years with nary a ticket. The detector is not a cloaking device or insurance but just another level of detection beyond your eyes and good judgement (i.e not speeding full time in the left lane). Now to your question, yes instant on radar, and laser will only tell you that you have been busted. But in some states which use Ka-Band radar, like WA, OR, CA - I can pick up cruisers using full time radar 2 miles away, front and rear as well as those that flip it on momentarily to check approaching traffic. Like I said it doesn't replace being attentive, but it is like a sixth sense and could save you a ticket from the non-instant-on radar/laser, so it really depends what they use in your area.

My V1 has saved my hide countless times -- my commute takes me through LA County Sheriff and Santa Monica PD revenue alley, otherwise known as PCH. Nowadays they use laser, which the V1 or any other detector I know of can only detect when it's already aimed at you and it's too late to take action if you were speeding.

Ka-band radar is still widely used too and a detector is a handy thing to have on road trips.

I think the reason modern radar detectors work against 'instant on' radar is that you aren't the only one targeted and your detector goes off because some poor fool three blocks ahead just got zapped. That is your warning.

One of the coolest innovations I have seen is the detector that doubles as a GPS navigation system with red light camera warning and speed trap warnings. That's a group buy I would be down for...

I have been saved a couple of times with my BEL, but it seems like the instant on stuff would have caused me trouble.

...Or as my Son says, "Dad, why don't you just drive the speed limit"? I wanted to smack him but he's a lot bigger than me now.

If aimed at you, Laser will nail you. Fortunately, cops are lazy and even with instant on they tend to rely on the Ka and K band radars that stay on all the time.

Laser does splatter so, you can detect it when the guys ahead of you get tagged. SO, never lead the pack.

Stay behind the idiot in the M5.

It definitely helps to have a 'sleeper' car. The conspicuous sports cars and hot rods seem to attract more than their fair share of trouble around here. Give me a white 4-door Audi over a red Mustang GT convertible any day as far as ticket risk goes...

9 other ways to avoid getting tickets - all of which I try to abide by: http://autos.aol.com/article/how-to-avoid-a-speeding-ticket/

I have an Escort radar detector with an early laser detector as well. Haven't used it in years and haven't gotten a ticket.

NJ still uses constant-on radar and it's easy to pick up. PA has gone to instant-on radar and the only thing a radar detector will tell you is if you just got caught.

Anymore, I stay within 10MPH of the speed limit. I do way too much driving to always have to worry about the police around the next bend or at the bottom of the next hill.

Seems like in PA the State Police are looking for big numbers. So in a 65MPH zone, they're looking for speeds starting with 8 or higher.

Do police really pull over 914s for speeding? Seriously. Whenever I've been in a questionable group of speeding vehicles, Police seem to pull over anyone but me--it's like I'm invisible. I assume they think my car can't speed. Now, I'm talking stock looking 914s...not the flared cars with the sign hanging on the rear bumper saying "I like to speed, pull me over."
Mark

"Do police really pull over 914s for speeding?"

I was once accused of trying to run from the police in my 914.

I just had to say "Yeah RIGHT in a 71 1.8L Volkswagen????"

Charges dropped......

Real hardcore speeders use stealth technologies.

Hitachi microwave oven paint is good at absorbing radiated energy.

3-4 layers of special paints have been designed to absorb crtain frequencies of laser energies.

Yer flat surface of a license plate needs to be angled to reflect both light and microwaves to a safe place, or covered with an energy absorber.

And, the real hardcore guys I knew built radar jammers that send back a signal to the sender. One guy liked to send back a "55" mph signal, another guy liked "0" mph, and another guy liked "-55" mph. They did military jammers for a living.

Ken

I got popped on I-83 southbound into baltimore going 85mph. The officer was sitting in a new spot I had the top off and music cranked, pulled over and waited for the ticket. All I could think was WOW this little car still has it

[font=Times New Roman][size=7]My V1 is probably ten years old. To update the software Valentine wants about the same as the price for a new one. I like the idea of a group buy for one of the new GPS units.

I've got one of the Escort GPS-equipped models. It's been very sensitive, and has saved me on several occasions. I don't usually drive "fast" as much as I drive "quick"... which it where my Cayman and the 914 excel. The RD has found itself living in my wife's minivan, our main "long distance" vehicle.

I got mine a couple years back through a group buy arranged through a Porsche dealer in Texas. I got it $100 off. The best part is that it learns where the false alarms are as you drive around town. Three X or K signals in the same place gets recorded as a false alarm, and you never hear it again.

A $650 radar detector? Think I will wait until the techology is more widespread/mature and the price comes down out of the stratosphere.