Speak up please

Who of you readers do not have a detector on board their vehicle? I think those who do not have a radar detector in their car and no speeding tickets own a 'Heart Broken' Seasonal Garage Queen and should be banned from even owning a Porsche 996. Do I get a YES here?

No Radar detector. No police stops or tickets. And absolutely no garage queens. Just a ton of focused driving and most likely a great deal of luck. I rarely use the radio unless in slow moving traffic - it's a distraction. I rarely talk on the phone even with a wireless headset - it's a distraction. And I usually drive alone. Except when the wife is on board she is my co-pilot; she has no problem telling me to slow down because the traffic light two miles ahead is red, and her warning system is to give me a good shot to my right bicep. In my opinion, a radar detector might just lead to a ticket - good old fashioned false sense of security. Like my kid who thinks he can bed as often as he wants because he says he uses protection - his favorite line to me is "come on dad, I'm not stupid". Until his lady gave him a gift that kept on giving. But then again at 20 years old he is living in the age of infinite wisdom. Besides, why would you need a radar detector? Who in there right mind would plan on breaking the law?

Quotes source post: 9987814

You're welcome to your opinion, but I don't need a radar detector to enjoy a spirited drive and enjoy some twisites. If I wanted to go drive at a speed that a radar detector would protect me from the constable, I would head to the track. I agree with Silo2 - focused driving can give you the same benefits of a radar detector if not exceeding the boundaries of a public road, it's a lot safer too. Across three Porsches I've never paid a traffic violation and never had a radar detector.

Live in VA - No detector, - stiff ticket if caught - and yes they check, I have been with friends whom put them in the glove box when they cross into VA and forget to turn off. They still got pulled over and a ticket - and I think they confiscated them. I am a daily driver - so no garage queen - just have to be smart when stretching the legs - I think we all have out normal areas that we push the cars in that we know are safe - but fun - I know I do.

DD here, no detector, no tickets. Just careful driving and choosing my spots.

I have a detector but it isn't functional. I have gotten one ticket on a wide open freeway, HWY 65, heading south out of Louisville Ky, just before the limit went from 55 to 65. As a matter of fact, the 65 limit sign was 20 yds in front of me while getting the write up.

Illegal to use a detector here too. No tickets but a few warnings (going 147 in a 100 zone was one of them). Not a garage queen so your theory is flawed.

I'm a believer. V1 + Blinder. I drive the car the way it was meant to be driven. No tickets in 4 years. BUT ... I save anything past 7/10s for the track. For safety, yes, but also 'cause I can forget about hazards like Johnny Law and especially other drivers. It's dangerous out there and ironically, the track is a safe haven.

Gees I thought every 996 owner had a radar detector on board. Obviously I was wrong again. I have one and would hate to drive into the wrong State and get done. A lot of States allow them but dont allow them to be stuck on the wind screen. I will have to change mine to the dash board without damaging the leather. VA does not allow them Period.

I use a BEL RX-65 Driver. It has been great. I did get a ticket however, just two weeks ago. It was my first in almost 20 years. It was my fault, and the detector couldn't help. I was stuck behind a car going 52 mph in the left lane on I-70 (which is illegal, by the way). When the middle lane opened I accelerated around him quickly. I was frustrated and going faster than I would have normally passing. Unfortunately, my pass wasn't timed well. It was in a transition zone where the speed limit dropped to 55 mph. Just as I passed him, I saw the big 55 mph sign. I then saw the motorcycle cop with his laser unit pointed at me. By the time the radar detector sounded the alarm, it was too late. He got me for 73 in a 55.

Quotes source post: 9988074

It's a $100 fine here to travel in the passing lane - I often wondered if you could argue "profiling" if you get a $75 ticket for speeding while passing the left lane hog. If the fine indicates the seriousness of the infraction why pull me over and not the other car. I should also add to my original post; owning Guards Red and Speed Yellow cars effectively act as a speed governor in itself.

Don't use one, I'm lucky enough to have family in the Police Department, and donate annually to their cause, which certainly helps any discussions that I've had with Law Enforcement Officer's on the side of the road. Further, I've got a great set of twisties behind my house, which is my favorite place to run the car, and radar/laser wouldn't really help in those instances. They all run instant on/off laser here, so you hear it when they hit the trigger...unless there is a car ahead of you (which I make sure there isn't when on the twisties, because I don't want to follow a mini-van through 8 miles of great twisties). I'm certainly not against one, and would have one if I didn't have the familial ties, but my family members will definitely tell you that if you have a radar detector, you can kiss a warning good bye. (On a side note, just saw your old meets new photos Hurdi, did you see the Top Gear when they are driving through Intercourse, stop, and get out of the car, just to admire the sign)? Cheers, DS

The only speeding ticket I've received in my life was with a radar detector. The state trooper was cracking up while telling me his radar is still on and the thing just sat there quiet. Since then I've been pulled over ~12 times and let go with a warning,

no detector - paying my ticket tomorrow !

While I have a radar detector in one of my cars I do not consider this a device to allow me to speed whenever I feel like it. I drove for decades with no detector and managed to not get any tickets and I still drive one car (the Boxster) almost every day without a detector. I do not move the V1 between cars for day to day driving. In town, in certain traffic conditions I do not need a cop to reinforce the speed limit. I do not speed staying at the limit or sometimes depending upon factors even under the limit without having to be told. I simply do not see any point in risking something far more serious than a ticket for the sake of making it to the next stoplight a few seconds quicker than other cars. When I started to venture out on the highway there arose problems. Around here 10mph over on the freeway appears to not be a problem, although since I drive a Porsche which stands out I don't even do 10mph over. But since I can drive into areas that have different enforcement guidelines I need a detector. 10mph over -- based on what I have seen other cars get away with -- here is ok. And 'here" is the limited sections of freeway I cover every day. If I ventured even over to say 101 I might find 10mph unacceptable even if I were inclined to try it. But outside of my locale, outside of my region and certainly outside of CA 10mph over is not ok. Definitely not ok. Might point out that in my area Porsches are not rare. And there are a lot of cars on the road and often when I get a radar alarm I come up another car already pulled over. There is safety in numbers. But out on some sections of highway out in the less populated areas of where I drive, my car might be the only car in several miles in either direction, save for the state trooper car parked in the midde up ahead or parked on the overcrossing up ahead shooting radar down at my car. Anyhow, 10mph over.. On I-40 between say Amarillo and the TX/OK state line is not ok. And even anything over 65mph at night in TX is ticket city. Out on the open road I rely upon the detector to give me early warning so I can note the situation in case I get pulled over. And a few times I've gotten pulled over by mistake. The most egregious instance was on I-10 in TX at night. 65mph limit. Strictly enforced. I know this. The truckers told me this over the CB radio. So I'm driving down the road at 65mph -- using the Boxster's excellent cruise control -- and my V1 alarms there's a traffic radar ahead. Concurrently I hear over the CB radio there' a bear in the middle up ahead. Just to be safe, I slow under 65mph and move over to the right lane. Just as I crest the rise and the V1 lights up a small red car passes me on the left obviously going over the limit. The driver oblvious to the bear trap ahead. I pass the cop (city kitty) in the middle and drive on settling in to watch the show. The cop car comes up behind me and pulls me over! As he's pullng me over I hear over the radio "He's got the wrong 4-wheeler!" from one of the big rig drivers that had been right behind my car and had witnessed the whole thing. With the radar detector though I had noted the situation and was able to offer enough intelligent protest that the officer gave me a warning. There have been a few more like the above. Also, kind of funny but out on the open highway I'll pass one or more cars -- safely and without any drama by going over the limit -- but then we get to town and the limit drops to say 35mph. I'm down to 35mph or whatever the limit is *before* I get to the sign because I've seen radar traps right at the limit sign which is illegal but try telling that to cop as he writes you up. So I'm at the slower limit and here come the cars I passed on the highway blowing past my car at easy 10mph over the limit and sometimes with the driver or passengers waving or making some sign they believe I and my sports car having just been shown up. Now guess which car would be pulled over if there was a bear trap at this location? Out of state plates on some exotic "expensive" sports car or some local yokel in a good ol 'merican pickup truck bringing the family in for the weekly grocery/beer run? I might add what prompted my getting a radar detector was when I relocated to the KC MO area back in '00 and read that speed enforcement was being viewed as a state revenue stream in at least MO and KS. This kind of thinking brings with it the chance of at least over zealous enforcement and a sports car stands out like a sore thumb in that area and other areas too. If you can drive in your area without a detector fine. Venture out though and you may see your perfect driving record smudged a bit as you encounter the very different enforcement mindset and some resentment to these cars that exists.

Quotes source post: 9988104

Oh no I didn't see that but can well imagine that they did lol. Intercourse most be the most photographed sign in the States if not the world. BTW I was only done one time for speeding in my 55yrs of driving life and that was driving a jeep with no detector and in the States some 10 years ago. Never had a warning either, But lots of warnings from my Cobra in the last 12 months. I don't rely on the Cobra, just hopefully as a backup warning or when it lets me know of a 'speed trap area'. Not so often do I go over the speed limit by 10mph and thats usually on an overtake. I like to 'tuck in' behind a speeder if I want to speed in the hope that he gets done before I do haha.

I have a V1. But your comment about garage queen is funny. I could say the same to you if you don't drive it at the track! You don't need a radar detector at the track

I have an RX-65 - my first detector - and I wouldn't go back to driving without one. The only time I've been pulled over since trading the Boxster in for my 996 wasn't speed related, and I wound up having a 10+ minute conversation with the CHP officer about how the RX-65 bluetooth works with my iPhone. That LEO let me know that they like guys with red-light warning systems, since most of the intersections where they bother with cameras in CA are apparently the dangerous ones, and those of us with red-light warnings slow down the other folks who would normally blow through the intersection. The only time I was pulled over for speeding (by a Nevada trooper outside of Gila Bend), I was doing "75+" in a 45. He'd been tailing me for 5+ minutes, assuming I would open up the taps once the road straightened out. The plan was to light me up and impound the Boxster if I hit 120 - but since I didn't, I got a written warning and a handshake.

I bought my 996 with a passport SRX already installed. I used it initially but did not feel the need to since my driving was within guidelines. (I have never had a detector before). When I turned it on a few months back, it does not seem to even work. Since I really feel no need to use it, I have not tried to even troubleshoot it. Cover is going on the car tomorrow for the winter so maybe I'll deal with it in 2013.

No detector. Cops today have far too many weapons. i think detectors discourage the caution and experience that has kept me off the radar in general for years now. Only ticket I've had in a decade was in a small town speed trap driving my wife's Volvo! And no garage queen... on a clear stretch of interstate I did over (redacted) on my way to Porsche coffee this morning. Touch triple digits fairly regularly; road, traffic, and visibility considering. But always with adult responsibilities in mind. No reason to throw your life or some else's into turmoil just for some quick thrills.

When I bought my old 944 turbo the PO had hard wired in a Passport 3200. When I sold the car about 8 years ago I took the detector out and put it up in the back of my closet. I saw it up there about a week ago and got curious about if it even still worked but did not have a power cord. I purchased a cord and put it in my 996 today while driving out to Eagles Canyon Raceway. It really worked well. I will probably not use it on a regular basis unless I am going on a longer trip. I agree with Macsters thoughts and used it more as a fail safe than a reason to speed in general.

Quotes source post: 9988384

A quick google search returned the following: To get to Intercourse, PA go through Bird-in-Hand, pass Blue Ball, stay on the same road, and you'll find Intercouse. Afterwards you'll go through Paradise.

Detector pays for itself quickly... but not tool proof...so still need to be smart about how you drive. I have a laser ticket to proove that! Hurdie ..must be that detectors are illegal in Uk that you are so pleased to be able to use one here

Never owned or used a detecter, but with all the revenue enhancement going on I have realized it may be more cost effective than ever!

Only thing that would work here is be a cop or a laser jammer. Radar is long gone. Had a ticket on my bike where he said he got me hand held standing on the side of the hwy with gusting winds from 1000 feet away with the long suspension bridge bobbing up and down. I said I'm a sniper and you can't hold on a target for a 1/4 second at 1000' with a hand held device. Judge said ticket says blah blah $500.

Here in Hawaii all the LEO's only use Laser. The speed limits in Hawaii are notoriously low, you can be on a complety normal stretch of highway, and have it go down to 45 mph for no real reason. Highway- like roads with no side streets or buisnesses on them will normally have a 35 mph limit, when it is esentially a 6-lane highway. I have an Escort ZR4 detector on my M3 that I'm actually planning on swapping over to my 996 later today. Bike cops here are very sneaky, and they set-up speed traps very regularly in areas where the speed limit drops dramatically. My ZR4 picks up the laser quickly, giving me plenty of time to drop my speed a little. Like most have said themselves on here, I don't speed around on side streets, city streets, or in neighborhoods. But I don't like to sit at 55 mph on a completely abandoned highway either... The ZR4 has saved me from at least 4 tickets in the past year. It does a very good job blocking the laser as well. Since one time I passed a cop on a side street near my house (was going the speed limit already) and as I passed, and my detector was beeping like crazy, I saw the cop continuously try to get my speed on his gun, as I slowly passed. It is also pretty well hidden, it has small jammers/ detectors that can be mounted somehwere in the front near your licesne plate, and another longer one that looks like a part of a License plate bracket for the rear. They aren't illegal here either, so it's a no brainer for me. I highly reccomend it for anyone in an area that uses Laser a lot. I've never had this kind of luck with a detector before, because most states will use an assortment of speed detection strategies.

Never used a detector and have never had a ticket for speeding.

DD here, no tickets. I flow with the traffic, take the corners faster than most, and save the fast stuff for the track.

Quotes source post: 9988920

And that is true. Those are all authentic place names within 10 miles of each other here in Lancaster County PA

Never drive my porsche or ride either of my sport bikes without the radar detctor on and working properly. I don`t comlpetely rely on it but it certainly aids me greatly. Its rare while on my bike when I`m out for a real rip that i don`t don`t hit a couple of hundred kph through the twisties (normaly ride at 20-25 kph over the posted limit during the rest of the ride). Escort Solo II (and now III) has never failed to give me warning when required - I never speed in side city limits so I never worry about the lasers. Can`t tell you how many times the detector has saved my *** - if I go out without one i feel like I don`t have a helmet on!!

Was told by Ohio State Trooper that he will always issue a ticket instead of a possible warning for speeding if he sees a radar detector in a car he has pulled over. So if I get pulled over, which I haven't yet in the Porsche, I always pull off the detector and throw it under some papers or something to hide it.

I have always assumed that obviously trying to hide something as soon as the lights go on is a good way to (a) get a cavity search, or (b) get shot. I'd rather get a ticket.

Quotes source post: 9989956

Well I wouldn't be obvious about it. The few times I have been pulled over, I had plenty of time and distance from the copper to discretely pull my detector down and stash it out of sight.

Quotes source post: 9989982

Since I read yesterday it is illegal in most States to have a detector stuck on the windscreen but not on the dash board, I have removed mine from the actual wind screen to an inch lower onto the dash lightly secured with velcro. Should I get pulled over I can easily remove it from the dash into the center console compartment.

I've gotten ONE speeding ticket in my Daily Driver 996 in 6 1/2 years and 110,000 miles - and that was with a friend's borrowed V1 onboard. I don't drive slowly. I just drive smart, and am aware of who's all around me.

Quotes source post: 9988636

Like!

The previous owner of my car installed a stealthy K40 radar in the car. The only visible indication that i have is 2 red LED light on either side of my tach. I don't use it. I can't stand the sound of it. I'd rather be oblivious and just drive. As far as a garage queen goes... Mine is daily driven, parked outside and tracked each month. Once you drive DE you won't feel any need to speed on streets. And really, "speeding" is nowhere near as violent and addictive as pushing one of these cars at it's limit. 5-6 thirty minute sessions and you will cruise home on the interstate letting volvos pass you by with your radar off.

Quotes source post: 9990605

So true! Today on the way home from one of my best DEs to date, I was happily chilling in the slow lane while soccer dads flew by me in their mini vans and suburbans

Definitely disagree w/ the OP's statement about radar detectors... However, also disagree about DEs, or racing for that matter, making me drive slower on the street. After driving flat-out on the track (always flat-out ), freeway speeds feel like a warm-up lap to me.

I don't use one on the street in my P-Car. Heck, I don't use my V1 anymore at all. Just sits in the glove box. -td

I don't travel at all without my V1 (in the 996 or my A6) or the Escort 8500 in my wife's Honda Odyssey. Not that we're driving like crazy, but on a lot of the rural roads where I live the sheriff has his radar on all the time and there's no reason to be stopped for doing 40 in a 30 or even 45 in a 40.

Quotes source post: 9987814

Sorry to burst your generalizations 1. I have a RD (ESCORT Passport 9500iX) 2. My 996 is a garage queen 3. I have a buttload of speeding tickets In case you're wondering where/how I got the tickets, below is my fix for my need for speed

a wet cold boring november day...what better day than to update the old escort passport 9500ix. downloading new gps positions for speed cameras (dont think they have these anymore here in BC), red light cameras and general marked speed traps. i really like the 9500...wanted one for a while and finally got it. saved a couple tickets im sure. although now theyre getting smart and are putting up those "your speed is" unmanned radar things. sets off the radar every couple minutes now. tricky buggers. also updated the tomtom....what a most productive day!

I have a radar and laser detector, laser jammer, radar jammer, and police scanner in my vehicle. I have never had a speeding ticket, but have rarely needed to have these items in my vehicle as I have learnt to have my fun on a track for the most part. I also daily drive my Porsche, in 5 years I have put on approx 60,000km

Quotes source post: 9991741

This is sad but I do the same thing. My V1 has been sitting in the glove box since the 1.8 version release.

I have a nice V1 w/ 1.7 firmware on my car

Escort passport X50 that never comes off my dashboard. Has saved me from ALOT of tickets and a few arrest/impounds i was going so fast

No radar detector (medieval penalties for those, here, in addition to which the OPP use Spectres), and no tickets or warnings for maybe 10 years. In fact, I had been driving around for a couple of years with no license plate light before my mechanic pointed it out to me. I don't want to tempt fate by suggesting the following is insurance, but I still think it's true: Cops read the 'body language' of a car in motion. How abruptly it changes lanes, accelerates, decelerates, all that stuff says something about how mature and engaged the driver is. I think that if you drive appropriately for the conditions, signal lane changes, make all your moves smoothly and deliberately and don't disrupt traffic around you, cops around here are generally not going to be interested in you, even if you're over the limit.

Well said, BruceP! You are likely 98% correct! Unfortunately, a radar detector might be required for the other 2% of instances, related to overspeeding! But you are certainly on the right insurance path: Excellent advice!

No detector, no tickets since 1985(when I had a detector). Lots of spirited driving in many high performance cars since then. I just pay attention and use common sense.

No detectors (although im looking for one), no tickets so far, and i have hit the speed of 171mph one time.

Quotes source post: 10000274

Where did you do that?

In a non-Turbo? Impressive.

Quotes source post: 10005128

Yeah I was about to ask in what car and how long and if it was downhill? I've generally found you start hitting a soft wall around 130-140 with c2 power levels.

I wouldn't really call it a "wall" (even a soft one). During DE's, I've had my 996 up to 130ish just before it's time to hit the stoppers for turn one. While it's not pulling like a Turbo or Z06, it still has plenty of life left.

Why would anyone exceed @65 or 70? These cars are cruisers.

Quotes source post: 10005899

I should've phrased it differently. I just meant that after that speed, it doesn't climb up the speed as fast and you will need a lot more road to keep climbing up. It's definitely got more speed left albeit at a slower pace from that point onwards.

I have driven Las Vegas to Los Angeles in 3.5 hours. Encore Valet to my front door. I have been pulled over twice. First time was for window tints and no license plate. Second time was speeding, but they let me off because they had no idea how fast I was going. I will never get a stupid radar detector. It's called using your eyes and driving smart.

Quotes source post: 10006472

In my stretch of freeway, cops usually position themselves at ONRAMPS completely hidden from plain sight from cars down below on the road. My RD alerts me even if I cannot see with my own eyes where the cops are....so a RD works for me.

^ Ouch, I just can't stand the noises they make. LA traffic generally keeps my speeds down more than CHIPS though haha.

Quotes source post: 10006472

If you think they're stupid you clearly have never used them properly!!!

Just remember Radar/LIDAR detector are not cop detectors, any cop can still eye-ball you or pace you and have you convicted in court since they are "trained observers". Instand-on radar and Lidar technologies are far more prevalent now days, especially in areas where radar/lidar are allowed, so the law-enforcement officiers can take advantage of the new technologies when they are looking for speeders.