Radar Detectors - Stealthy?

Hi all, New Cayman S owner, first time poster... I have found it very easy to find myself speeding in this car, even when I'm not trying to. I'd really like to make a day trip soon on a niceroute (from Phoenix to Payson for any AZersout there)and see it's true capabilities a bit better than freeway/street traffic can safely afford. I think I need to invest in a good radar detector before risking a nice fine (highway is 65mph, 85+mph which is a yawn is a big deal if you get stopped). I found a wealth of info at www.radarbusters.com . I have narrowed it down to a couple models. My question is, do any of you have experience mounting these detectors in a stealthy, ascethically pleasing way? I want to use it daily, especially since the technology has advanced enough to make it not so annoying in town. I just don't want the thing in plain site on the dash. I've seen the direct wiring so you can avoid the cig outlet and cord hanging. I am just wondering about nifty mounting options. Stealthy would be good too as I know LEO's first impression of you would be negative when they see a radar detector on your dash.

Oh, btw... I do know they offer 'concealded' detectors, but they pretty pricey. Just clarifying I am looking for a clean way/place to use a standard detectorit in the CS. My thoughts were making it appear integrated with dash some how. Just looking for thoughts or seeing if anyone has done this. Thanks!

The new BEL remote model out end of the year is the one to go for. More sensitivity and no radiated signal.

There have been some posts on integrating the Valentine 1 remote display...I'll look. Pretty much any quality detector these days will not be detectable by the radar detector -detectors. I have a V1 and strongly reccomend it.

azcay - see below. i have Passport 8500 x50. works great... <u> http://www.planet-9.com/article_read.asp?id=54 </u> http://planet-9.com/article_read.asp?id=54

Second vote for V1.

I've got my spare V1 sitting on the seat--I need to figure out how to mount it. The BMW is hardwired to the windshield with a remote by the speedo. Looks like the hidden remote will be necessary and mounting of the unit may be novel because the windshield/visor mounts seem too obvious. I don't think there's a better detector out there for the money. Andy

Please do a search - there's been countless threads on radar detectors, from mounting, hiding, using, to every opinion in the workd as to which is the best - much ground covered... brad

I went through this a few months ago. I bought a Bel 65 and while it worked ok, I wasn't satisifed with it. I found it falsed quite a bit and didn't have the distance that I wanted. I used their 30 day no questions asked policy to try it out. After two weeks and a road trip, I retruned it and ordered the V1. I am thorougly satisfied with the V1. The few falses I do get are bearable because you have the bogey counter to decipher reality from imagination. I know its been said a thousand times, but I'll repeat it again, the arrows are awesome. A coworker was riding in my car on the way to lunch and got to see them in action. The neat part is that they follow the police car if its moving. I believe he was considering one after he saw them. If you look for my posts, I have some pictures of the lifespeed display mounted on my steering column. You can find the post if you search. There is also some talk of integrating the v1 display into the tach by wilhelmy. I love the idea, but we will have to wait to see if it materializes. I've had mine for a about two months now and its great. www.radardetector.net is a great forum to dig up info. Lastly, I'll leave it as this. I called several dealerships to have it hard wired. Every person I talked to assumed that I wanted a V1 installed. When I told them it was (initially) a Bel 65, they said they could do it but they hadn't done it before. If you think it looks antiquated, you need to see it in person. It isn't as large or ugly as the pictures online would make you suspect.

Been covered a million times on mostcar enthusiasts' web boards. The clear consensus is V1. Once you've experienced the V1's radar locator arrows,you're sold. Like Porsche, there is no substitute. Mine is mounted at the top of the windshield, just to the right of the mirror, & hardwired to an ignitionswitched blank spot in the fusebox. It's not very obvious from inside or outside the car. Haven't yet found a suitable spot for the remote display. BTW, Mike Valentine is a long time Porsche guy, so buying a V1 helps him put gas in his Carrera GT.

This is one of those topics that seems to come up every quarter. Over and over and over.

haha...like clockwork.

Regarding the installation of radar detectors. I don't understand why car makers don't put a power outlet on the top of the dash board. They know that people use detectors and other devices like GPS. A power outlet located on the top of the dash would make it a cleaner installation and would also keep the wires out of the way of the other controls on the dash and console.

Thanks for the info. Yea,my research on radardetectors.net forum has me agreeing with the V1 consensus. I guess I will go with a trational mounting style. Once I get it I'll be able to better see if there is any type of fab I can do to make it more 'integrated' in appearance. I'll post the results, if any. Also, thanks for the link on the fuse box hardwire.

for V1 fans... <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0" class="productListing-data"> <tbody> <tr class="productListing-odd"> <td class="productListing-data"> Porsche 996 V1 Display Rear View Mirror (Auto Dim) </td> <td class="productListing-data" align="right">$795.00 ... more info </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Edited by - mt647 on 07/30/2006 3:47:34 PM

I like the Valentine 1, but.... I installed the Passport SRX with sensors on front and rear bumper and indicator in front of shifter. I have had two V-1's and the second one has been not up to expectations. I get continuous laser detections (about 15 on a typical commute), all of which are false alarms. The SRX, while expensive has been terrific. Just another opinion. I have one more question. Anyone who brings up a topic that was brought up before seems to get scolded. I personally enjoy topics like this because the searches I have done are sometimes confusing and it is a good way to bring important topics to the forefront. Why not let this continue?

Thanks MT647, I've heard of them and seen ones for a few cars but not for a Porsche. That would defeat the point for me because my V1 lives next to my mirror. I don't want police or onlookers to be able to see the lights. With the remote display on my steering column, I've accomplished that. I could see that appealing in VA and DC where RDs are illegal. I have seen examples though that are a little more stealthy. If the RD is off, you can't see the arrows at all. When its on, they are visible. I'm not sure who sells them but they look pretty sharp. I'll wait for the V1 in my tach display

mt, that is cool, I do not like mine in plain site in the center of my front window. It is not very attractive in a beautifully non-cluttered car. Russ

Is it legal to drive in California with a radar detector? What about Nevada? I will be in vacation next month around there and I have a Whistler 945 (not euro model) that I could use, I am not planing on speeding, just in case...

I've been watching this thread (I know, there are many others that I've searched for) and really want a stealth RD. I've heard / read/ re-read that the V1 is the best but I can't get over the fact that I'd have to leave this unit somewhere on my front windshield. In one of my internet searches, I found a post where a guy mounted his V1 to the rear deck of his Boxter, just in front of the rear window, and put a hat over it for disguise. This got me to thinking aboutfabricating a box that would house the V1 and support it in a hidden manner. Mount this box to the rear deck, just behind the little grab rail. If I hold theV1 at about 5.5'' high and keep the box height at 6.5'' high. The V1 would have clear view of the front windshield and back window. I also wouldnot see it in my rear view window. Obviously, a remote is required. I'm going to call Mike Valentine today to get his thoughts. Art

Is the valentine windshield mount reversible and articulated?If it is, you could mount it to the rear window and hide it behind your 'PORSCHE' lettering. You would still have to deal with the remote placement issue. Unless Wilhelmy comes up with a way to put the display in the tach's computer screen.

I have the SRX as well. Excellent unit and the laser shifters work. It's expensive but well worth it imo.

azcay, It is quite easy to mount the V1 in a Cayman. I did mine in about 30 minutes, including making a stabilizer for the suction cup mount. There is a nice gap all around the Cayman windshield in which you can hide the power wire (I used a few pieces of black foam to keep it snuggly in place), and you can pull the power cord under the side trim right down to the fuse box (on the left side). I wrapped my power wire around a fuse leg (I've forgotten which one, but the V1 uses so little power it doesn't matter so long as you pick a switched circuit so the V1 powers up when you turn on the switch). I used the suction cup mount, but made a bracket to fit between the V1 and the mirror mount which is velcrowed to both. This stabilizes the V1, while letting it be easily removed. It now appears just below the read-view mirror, just low enough that the rear-looking laser and radar sensors can see through the rear window. This makes a nice professoinal installation and it has saved my hide many times already. If you want further instructions let me know. Charles Edited by - arcticsilver on 07/31/2006 11:03:30 AM

Just FYI, there is a handy little fuse adaptor you can buy at your local Pep Boys so you don't have to fuss with fuse taps or wrapping wires around the blade of a fuse, the Littelfuse FHA200BP Add-A-Circuit: <input type="image" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002BGELQ.01-A385A0XNQBW8HY._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg" /> You plug this into a fuse slot, put the original fuse it replaces in the bottom slot, and put a second fuse in the top. Now you have a 12V hot wire available for connection, with no splicing. Plus, it's fully removeable, AND your added circuit is protected by a fuse. I have one set up for my Passport 8500 x50 hardwire and it works great.

Not too shabby.

I spent about $2,000 having a Calibre radar/laser detector with the laser deffuser installed on my Cayman... It lasted about two days before I was pulled over and taken down to the local police detachment to have it uninstalled. Radar detectors are illegal in Canada (and a few states in the US) and you won't get away with operating one for long. As to thelaser deffusers, which you really need since most speed traps use laser guns, they are alsoillegal (in the US and Canada) and can get you in much more trouble than a simple radar detector because you are emitting a laser beam and using it to interfere with police equipment.