Range!(PA turnpike N PA bridges) VG2 (Virginia) Sensitivity (Maryland) Smartcord (Real Nice)

Ummm. I thinking ,but will let you know when I encounter one.

8500. 8500. 8500. I will not drive without it! My first one got stolen and the insurance company would not replace. So, I bought another one the same day and would do so again ,but this time for my fiance because; I just purchased the Solo S2 and can't wait to test them side by side. 8500 Love It. Need I say more?!

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Cobra

Everything works perfect.

None!

Great product, highly recommended, the best radar detector out there.

Features, range, volume

none

Let me say that the Escort Passport 8500 is the best radar detector I have ever owned. Even though it was a little spendy, it was well worth the $260. The range is unbelievable and the features are endless. It is very easy to use and you will have a peace of mind knowing that the 8500 is protecting you. All I would have to say is shop around for the best price before you buy it because no one should pay $300 for a radar detector.

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Cobra ESD 9550

loud,easy 2 read,lots of warning

high price

Only one word to say, one bad radar detector!!! Only had it for less than a month it's great lots of warning very loud,and very easy two read.I haven't seen any bad things about it other then the price was a little high,but I believe it's well worth the money

Similar Products Used:

cobra 9210,escort solo 1

Flexible features, solid unit, nice power cord features, good mount, ease of use from very simple to fairly complex (whichever YOU want).

Silver body reflects too much and may add to theft potential. Volume cannot be adjusted high enough. No 'voice' option.

This is an awesome detector. Much fewer false alarms compared to my old Bel 840i (which I really loved). Range is amazing at times. It was a hard call between the Escort 8500 and the higher end modern Bel's (985 mainly). For me it came down to features, rather than performance. It was very difficult to give up my Bel for an Escort. What tipped the scale was the number of times I have had to replace the tiny speaker on the Bel (at least 3 times that I can remember). It's so loud it blows it's speaker every year or so. Regardless, I still like the Bel units. The Escort mount is more sturdy than Bel and slightly adjustable. Just stick with Bel, Escort, or Valentine. As for the V1 - The price, age, size, weight, increased theft potential, and lack of 'modern' features is why I didn't go with the V1, although I've been very impressed with reviews I've read. I balked at spending $300-400 on a detector. I looked into some units under $100 models, then at some that were around $200. When I found the 8500 for $261 delivered, I jumped on it. After reading reviews, thinking about how much I drive, and how my lead foot has gotten me into trouble, I decided to fork it over. It's WORTH a few more bucks to have piece of mind. I'm very pleased with the 8500 so far. It is a solid unit, with excellent options, and I see this being my main unit for many years. When you consider the price of even one ticket, $261 is actually pretty cheap when amortized over years of usage. The fact that it's 'upgradeable' is also a plus. I wonder if the variance in other reviewers experiences are just variants inside their individual units, or how they have them mounted (not level, tinted glass, etc.). These units are after all complex, delicately tuned, cutting edge technology, so couldn't that account for it? It could also be that folks aren't taking advantage of the customization and 'tuning' you can do with the 8500. I have mine on Low X or No X all the time. If I had a 'bad' detector, I'd send it back to the factory for testing and calibration. Or get an exchange from where you bought it. I don't get the false Ka alarms from commercial areas like others, and I live and drive all over Dallas/Fort Worth. As for LASER, note that detectors will not give you miles of advance warning like on Ka. Light beams and radar waves are much different. With the beam of "light" being shot directly at your car, all a LASER alarm is telling you is to pull over and sign your name on the ticket you just got. UNLESS the officer still had his finger on the trigger when he accidentally flashed the unit directly at your detector. Just my two cents.

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Radio Shack remote unit, Whistler, Cobra, and Bel.

This detector dose everything right and I would never give it up for anything eles. The Passport 8500 is the best detector made.

None

I have used many detectors and none of them are as good as the 8500. I have used the Valentine One and its not even close to the 8500. This detector dose not have any weakness at least from what I can tell. I did a test with a friend and he has a Valentine and I was using my 8500 and we ran many tests over 12 mouths and I must say that the 8500 blows away the Valentine one and I was able to pick up Ka radar from over 4 miles away and my friend with his V1 said that his detector did not even go off intell after he saw the cop and then I told him that my 8500 saw that same cop from at least 4 miles away. I rest my case. Buy the 8500 its the best detector ever made and this is a fact.

Similar Products Used:

Valentine One,and many others.

range, sensitivity, volume

None

Undoubtedly the best detector I have ever used (plus I got a great deal). That's all there is to it.

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none

A small town close by recently went with Ka systems on their two cruisers and have gone revenue enhancement crazy. Well, everytime I go through, I get the warning a good 3/4 to 1 mile before I see the unit. You're thinking a 3/4 to 1 mile??? That's not so good but if you knew the tarain, curves and woods in the area you'd be impressed.

The ONLY weekness (and I'm nitpicking, here) is the grey finish of the unit which leaves a slight glare on the windscreen in bright sunlight. Wish Escort had chosen a matte black for the top of the case.

1st of all, if you are in the market for a RD, buy this one and you won't regret it. I'm a radar tech and am amazed at the level of technology you get in the Escort package. No false alarms unless you are 20 ftand pointed at the Ka, K source. At this point, you are being barrage illuminated and know it. Otherwise, the 8500 is flawless.

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Sensaro, Traveller 1 and Cobra

Superior detection range. Programming options Design

None that I can find yet

I've owned Escorts/Passports since the mid 80's. I bought my last detector in '93 (Passport 4500) and it's given me nothing but troublefree service, except for 3 LEDs on the signal strength meter going out. This 8500 is by far the best one I've had. What an awsome detector. It's signal strength is superb. I was blasted by a Texas DPS trooper with Ka, but knew about him long before (1 mile or so) I cresting the bridge where he was hiding. I was so impressed that I bought a second unit for my wife. She took hers to Corpus the same day and had nothing but praise for it. Smell the coffee.....buy a Passport 8500. Ron S. - Austin, Tx.

Similar Products Used:

Passport 4500 Original Passport Original "cigar box" Escort

Performance, features, warranty.

Price, although the competition is higher.

After comparing the Passport 8500, S2 Solo, and V1 in my car, I decided on the 8500. I actually purchased a S2 as I didn't have access to one, willing to take a 15% restocking loss (but didn't have to)to find out which detector was really the best for me. Well, the V1 is a fine detector, it just falses so much that in the city you really do need the dang arrows to figure out if it's Walgreen's front door or a cruiser with K band. I was able to ignore Eckerd's X band door. Thank goodness that the Motorcycle cops around here all seem to use Ka radar now, and none of the reatailers have gone to it yet. Both the 8500 and S2 are terrific in the city, minimal false alerts, unless you're turning at an intersection and the detector is pointed right at the Walgreens or CVS (also K band), and the automute renders that less bothersome. One thing I did notice, the S2 shows both K band doors at the local Food Lion, whereas the 8500 only shows one, but will alternate between both frequencies in spec display, where the actual frequency is displayed. On the highway the V1 is superb, no doubt about it, but actually no better than the equally super 8500. The directional arrows can be useful, but when you're running down the highway with the 8500, the expert meter and it's signal strenths are also very useful. I did encounter 2 Ka and 1 K band radars at one time, I slowed the heck down! With the expert meter I was able to tell 1 distant Ka about 30 seconds after 1 closer K, and then a full strenth instant on Ka! Another word on the frequency display of the 8500, this could be useful on the interstate for those so inclined. As far as the S2 on the interstate, it gives up a little sensitivity to the V1 and the 8500, but if you want a cordless, you won't be dissapointed, the loss of range isn't near as severe as you would think, and it may be even more useful in town than the sensitive 8500.

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other radar detectors