34 out of 34 people found this review helpful.
One Product Where Looks Don't Count
Date of Review: Jul 14, 2000
I subscribe to a few auto magazines. Over the past couple of years, I recall seeing the face of this goofy middle-aged guy with wire-rimmed glasses on some ad. Finding his face objectionable for some reason (actually he closely resembles someone I don't too much care for), I always quickly turned past the page and never studied the ad.
More recently I wrote a long epinion about a great book called "Fight your Ticket - and Win" which I studied rigorously in my last traffic ticket defense preparation. It helped immensely, but I didn't get the ticket thrown out, only the penalty amount reduced. One reason I did not win may have been that the California Highway Patrol officer who ticketed me lied through his teeth in court by saying that there were no other cars around me as he used his radar gun to nail me for speeding. Two weeks ago I received a notice from the Department of Motor Vehicles that raised the possibility of my drivers license being suspended. Yikes.
So I did some research on radar detectors. I first went to the epinions competitor, Productopia, to get an idea of which detector their experts recommend - I find Productopia easier to quickly find the top products in any category, but since their reviews are very lacking, I then delved into the epinions reviews. I also did some basic internet search engine research and found some very compelling studies comparing radar detectors. The Valentine One was by far and away the best detector from all three sources. I also found out that the goofy looking guy was the founder and CEO of the company that produces this gadget, and he was also the founder of Cincinnati Microwave, which makes the popular Escort detector. Turns out this goofy looking guy is pretty smart.
So I broke down and ordered a Valentine One, which is not only the best radar detector on the market, but also the most expensive at $399. But money is no object considering the risk of losing my license and the immoral obstacle presented by lying CHP officers.
Just like its company's CEO, the Valentine One is not the best looking unit in its class. It rather bulky in comparison to its sleeker competitors. But looks are not at all a consideration when buying a radar detector.
So far the product is everything it says it is. You can read the other reviews for more details, but basically the Valentine One is superior for three reasons: 1) The Valentine One is more aptly called a radar locator, as it is the only product that actually tells you where the "bogie" is located - either in front, to the side, or behind. 2) The Valentine One covers all the radar and laser bands used by all radar guns - K, Ka, X and Lidar. 3) The Valentine One was superior in all bands in terms of being the first detector to detect the presence of radar in a detailed study conducted annually by a major auto magazine (Road and Track, I believe).
My only complaint so far is that the Valentine One's "window suckers" refuse to stick to my windshield during colder evenings. But Valentine supplies a sun visor clip that practically solves this problem.
If nothing else, having this radar detector will make me more aware of my speed, but it will certainly give me early an early indication of the use of radar on the road, and a better chance to fight the unfair and unjust advantage of the "other side".
