Both are excellent, but I prefer the V1.

I've owned a V1 for years and recently had a chance to swap for an Escort 8500 X50 for a couple weeks. I guess once you get used to something you prefer it, and maybe that is why I was less than enthusiastic about the Escort. I like the arrows of the V1. I like the signal count feature, which has saved me at least a couple times. (I've not had a radar speeding ticket in nearly ten years.)

I would consider getting the Escort with the red lighting for my wife's new Si just because she doesn't drive like I do and it would be a much better unit than the tired old Uniden she has now. Plus, it would match the interior lighting of the car.

(Okay, here's a question for you: why does an Escort 8500 with BLUE lighting cost $50 more than the same unit with RED lighting? Any GOOD LOGICAL reason why this is the case?)

I don't think you'll go wrong with either one. They're both well-rated and well-made.

(FWIW, I can tell you that NEITHER one of them works against VASCAR! )

Mike

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I got the blue x50 at ultimate for $275. I think the blue is nice and easy on the eyes.

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As I mentioned in Vin's other post - I've never used the 8500 - but what sold me on the V1 (besides all the kudos it gets in the press) was that I could pair it up with the S1 and integrate it with the vehicle - muting w/steering wheel buttons, display on the dash or nav or both, I LOVE the arrows even though you're right - you need to slow down regardless - but I like to look around to see what set it off and the arrows really help with this. I really like all the other features of the S1/V1 combo as well. The only thing I don't like about the V1 is that you pretty much have to mount it where it is visible - I wish it could be totally out of sight. I've heard of others mounting in the rear center headrest totally out of sight but that's just too much work for me (although I'm sure I could do it) and you lose the laser (which actually may be a good thing - I get a lot of laser alarms that aren't laser radar - in fact, I don't think it's ever given me a true laser radar alarm). If I had a non-pano roof, I might consider building some sort of a "holder" for it that would pretty much hide it, but with the pano roof, I'm not sure that's a workable solution.

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If you are not going to use with S1 then save the $$ and get the 8500. You have seen the 8500 on my X5. Never had any problems and saved me several times.

That the exactly right. If you are going with the V1/S1 combo than you would be set. However if you aren't going to spend the extra $200 for the S1 then just save the money for something else...

I am in the market and do not own any unit.

Do they sell any grill mounted units?

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

v1 all the way. I've had both side by side and the Passport has fewer false alarms because it doesn't catch everything and has a real crappy range.

Does the V1 give lots of false alarms?

My old Passport went off so much that I stoped using it.

The v1 has PoP AND it's upgradeable when new features come out. I just had my V1 upgraded to the latest greatest firmware/options for $75. With any other brand i'ld be looking at purchaseing a new unit.

"7. In my eyes, arrows don't do jack. You'll know where the cop is...big deal. Bottom line- you have to slow down"

The arrows are what sold me on getting 1. Once you have the arrows you wonder how you ever lived without them LOL! Knowing of the cop is behind you, to the side or in front of you is a good thing. Take for example : Detector shows radar to the front, it's at night and you can't the cop. when you pass the cop (doing the limit of course) you can see that you've passed him because the arrows will show radar to the sides and to the rear once you've gone by.

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