Wayne Enterprises

I just got my new Escort Passport 8500 x50 Radar Detector and so now I need to decide where to put it in my C6.

I've found 2 types of mounts; rear view and visor.

So should I put it under the Rear View Mirror or under the Visor??

I trust you guys , what do you think?

Thanks!

PappyTinker

I feel that the mirror mount results in the unit hanging too low. I have my Beltronics unit mounted from the driver side visor using a modified Great Lakes trophy visor mount. I have yet to have it obstruct my view of anything I needed or wanted to see.

C-INRED

Okay...in the interest of balance...I like mine under the mirror. Best view front and rear for detection and a convenient location for glancing at while keeping my eyes on the road.

Whiterock1

I keep my 8500 at mirror level, but to the left. As I check six frequently, I'm used to that point. Plus, even with the Bullets, I can hear it easily. I also use the Expert Meter, which is a great feature and something the V1 doesn't have, because there is a lot of X band with all the Air Force bases, and it is very easy for a POP shot of Ka to be covered. While the arrows on the V1 are a nice feature, I'd rather see the strength of the masked signal in multipath situations.

R23HTC

You can do that with a V1. You put it in Logic mode instead of Advanced Logic Mode.

KILR-Z51

I've been mounting my Solo 5 at the middle of the winshield slightly to the left for 12 years, Its been working like a CHARM, Why mess with a good thing.

raasp

I like the visor mount on driver side with a invisicord attached to the mirror power plug.

Very clean set up without blocking drivers view and easy to hit mute buttom when needed.

Vette_06

I put mine to the right of the mirror on the passenger side. It works great there.

Whiterock1

Does it show the individual strengths of multiple signals? I was told the V1 couldn't do that?

wsharp24

I have been mounting my radar detector, currently an Escort 8500, on the left middle of my windshield. Have never had a problem with it and it has saved me many times. Very easy to see there. When I leave the car I take it down and put it under the seat...off, of course.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

gordonboss

I mounted mine in the left visor with the Vettemods visor mount. Does not block vision at all. I like it there because with the invisicord it is an easy quick reach for mute or turn off.

wglewis

I use the escort with a mirror mount and inviscord. Has worked great and not in the way. easy reach. and I am always doing a visual check with the review anyway, so its in line of sight.

R23HTC

No. It only worries about the strongest threat. It will show multiple threats, but the strength meter only shows for the strongest threat.

Wayne Enterprises

When you use the visor mount, are you still able to pull down the visor and use the visor? Or does the detector obstruct the visor?

Gobble gobble, Happy Thanksgiving!

rtibbit

I have exactly the same detector. On the drive from Bowling Green to Dallas, I used the Escort's suction cup mount to simulate various fixed mount positions. I drove with the detector in each position at least two or three hours. The positions were:

1. Under the mirror
2. To the immediate right of the mirror (passenger side)
3. To the immediate left of the mirror
4. Below the visor clip (passenger side)
5. Below the visor clip (driver side)

Here is my assessment.
1 obstructs the view the most - more than I am comfortable with, is easiest to see the alerts, and is most convenient for operation - Also I've read a number of negative reviews regarding adhesion, vibration, etc for the mounts that attach to the mirror
2 obstructs the view the least, is rather difficult to notice alerts, is a rather long reach for operation
3 obstructs the view just a little - not enough to bother me, is ok for alerts and is an easy reach for operation
4 obstructs the view hardly at all for the driver - really irritates Nancy in the passenger seat, is most difficult to notice alert and is a very long reach to operate while driving. Only allows the visor to moved down to a vertical position - any further, and it touches the detector
5 obstructs the view some - but is not to bad, fine for alerts and is relatively easy reach for operation. Same issue as 4 with the visor

In summary, if I were using the suction mount rather than a fixed mount, I'd keep it just to the left of the mirror, position 3. I wish someone would build a fixed mount that positioned the detector there. However, I want the security of a fixed mount and the best compromise is position 5, the drivers visor clip position. When I got home I ordered a visor clip mount from vettemods.com and bolted on in position 5. I happy, but....

Pipedreams, how about designing and supplying a fixed mount that puts the detector just to the left of the mirror and allows the visor a full range of motion?

Wayne

Wayne Enterprises

Wow! That is impressive analysis!

rtibbit

Thanks!

I've gotten a ton of information from this forum - and I'm glad to give a little back.

PS. I fixed a typo in the post. I bolted the vettemods mount in my coupe in position 5 - the driver's visor clip.

Wayne

DP Dave

A year ago or so another forum member posted a picture of where he places his Escort 8500 x 50 and I followed suit. On the underside of the detector he put a type of that non slip material (which is intended to place on the dash for placement of keys, etc., no glue or adhesive, just sticky) and then sets the detector on the speaker grill which keeps it from sliding. When I park the car I unplug the unit and place in the console. It has been a year and has saved me more than one ticket! I purchased the non-slip material at Bed, Bath and Beyond, was around $5.00.

bolivar

I go with the non-slip material. I've got an old, battery Solo. (I know, I am in the market for a newer detector, probably V1.)

I have put the waffle-wear rubber material that is used under throw rugs to keep them from slipping on wood floors. Cut and glue this to the bottom of a detector.

You can then set this about anywhere you want and it will not move around. I put the Solo to the left of the driver in the corner of dash and windshield.

Now, if you go full acceleration, or make some violent evasive turn, the thing is probably going to come off the dash. Just let it fall, it usually won't hurt it. Anyway, a detector is usually used, and effective, only on interstate type roads, where the speed is steady and the rubber bottom is adequate to hold it on the dash.

On twisty, or even somewhat curvey and hilly 2-lanes, a detector is about useless. A road like this, the signal does not go very far, there is usually little traffic for a policeman to 'shoot' someone in front of you, and when a policeman does see you, at the top of a hill or around a curve, he can fire the instant-on before you can cut your speed. You're caught.

If you use suction cups, it leaves nasty rings on your glass. As people previously said, visor mounts interfer with the visor use. I would not hang one from the mirror. Mirrors bearly support their own weight, and many come down after a few years of southern heat and sun.

My first detector was the orginial 'Fuzzbuster'. Detectors have saved me from tickets, and I've gotten stopped and ticketed or warned with them.

Right now, I usually just run 9 over the speed limit and police usually ignore me. In October I drove 1,717 miles of I-40 & 44 and Texas Highway 287 at 79 or 84mph, and I wasn't radar checked a single time in my Velocity Yellow coupe.

Orbit

I put my V1 in the same place and it works great. It is easy for me to remove when I go onto a military base then just slide it back in the bracket when off the base.