Radar detectors save money
1996 Firebird Formula LT-1 is a "Sleeper"
Radar detectors save you a lot of money by preventing unnecessary speeding tickets and their attendant fines. Most importantly though, radar detectors save you a lot more money when you consider the exorbitant rate increases that insurance companies would be piling on you, if you got speeding tickets.
I drive a 1996 Firebird Formula LT-1 painted "Cayenne Red." It’s a Trans-Am underneath. It has the LT-1 Corvette engine and the performance handling package, but it doesn’t have the hood scoop and extra showy stuff on the outside. When I was younger we would call cars like this a “sleeper.” **
** Wikipedia: “A sleeper is a car that has high performance and an unassuming exterior. Sleeper cars are termed such because their exterior looks little or no different from a standard or economy-class car.”
Years ago I was pulled over for speeding while driving a 1979 Trans-Am on US 31 in Michigan. What aggravated me was that I was in the middle of three or four other cars that were all running at about the same speed. After that I bought an Escort radar detector that I had just seen in a car magazine.
Since then, I have never had to pay for a speeding ticket in my 1979 Trans-Am, or in my 1982 or 1996 Firebirds.
However, in the fall of 2001 a local cop in Pineville, North Carolina (a well-known speed trap) stopped me. He said I was going 35 in a 25-mile-an-hour zone. It was raining slightly. I told him that I was not speeding and that he hadn’t timed me, because my radar detector didn’t go off. The young cop, not to be outdone; said, “Then, you were driving too fast for conditions.” At least that ticket didn’t cost me any points, but it did cost me about $100 because of court costs. I don't know how much it would have cost me if I hadn't had the radar detector and the cop had had his way!
This Escort radar detector lasted 10 years
In 1999 I bought an Escort, the Passport 7500. I paid around $200 for it. It just died after about 10 years of service. When I went to the Escort web site, I found out the new one costs almost $300. I checked Best Buy and it costs the same there.
I decided it was time to look around and see if I could find a good radar detector at a better price.
After doing a very thorough Internet search, I finally decided to buy a Cobra XRS 9345. One thing that surprised me about the Cobra was that it has a new feature that makes it invisible to radar detector detectors, so you won't get in trouble in states like Virginia that don’t allow you to use them.
The Cobra XRS 9345 usually sells for around $99, but I was able to find one at 
Cobra XRS 9345 Features:
- 14-Band detection--detects 7 radar, 6 laser and 1 safety signal
- UltraBright data display provides easy recognition of band detected by use of band identification icons
- Provides complete immunity to VG-2 and alerts for Spectre I/IV radar detector-detectors
- LaserEye provides 360-degree detection of laser signals
- One-year limited warranty
When it comes down to it, I really don’t use the radar detectors for speeding: I just don’t want to do anything dumb when a cop is around.
I just installed the Cobra XRS 9345. It was easy to set up and use. It seems to do everything it supposed to. In a few weeks or so, I’ll give you an update on how it performs.
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If you like vintage muscle cars take a look at this article: 1955 Chevy's big night out in Marked Tree, Arkansas
