As many know, I have driven German roads and have gotten accustomed to driving my MINI at higher speeds. After 3 years of this, it was time to arrive back in America where there are speed limits and state troopers are trying to fill a quota. I will not confirm or deny that I speed here in America, but, one thing is I do tend to have a lead foot. Its an honest mistake, one I try to correct, several times over. That’s where the Valentine 1 comes in… It just so happens that I was in the market for a Valentine 1 just in time for the holidays, however, as fate would have it, a fellow THMMC member posted a thread selling his brand new V1 for a fraction of the cost. I had to jump on this as I knew I was one of few MINI owners that didn’t have one. Its now just been a couple of days and I can’t believe I drove without one. This is a truly magnificent device that tips the odds in your favor when stretching out speed limits or living out your smokey and the bandit dreams.
Now if you live under a rock, or have no idea what a Valentine is, here’s a brief overview… Mike Valentine invented the Escort radar detector and worked for many years at Cincinnati. He left CM and sold his stock for many millions of dollars. He then patented two features that, at the time, were not in radar detectors: directional indicators and digital bogey counter. Then he started a company to build the best detector on the market more or less as a “retirement hobby”… which he’s been doing for about 10 years. The physical appearance of all his detectors hasn’t changed much since he started. But he constantly upgrades the electronics and firmware, and offers an upgrade path for every unit ever sold. (from blimeycabrio.com)
By comparison here’s what its like owning a V1…
Driving without a radar detector is like having sex with a prostitute without a condom. You are almost guaranteed to get an STD or have the hooker get knocked up. With the Valentine 1, its like wearing a condom, significantly reducing the chance of pregnancy and any chance that you will contract some horrible disease, and if you do, at least you did everything you could, short of absenance.
Speeding along the highways, of which many are designed for twice their rated speed limit, is exactly the same thing. Without it, I was sure to get caught and get my license taken away. But with it, I now have reduced my chances. I am not admitting that I speed, but there are occasions that I may not notice how fast I am going and need a reality check in the form of beeps, rather than sirens behind me.
The Valentine 1 gives me a security feeling, a safe feeling. Its a heighten sense of awareness I never had. If I need to over take a trucker that seems to wanna do 5 under, yet overtaking him will require an extra speed burst, I feel confident on making this maneuver without worrying if there’s an LEO shooting off radar.
My initial impressions of the V1 is amazing. This device gives you more information that any other device I have see or used. It truly gives the driver full control on how to proceed. Its all in the arrows, but with that the device also gives you “bogey” counter, type of radar used, and signal strength. Its at this point the user deciphers the information and adjusts his or her driving style accordingly. This is achieved by packing not one, but, TWO radars in a sleek device, one for the front, and one rear to help scan all around your vehicle to precisely locate each radar threat. This information is relayed to the driver in both directional arrows and bogey counts. The V1 is the only device that does this. Even the case is made out of magnesium to help deter from radar detectors detectors and radar wave junk. This coupled with the technology that is crammed in this little device makes me wonder why I hadn’t got one sooner. This device makes NASA seem like a kids after school program.
Where I noticed the V1 shine was when I went home on the open highway. Less junk and more funk… Where I knew if it went off beeping, I knew to slow down and start playing my more strict rules. If its all clear, and the V1 was quiet, then my foot was able to stretch out a little. Where the V1 might not be as useful would be in the city. The main reason is due to congestion and traffic. Its gives you great awareness, but in reality, the traffic made for slow driving and stop lights made it even worse. However, even though the V1 picked up every sliding door around, it still was able to pick a sheriff sitting at a church. However, in all likely, he would have pulled you over for running a stop sign rather than speeding. Users may be inclined to ignore many of the warnings in the city, but this would be ill advised being that this device will pick up everything, leaving it up to the driver to decide. For me, I live in a rural area, where corn grows and cows feed, so the V1 will come in handy when high tailing it back to civilization. Since I travel to Raleigh, go on Tarheel MINI’s adventures, and visit family, it was rather easy to justify the cost of the V1.
I have to say I am proud to have this in my MINI and will be using everyday. Its an expensive toy, but, its one that I am sure will pay its self off in both the near and distance future.
Look for the install write-up shortly.
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