Radar Detector or Exhaust ?

[Sharkie]

I'm now ready to do the exhaust on my GTI.

However ..... got caught idling down a hill 2 weeks ago 61 in a 50 zone so I'm now considering getting a radar/laser detector.......

Costs will be about the same, obvious benefits to both .... will only be allowed to do 1 of the 2 .... :ballandchain:

SO any ideas as to which would be more beneficial in the long run?

[DaveMack]

Hmmm ... let's see ... radar detector (illegal except in WA) ... exhaust ... legal.

Dave

[Timbo]

Might be best to check what the penalty is for getting caught with a radar detector If caught, it'll put the 'zorst back even further, so I'd go for it, and try to practice...er...moderation

[PeterHBne]

I'd go the radar detector.

Just be careful as highway patrol cops have radar detector detectors in their vehicles (or used to - this is some years ago).

If they pull you over, you have the choice of surrending the detector and getting a fine of around $1,000 or they search your vehicle, find the detector and you get a $1,000 fine for having one and another $1,000 fine for not surrending it.

Speaking from personal experience, if you have your detector set up so you can whip it off, hide it down your pants and the wiring is hidden it drives the cops MAD trying to find it.

But it is a dangerous game - one a gave up some years ago after 3 or 4 pull overs in NSW

Given that in Qld a lot of it is camera vans you should be OK but I don't know how effective detectors are on lidars (hand held radars).

But the detector saved my licence several times.

[jayjay]

apparently now you can get radar dectector detector dectectors. (that's 3 detectors!!)

i reckon go for the exhaust.

[Pumpe-Düse]

I don't get it... a radar detector is legal to buy but illegal to have? What kind of stupidity is that...

[DaveMack]

Dectectors are not cheap either. Check this out: http://www.radar-detectors-australia.com.au/

Get the zorst, Johan.

Dave

[Sharkie]

Its legal to own in Qld, illegal to operate.

http://www.dontgetcaught.com.au/home.html

These days the Bell detectors has total invisibility (guaranteed) to Police radar detector detectors.... and works against laser and all radar devices the police may have.
Its small and easily hideable .... you even get a stealth mount .....

It is a $600 fine if you get caught operating one ... no demerits I think and since it is legal to own they cant confiscate it either.

EDIT. just checked QLD transport ..... no demerit points for operating ....

The big advantage is that it is totally transportable to the next car and to other cars/bikes in the family.

I'd like the extra power but the temptation to do stupid things is always there and one day may end up getting me caught.......

[zz2]

before the Aus dollar shat its self i got myself a Beltronics V995 delivered to my door for $200 from the US. theyre DIRT cheap over there and they work perfectly well here.

'its just paid for its self' many times since getting it

[VW GTI]

They don't work on hand-held radars so it's pointless.

Exhaust and drive more responsibly.

[Blitzen]

Hey Sharkie, I am all of a sudden keen to get one after seeing that there are no demerit points for them...

[Sharkie]

They don't work on hand-held radars so it's pointless.

Exhaust and drive more responsibly.

The Beltronics STi XR works against all radars and even handheld lasers, which is what police in Qld use.

There are no handheld radar guns in use in QLD. The handhelds are all laser and many detectors don't pick them up, but this Bel does!

Also, saying to drive more responsibly is easy for you to say ...... I still have my license ......

You should know how difficult it is to stay close to the speed limit especially when temptation sits heavy on your right foot ....

.... and Jap ricer junk pulls up next to you.....

[Mischa]

The Beltronics STi XR works against all radars and even handheld lasers, which is what police in Qld use.

There are no handheld radar guns in use in QLD. The handhelds are all laser and many detectors don't pick them up, but this Bel does!

Also, saying to drive more responsibly is easy for you to say ...... I still have my license ......

You should know how difficult it is to stay close to the speed limit especially when temptation sits heavy on your right foot ....

.... and Jap ricer junk pulls up next to you.....

yes it might detect laser but thats only if the laser beam hits the sensor in the detector. usually they aim for your number plate and since theres almost no spread of a laser beam, your fancy detector sitting on your dash will be oblivious to the fact that you just got busted. radars detectors work because the radar beam spreads so much over a relatively small distance. laser beams however spread only an inch or two per kilometer.

[Sharkie]

yes it might detect laser but thats only if the laser beam hits the sensor in the detector. usually they aim for your number plate and since theres almost no spread of a laser beam, your fancy detector sitting on your dash will be oblivious to the fact that you just got busted. radars detectors work because the radar beam spreads so much over a relatively small distance. laser beams however spread only an inch or two per kilometer.

Mmmmm, that is a bit of a worry ....

The Bel has 5 laser sensors so that should help, but a sensor near the number plate would be the go then ...... the fixed installation has hidden individual sensors (you can place 1 near the number plate), but I'm not sure about going fixed .....

[Mischa]

theres also a whole lot of passive evasion methods you can use. ie: putting some kind of film on your number plate and things like that. you can also get laser jammers afaik. bin a while since i researched it. but get a load of this, the fine in nsw for owning or using an evasion device is 1300$ and 9 points!!! :O