Has anyone had an installed (i.e. K40 or Escort SRX) radar detection / Laser protection system put in their WRX or Sti? I know I need this or my license may be in jeopardy. I want an installed system as drive in areas where they are not allowed. Any input will be appreciated.

 

How about driving like a responsible adult?

"...or my license is in jeopardy..."

 

If I wanted to drive like a "responsible adult" I would'nt have bought a Sti.
(jrp4uc)
Thanks for the comment (mysubaruimp) I've seen the SR-7, however, the K-40 0r SR-X offer better performance and custom install options. I wanted to know if anyone had experience with either unit.

 

My friend has a K40 in his Grand Prix GTP and he claims it's wonderful. His dad also has them in ALL THREE of the S55 AMG mercedes he owns (they one "old" one [the year before the twin turbo] and two of the new kompressor v8 twin turbo!!!). I think that if that family has the money to spend they'd definately buy the best... I'd go with the K40. But alas, I have a lowly windshield mounted bel 985. Actually it's not that lowly at all but I'd take the K40

 

I work for a benz dealer, and the ones that I've talked to say that the SRX is the s*** even though they have K40s. The K40 will get the target but sometimes its too late, their friend's srx gets the targets usually 500-1000 feet earlier. I know that the K40 is good, because if it wasn't we wouldn't be selling the product. I am getting the srx and installing it myself.
get some reviews if you want, by:

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=1048

the third paragraph from the very top.

I do think they are making something up their sleeve because of all these bad reviews on it though.

 

I think the best way to choose would to find unbiased sources and then look at the distances you want/need based on what kind of radar bands the cops use near you. I know that around where I live they use K-band, and neighboring towns use K and KA. In downtown Chicago I've seen X. Figure out where you'll be the most and then get the detector that gets that band from the furthest distance.

The other thing you should REALLY consider is just HOW FAR do you really need it to go? Where you live are there 2 mile straights of flat road? If so then you might need the distance, but I know that most of the roads I travel down are 1-1.5 miles straight at a time TOPS. The SRX has a 1.8mile K band range as indicated by that graph (I think), which would be fine for me. Think of it this way: If you're going 120mph and you have 2 miles before you're on top of the cop (I think I heard they can only actually get your speed @ 1200ft but that may be totally wrong) you still have plenty of warning to slow down. You don't need to buy the latest and greatest if a less expensive model fits your situation!

 

Whilst ultimate range is important, with modern day police tactics the abilty of detectors to pick up scatter is more significant. Where I live it is now rare for a cop car to leave the radar 'gun' on. Instead, they pick a likely car and pulse the unit on for 3-4 seconds. This can be tricky since the cop may only be 200 yards away when the radar detector informs you of his presence. Basically you are screwed if a) you are going too fast b) you did not notice the light bar before the radar comes on.
The only hope is scatter from previous checks or scatter/diffraction over humps or around bends. I own a Valentine 1 unit and the web-site is open about why Valentine do not make 'hidden' detectors. The problem is height. The higher up in the car the detector is mounted, the further it can 'see'. Unless you mount the hidden detectors high up it does not matter how good the detector is, physics are against you. In the case of the Valentine range, a second problem is phase syncronisation between the two detectors, but that's another story.
My solution is just to not drive at much above the speed limit but use the STi to overtake quickly anything doing less than your chosen speed.

NB. one nice thing about the Valentine is the ability to turn off bands not used in your state/region and therefore reduce false alarms from X band door openers and the like.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll probably go with the K-40 as they have a local installer. Saw them putting one in an Audi S8 the other day. Also the only escort installer in my area is a Subaru dealer in Auburn, MA (about 60 miles away). Lastly the K-40 Co will reimburse any tickets received during the first year.