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Beltronics Vector 955

*Est. $175

Reviewed September 2009
Beltronics Vector 955

Best radar detector under $200

pros
  • Few false alarms
  • Easy to use
  • Good basic detector
cons
  • Gives shorter warning of radar traps than top detectors
  • Hit-or-miss detection of instant-on radar
 
 
Where to Buy
  • Amazon

    for $149.99

  • Buy Radar Detectors

    for $229.95

  • CRISP-DEALS

    for $299.00

 
 
 

It has fewer fancy features than mid-priced radar detectors, but tests show that the Beltronics Vector 955 is just as good at warning drivers about most speed traps. Although it gives less advance notice of a looming radar gun than expensive detectors, such as the Escort Passport 9500ix (*Est. $525), experts and users say the Vector 955 provides plenty of warning. In tests, it provides about as much warning as the mid-priced Escort Passport 8500 X50 (*Est. $300) and the Beltronics Vector 995 (*Est. $225). One shortcoming of the Vector 955 shows up only in expert tests: It doesn't always alarm when confronted by the short, tiny pulses of instant-on radar.

RadarTest.com tests the Beltronics Vector 955 against two newer budget radar-detector models.

GuysOfLidar.com's comparison test is more extensive, but it's older and doesn't include the very newest models. LaserVeil.com and RadarBusters.com both list the Vector 955 as one of the best inexpensive radar detectors, but no test results are given. User reviews at Amazon.com and Epinions.com are a good place to check whether experts' impressions of the Vector 955 hold up in real life.

Where To Buy
 
 
Featured StoresStore RatingNotesTotal Price
AmazonAmazon rated 3.50 (1652 reviews)1652 store reviewsIn Stock. Get free shipping on orders over $25!$149.99
Buy Radar DetectorsBuy Radar Detectors rated 4.50 (233 reviews)233 store reviewsIn Stock. Ships Within 24 Hours$229.95
CRISP-DEALSCRISP-DEALS has not yet been reviewed0 store reviewsIn Stock. 9$299.00
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. RadarTest.com

The Beltronics Vector 955 outperforms two other budget radar detectors in this test, the Cobra XRS 9955 and Whistler Pro 78SE. The Beltronics does the best job detecting radar on straightaways, around curves and over hills.

Review: Best 2009 Radar Detector Under $179, Craig Peterson, Aug. 15, 2009

2. Guys of Lidar

The expert tests at GuysOfLidar.com mimic real-world situations; for example, radar detectors are tested on their ability to sense radar guns that are hiding over a hill or around a curve. The Beltronics Vector 955 performs well in most tests, but has a hard time detecting instant-on radar.

Review: Radar Detector Test, Editors of GuysOfLidar.com, Aug. 17-19, 2007

3. Laserveil.com

LaserVeil.com is a retail site that sells a laser light-absorbing spray for cars. In addition to that, it conducts expert radar-detector tests and posts the results in a buyer's guide. The Beltronics Vector 955 is rated one of the best $200 radar detectors here, but there is no full review of the unit.

Review: Radar Detectors Buyer's Guide 2008-2009, "The Veil Guy", Jan. 11, 2009

4. RadarBusters.com

The Beltronics Vector 955 is one of the few under-$200 radar detectors that gets a recommendation from "Radar Roy" Reyer, the former police officer who now runs this retail site. He says the Vector 955 was the top performer in his 2007 tests, but no test results are posted.

Review: Radar Roy's Product Recommendations, Roy Reyer

5. Amazon.com

The Beltronics Vector 955 earns an average rating of 3.5 stars (out of five) with more than 60 consumer reviews posted. With such a large number of different views registered by owners, readers can get a good overall idea of the Vector 955's real-life performance.

Review: Beltronics V955 Vector High Performance Radar Detector, Contributors to Amazon.com

6. Epinions.com

The Beltronics Vector 955 earns an average of 3.5 stars (out of five) from more than 25 users at Epinions.com, a site where consumers post reviews of products they own. Users also give the Vector 955 numeric ratings for ease of use and durability, along with narrative reviews detailing their ownership experiences.

Review: Beltronics Vector 955 Radar Detector, Contributors to Epinions.com

Radar Detectors Runners Up:

Escort Passport 9500i *Est. $450

6 picks including: Amazon.com, RadarTest.com…

Valentine One *Est. $500

4 picks including: SpeedZones, Guys of Lidar…

Beltronics GX 65 *Est. $475

4 picks including: Amazon.com, SpeedZones…

Escort Passport 8500 X50 *Est. $300

3 picks including: RadarBusters.com, BestBuy.com…

Beltronics Vector 995 *Est. $225

2 picks including: Amazon.com, RadarTest.com…

Escort Passport 9500ci *Est. $1,600

2 picks by top review sites.

Laser Interceptor *Est. $700 to $2,450

2 picks by top review sites.

Escort Solo S2 *Est. $340

2 picks including: Amazon.com, RadarBusters.com…

Cobra XRS 9960G *Est. $300

2 picks including: Amazon.com, SpeedZones…

Whistler Pro 78SE *Est. $175

2 picks including: Amazon.com, SpeedZones…

     
 
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