Just out of curiosity, I would love to hear experiences of folks who received ticket(s) despite a functioning radar detector! What caused the ticket (e.g. overconfidence, radar detector failure, etc.); which radar detector did you have; was it pro- or self- installed etc.

I am in the process of buying a V1 or a Bel but was wondering how foolproof these things actually are...

The cop never needed to use his radar gun because he sat behind me for a minute while I was fixiated on the black Porsche Turbo in front of me doing 95 in a 60.... But I have a Passport X50 and I love it, it's saved me multiple other times.

... still beat it since he was radar trapping near a speed limit sign.

(which is in violation of a statute in IL)

Ticket was for 70 in a 45 or something.

Probably a mix of overconfidence and a state with no points and a near-100% success rate in beating tickets.

Also false alarms being common near downtown probably contributed.

It is a radar detector, not a speeding ticket eliminator. There are Vascar, laser, instant on radar that will not be able to be detected or at least give you propper time to take defensive maneuvers. The detectors do help, but are not total protection. I don't know how well radar/laser jammers work.

... in any application (having driven F355 F1, 360 F1, Vanquish, and 575M...)

If it had been available with DSG, however, would have happily paid $10k for DSG.

or so...I was wondering what your thoughts on the manual were.

... maybe the best gear linkage ever in a mid-engined car.

Certainly superior to the Murcielago's Diablo-6.0-derived gearbox and possibly even better than the 6-speed NSX box, which I consider the gold standard as far as manual gearboxes in mid-engined cars go.

Designed by Ricardo and mated to a completely-manageable-even-at-rush-hour clutch, it's the perfect setup.

One was in UT, where I came flying at ~85 over a hill crest in the middle of nowhere, in a 55 zone. I stood no chance. The very polite cop wrote me up for 65, $40 fine. That was in 94.

One was in TX, where I passed an ambulance (sirens and all) on the freeway - he was crawling, what can I say. Those bastards have radio... no radar was used. $72 fine. That was in 94.

Third one was in MT, on the freeway heading to ID, during the "safe and prudent" days. So when my detector went off I didn't think much. The two very nice and inquisitive officers (who have never seen an A4 before - that was in 1998) wrote me a ticket for the actual speed driven, 113mph. His major issue was that it was on a bridge; I didn't mention that I just slowed down from 130. $20 fine - flat fee for "speeding during daytime".

I paid all tickets since I deserved them. Since 98 I never used a radar detector and never got a ticket =)

the clutch peddle...it must be an amazing rush to have so much power under such control.

I have used radar detectors for many years. I have found the Escort SR7+ZR3 Shifters to be the best out there. (With a Lidtek if you want to be extra careful). I had the K40 installed units and was also very happy with them, however I found the SR7 worked better.

Yes I have received speeding tickets years ago when I had the radar detectors.. 95% of the time it was beacuse I was traveling way to fast to slow down to a legal speed. So basiclly the detectors saved me from a very high speed ticket down to a 10-20mph over ticket..

(Although I would say they saved me from getting tickets hundreds of times.)

If you want a plug in detector and not a built-in I would go with the V1 or the Escort 8500 X50 Blue. The V1 is the standard and the Escort is not far behind.

(Just used a Escort 8500 driving from chicago to miami and back (Not in my audi, thought about it; however not enough room for 4 people and bags :)), it saved me from tickets atleast 4 times when it gave me enough warning to slow to a legal speed.) Needless to say I was going at a very comfortable speed, but one that allowed me to slow down to a legal speed within enough time..

I have received speeding tickets a few times even with the detectors when I was not driving at a very high rate of speed, that is from instant on radar.. not to much you can do about that.

If you normally drive a bit over the speed limit I would highly recomend purchaseing a detector. If it saves you from one ticket it is worth it.

Was driving on I-70 in light traffic when I heard on the CB radio, "There's a Smokie on the side of the road at mile marker X shooting westbound traffic". Since I was heading east, I didn't worry about it. Next thing I heard was a panicky voice saying "Did I say shooting westbound traffic? I meant EASTBOUND!" Next think the radar detector went off full bore as I passed the cop buried in the trees shooting traffic as they went by with instant-on radar. Was already nailed so braking didn't help.

... happily give test drives.

At least my local dealer did, I drove three different Gallardos while waiting for my order to arrive.

I think I'm still like the only person in the U.S. who ordered the car with the spare set of wheels and snow tires. In other places (Switzerland, for instance), something like 75% of Gallardos are ordered with the snow option.

I have the V1 (upgraded from Escort 8500 which I gave to my Brother-in-law). I got a ticket Thanksgiving 2004 going 45 in 35 while alone on the street. I actually slowed down from 60 when my Escort lit up. I was looking for the predator ahead not realizing he was behind me. I was rushing to the hospital. I explained this to the cop but he was rude and not interested. I got the ticket one block from my hospital. This is one reason why I switched to the V1. I consider the V1 a great investment even if it saves me from getting one ticket.

When you drive the E-Gear in auto you can feel the clutch actually being pushed in by the car, in paddle, it's amazing. Driving with a foot on the pedal and the brake is great. It's like driving a 500 hp go-kart.

... and then trade up to the next-generation Lambos with DSG.

I got caught once without it going off, probably because FHP (FL) started using POP radar... I DO have the later models which supposedly offer protection for it, but it didn't seem to work taht time. Granted, when I saw the cop, I was going 90 (ticketed for 92 in a 70) around a semi that was in the middle lane, a couple of miles away from an exit to UF. The highway was turning right, banked, and the FHP car was sitting just hidden out of sight as you come into the crest of the turn. As soon as you're turning, you see him.

SO: The V1 was at an angle where it probably couldn't have seen the radar until he was right on you. It did bother me that it didn't go off AT ALL, but it's saved my butt quite a few times after that..

e.gear is an inferior system that uses a single clutch. e.gear is a Magnetti-Marelli system designed more than ten years ago, also badged "f1" in Ferrari applications and "cambiocorsa" in Maserati applications. It changes gears more slowly than DSG, has a vastly inferior automatic mode to DSG, and eats clutches at a laughable rate under hard use.

DSG is a dual-clutch system that shares absolutely nothing -- NOTHING AT ALL -- in its design with the inferior Magnetti-Marelli systems. It shifts in a fraction of the time of the Magnetti-Marelli system, uses less fuel, rarely if ever will need a new clutch, and has an automatic mode smoother than most torque converter automatics.

DSG is the future. e.gear and its sister systems are the past.

accellerated. It was the first time I had been pulled over and I was 16, so I was too nervous to try and get out of it because my detector went off while I had been in the 50 mph zone and he pulled me over well inside of it, but he claimed that he got me going 56 in a 35. Went to court, family friend/lawyer had me plead guilty to a muffler violation, no points on my license and a $12 fine. That was the only ticket I have gotten and the radar doesnt really help when cops in my neighborhood love nothing more than to ticket a teenager.

The fact that the DSG has two clutches still doesn't take away from the fact that both the E-Gear and the DSG are based on the same principle. As for the E-Gear being inferior to the DSG, that is an opinion and I respect it. I've never had any problem with my E-Gear eating up my clutch and it is a blast to drive. And to say that DSG shifts in a fraction of the time the E-Gear does is a laugh, you speak of the DSG as if it is this holy system that is far better than any other system out there.