TARJr

I just got a new Tahoe and I love it...but now I need to install a radar detector. Where
can I tap into a 12volt fused accessory?

bjaber

Check out http://www.invisicord.com . I used one of their cords for the mount of my Valentine 1 in my Z06.


No cords to run down to the lighter adapter and no pulling apart of any roof liner or pillar moldings, etc. Mounted in 15 minutes at a liesurely pace.

kc300c

I think I am going to try this cord on my 07 Suburban and Escort X50 radar detector. I hate that curling cord hanging down.

funky_junk

Ooooh.... I like that. How did you mount it to the mirror like that? I wnat to do the same thing with my V1....

bjaber

The Invisicord (not shown in the pic) is from http://www.invisicord.com (they have various lengths and jack types for the different leading vendor models of detectors out there). It comes with instructions on which two pins you need to use for the power (only when the car is on). Check out their site and there's an instruction download link (in PDF format, I believe).

s for the mounting bracket, it is the PERFECT solution for those annoying suction cups and the ugly look of suction-cupped devices to a windshield (I don't care how neat some vendors make it look, anything that is suction-cupped to the inside of auto glass is just plain fugly). I got it from a company called Great Lakes Trophies http://www.greatlakestrophies.com (the owner is a 'Vette fan/owner). When you click the "Enter" button on their website, follow the links in the Corvette logos. I can see the bracket made specifically for the C6 rear-view mirror also working for the Tahoe or any similar GM mirror. It is metal, but can be "tweaked" to fit. In fact, you have to "tweak" the fit before you actually pull the adhesive backing off to stick it to the mirror. That was the toughest part about the install... fine tuning the aiming of the detector by tweaking the mirror mount, but it only took about 15 minutes tops and included holding the mount against the back of the mirror while you eyeball the aim of the detector, then tweaking more until the aim is correct.

If other people drive your car/truck and need to alter the position of the rearview mirror, it'll throw the detector aim off. That's the only real downfall of mounting it to the mirror, but I'll bet that 100% of people who look at the mounting will agree that it's the best looking and cleanest mount they've seen (and those are exactly the comments I've received so far when people see it in pics and up front in person).

The only think I'm not sure of is the OnStart system. My Z06 is a 2006 model which didn't have OnStar available, but the 2007 Z06's with the 2LZ package can have OnStar optional and I don't know how the shape of the mirror is with OnStar and whether the bracket will need to be mounter lower on to the back of the mirror or not. I'm pretty sure they have taken that into account as the normal C6 'Vette's (which had OnStar optional in 2005 and 2006) can use this bracket.

Again, I'm almost positve it'll work for any similar shape GM rearview mirror (and maybe other car makers as well).

The bracket and Invisicord are about $40 or $50 total I think...well worth it in my opinion.

bjaber

Here's another pic of the mount. In this pic, you can see the Invisicord coming up from the right side and plugging into the back of the factory electrical connector pins (two of then...one ground and the the other hot only when the car is on...feeding from the auto-dimmer circuit and not affecting it in any way). The detector can be easily unplugged and "slid" off the bracket for rapid removal (i.e. when taking the car in for service, etc).

sjenkinzz

That is the coolest..

bjaber

BTW, there is no mirror vibration or rattle due to the extra weight on it. In the 'Vette, however, it's hard to adjust the volume **** whie driving (but with the V1, you can just push the button to silence it in the supermarket parking lot).

My V1 has already saved me twice.

sjenkinzz

V1 or Escort? Which is the best?

kc300c

You really don't want to open that can of worms do you?

I have a buddy who swears by his V1, me however, I have an Escort Passport 8500 X50. I couldn't be happier with it, especially being about $100 less than the V1. The features are plenty, X,K,Ka,pop, laser, the works. One feature that jumps out at me that seperates the two is the directional indicator on the V1. It supposedly can tell you by arrows which direction the radar signal is coming. I do not know how effective this feature is. I would like to hear from a V1 user on this. I also like the sleek, refined styling of the Escort compared to the very utilitarian boxy design of the V1. I have the blue lighted display and it looks great, especially at night.

To be honest, you can't go wrong with either one IMHO. Detectors have saved me several times in my Suburban but especially in my 300C hemi.