For those looking for navigation and radar/laser protection - FYI

Robert_Nash

I've been spoiled by having GPS navigation in all my vehicles for many years now and, as you know, there is no factory option for Navigation in the NISMO; so...a couple of weeks after picking up my 2011 NISMO I bought a "Passport iQ" which is Escort's unit that combines Navigation with their best radar/laser detection (same circuitry as their 9500ix).

After living with it for the past four months or so, I can say that I do like the unit a lot - that the navigation is as good as any I've seen in the aftermarket and the radar/laser protection are excellent. Also, like the 9500ix, locations of speed traps, red-light cameras, etc are updated weekly and can be downloaded to the unit. It's a pricy unit ($650) but compared to buying a 9500ix and then a separate nav unit, not a bad deal overall and they do, now, give an $80 trade in value to older Escort units.

I do have one complaint with Escort...when I ordered my unit, all the video ads and other material on Escort's website clearly said that the unit also had Bluetooth capability which, even now, is NOT TRUE. However, that isn't my actual complaint; while I thought it would be a nice feature to have, I almost never take phone calls (hands free or otherwise) while driving anyway. However, I do expect to get what a manufacturer says I'm going to get...more importantly, I value honesty.

My complaint is that for many weeks (until about mid-April) and even after a formal BBB complaint, Escort refused to change their ads and kept advertising that Bluetooth capability was included in the unit when they clearly knew it was not - even now, while they still say they will bring the unit out with Bluetooth, they can't/won't give you a date for when that unit will be available...overall, this shows a pretty serious lack of honesty and integrity on the part of Escort and a total refusal to acknowledge that they did anything wrong.

I still like their products although I don't know if I'll buy from them again...I've concluded that I can't expect much from them in the way of customer service or much of anything else once I've given them my money which isn't unusual these days (although it still stinks).

Overall recommendation is - if you want th convenience of navigation and great radar/laser detection in one unit; this is a good choice.

__________________
Robert
-My Basset Hound Is Smarter Than Your Honor Student and Barack Obama -

XwChriswX

Sounds cool, could you take some pics and post them up? Where are the receiver's for the radar detection mounted?

I'm looking at getting the 9500ci myself, and eventually an in dash nav unit, so if this is the happy medium im sold. I'm just curious about the specifics of the unit and the install. Did you do it yourself?

__________________

Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall!
R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

Robert_Nash

Actually, it would probably be easiest and more information to go to their website...the link to the "iq" page is PASSPORT iQ - Escort Inc.

__________________
Robert
-My Basset Hound Is Smarter Than Your Honor Student and Barack Obama -

XwChriswX

Cool, thanks. But I wanted an actual user review based on your thoughts since as you said the website isn't 100% accurate.

__________________

Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall!
R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

Robert_Nash

The inaccuracy, which has now, finally, been corrected, is all that was wrong...what's on the website now is fine.

As far a user review, I'm not sure what else I an say that I haven't already said...I have a 9500ix for my other vehicle which has been an excellent detector and has been consistently rated the best detector out there since it was introduced...the Passport iq's detector circuitry is the same circuitry as the 9500ix. A good place to go for general radar detector reviews is RadarTest.com - Best radar detector reviews from the world's most respected authority.

Hope that helps some!

__________________
Robert
-My Basset Hound Is Smarter Than Your Honor Student and Barack Obama -

XwChriswX

Thanks!

__________________

Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall!
R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

Mont

I totally agree with the OP. The IQ is excellent, and very easy to use. The only thing I'd complain about is the size, it's huge. It would be right at home in a family car, or truck. However it becomes an eyesore when mounted on the windshield of my NISMO. I've actually been able to wedge it into the cubby hole, but unfortunately the detector feature doesn't work as well from this location given the rear mounted laser sensor. Also a fair warning if you intend on parking your car outside for extended periods in nearly triple digit weather you might want to unmount the device. I returned to find my device resting on the passenger side floor where it ended up after its tumble from the windshield. Lucky for me nothing was nicked, or scratched during it's plinko chip like descent. So I guess that would be the only con for the Passport IQ so far. I hope my consumer review helps.

Dark Sarcasm

i would like to see some pics of one installed in a Z. Just to see how it looks and fits in the interior/window.

__________________
wax

Figtuna

I have a Passport 9500ix and love it. It has the GPS feature and allows for downloading of data on the locations of cameras. In Tucson it was great because it would remind you before you approached the intersections. The other feature that I liked about it was that you could manually mark locations such as speed traps or school zones. As for the mounting, Passport sells a heavy-duty suction cup that stays in place without fear of the unit falling. I also had my unit hard-wired and have it mounted on the passenger side of the windsheild next to the home-link mirror I had installed. No complaints from a performance stand-point. The unit gives me plenty of warning.

Regards
Steve
Nizmo 2010 Solid Red #75

fuct

unless you can jam the laser then its pointless.

Figtuna

I rarely see laser at all and the majority of law enforcement use K-band radar. Since 2007 I can count the number of times it pick up laser on 2 hands, mostly false! Guess it depends on which state you live in.

Regards
Steve

Robert_Nash

UPDATE: My almost $600 Passport iq has completely crapped out on me; out of warranty of course.

I bought a Garmin Nuvi 3790LMT; about the size of an iPhone and I love it...I also bought an Escort Redline for radar/laser protection.

All in all, I would never buy the combined unit again unless/until Escort gets its act together AND reduced the size.

After being a customer of Cincinnati Microwave/Escort for many years it's been a very disappointing experience starting with the way Escort misrepresented their product (as having Bluetooth when it didn't), then only corrected their misinformation AFTER the BBB got involved and now the crash of the unit itself just out of warranty.

__________________
Robert
-My Basset Hound Is Smarter Than Your Honor Student and Barack Obama -

Robert_Nash

Use of laser is a state by state and even a department by department situation...Ka and K band units are a lot less expensive (at least they have been historically; I haven't actually checked in a while).

The scarcity of laser units is a good thing for drivers - laser is almost impossible to beat no matter what detector you have; avoiding a ticket based on a laser unit is as much a matter of luck (a car ahead of you getting painted before you get there) as it is how good your detector happens to be.

The best way to avoid speeding tickets is with a good detector AND not driving like an idiot (i.e. not driving as if you think the public highways are racetracks).

__________________
Robert
-My Basset Hound Is Smarter Than Your Honor Student and Barack Obama -