With a car like the Cosmo, speed is its nature. With the NSW highway patrol, revenue for the State Gov is their nature. So without keeping a leash on the 20B's own nature the only direction to take is whats termed "harm minimization". I needed a top line Radar detector. With detectors banned via unconstitutional legislation back in the early 90's a flourishing black market scene has been growing since. Thats despite the overpriced fine if your caught with one.

The important part of any radar detector here in Oz is its cloakability & functionality. Aussie cops haven't used X-band radar for many years so any detector must have the ability to turn that function off. The K-band radar is being phased out so you must be able to turn that off aswell. Laser guns are very popular in Sydney traffic areas so thats a must aswell. Mobile Speed cameras are also hard to detect due to their low power transmitter so again, only the best detectors can find them. Most importantly (to me) the detector must be discret.

Dark colours absorb light & bright colours reflect it. Thankfully the dark blue paint & low frontal profile make the Cosmo a difficult target to paint with a Laser gun. Its blue front license plate is even less reflective than the "white background" Premium plate from before. The profile/colour combination also makes for difficulties in Radar reflection & gives me a little extra time before a lock can be established when compared to the average car. Although I must say "Not enough". The headlights and license plates are a far more reflective surface than the coloured panels.

The Aussie made "Stalcar" RDD (Radar detector detector) has been able to detect the previously undetectable detectors & this RDD is selling all over the country & the USA. It can detect all current Radar detectors on the market as at 2004. Yet some flaws have become apparent to dent its credability. Multiple false alarms being one of them. More information can be found on this link.... Aussie Radar     Future upgrades such as reducing the reflectability of the headlights & license plate will make it even harder for a Laser gun to get a lock. So, the longer it takes to get that lock, the more time I have with the detector sounding at me to slow. This can add precious seconds to getting back down under the speed limit. A product called "Laser Veil" will be applied to the reflective areas for additional protection. The company quotes a reduction of up to 50% range on a Laser gun when used against you.

As can be seen in this pic, the Radar AE location is well hidden yet positioned to obtain good reception. The chromed plastic grill wont interfere with reception to much & offers the best "hidden" position I could think of. ..........Place mouse over pic to view the Radar AE. Click on the pic to view the Laser detector located inside the oil cooler duct.