Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Although Maisto Rock Crawler Extreme is mostly made of plastic, it proved to be durable despite repeated falls/crashes. It has a super-flexible suspension system that enables it to operate on rocky terrain and climb over objects. Initially, I was surprised to see that the top is not made of hard plastic, but is actually thin, held onto the chassis by four plastic clips (Note: the manufacturer includes replacements for these clips). I now see how this aspect is a benefit. You will incur a number of rollovers while operating the vehicle, so it will sustain little damage in comparison to having a hard outer shell. This also makes it lighter, which helps with overall performance. Additionally, this car has an excellent control range. In the video, my son could easily drive it across the rocky driveway, outside the boundaries of our acreage and almost out of sight (we finally turned the vehicle around to get our dog back on our property after he followed it down the road). In terms of specific limitations, the most obvious one for us is the fact that it doesn't come with a rechargeable battery pack, yet it takes six AA (for the car) and two AAA (for the remote). Using high-quality rechargeable batteries with this car is a must, due to the high energy usage. We operated our car on brand-new Alkaline batteries, but they don't last long. There are a number of surfaces/conditions that are NOT recommended for operating this vehicle. Listed in the manual: "1. Do not drive the vehicle on grass, sand, or go through water. 2. Do not drive the vehicle in windy or rainy weather. 3. Do not drive the vehicle into any hard object..." It also says "7. Outdoor usage is recommended in order to get optimal control range (32 feet or 10 meters)." While operating, I found that this vehicle CANNOT make sharp turns. It's also not the most consistent climber when it comes to more challenging obstacles. You will find that you have to "hit" spots in just the right way in order to get the car to try to crawl up. Adapting to these issues takes some patience, but it is possible to work around. However, at this price point, the car does a great job. There is definitely a "learning curve" if you are up to the challenge. If you can work within its limitations, the Maisto Rock Crawler Extreme is a tough little car that is sure to bring an entertaining time.