Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Like many, I was a bit skeptical about buying this for my daughter due to the reviews. But she loves Lightning McQueen and I always wanted a slot car set when I was a kid, so I figured I'd give it a try. In order to have a decent time with this, you have to have a basic understanding of how DC electricity works. The metal strips on the track are effectively wires. Thus you need to make sure there's contact throughout the entire circuit or you're effectively "breaking" the power wire. Likewise, the braided wire on each car that dangles is the wire that powers the car. You need to make sure it's perfectly aligned so that it comes into contact with the metal strips on the track. The braided wire will need to be adjusted frequently or the cars will have performance issues. That's all easy enough for adults. But the track itself doesn't fit together perfectly - there are gaps between track pieces when completely assembled. Cars can get stuck on these gaps at low speeds. For best results, spread the gaps across multiple track pieces, and understand that the car's momentum is what gets it over those gaps. The next complaint most people have are that the cars are either too fast or too slow. I've found this depends heavily on the batteries. With a fresh set of batteries, one of the cars was easily able to fly off the track. However, that "full charge" effect dropped off quickly and the cars have become far more sedate. The 4 C batteries decision was a poor choice on Carrera's part. Had they gone with AAs, then most parents either have tons of batteries stockpiled or have rechargeable batteries available. Had they gone with Ds, the batteries would last longer and there would probably be less "too fast"/"too slow" complaints. Ideally, they would have at least put a connector for an external power supply (ideally micro USB). A steady, consistent power supply for this makes a world of difference. I even went to the trouble of ordering a universal DC adapter, splicing its wires, and connecting it to the set to alleviate the voltage related performance fluctuations. I figure it will pay for itself given the cost of C batteries. But I understand why many would be turned off by having to buy an additional power supply and manually rewire it just to get the most out of a sub-$30 toy. Build quality is decent. It's definitely not a cheap Chinese toy that will fall apart after a few hours of use. However, the gaps in the track, flimsy connectors on the cars, and the inability to buy replacement parts makes me doubt the toy will last more than a few months. But what can you expect for a sub-$30 toy? Making it more robust would increase the price, detracting customers and adding one more thing to complain about. The 3+ age recommendation is valid, but don't expect this toy to be a babysitter. Toddlers can easily squeeze the trigger and enjoy the cars going around the track. But when the cars get stuck, which they will do frequently, an adult is going to need to be there to fix it. Likewise, younger kids will inevitably push the cars with their hands, which will bend the braided wires, preventing the cars from making electrical contact. But, if your younger kid is interested in cars, and if as a parent you find yourself much more interested in playing slot cars with them than Barbies, etc., then it's a fun toy and well worth it. There really isn't much (if anything) in the way of competition for slot cars in this price range. And the Cars license makes it perfect for Lightning McQueen fans. --- One week later update - Both cars burned themselves out despite keeping cars in the 5-6V range. Daughter throws annoying fits because she really loved the toy, but I am not willing to spend $30/week trying to keep this toy working. Great idea, horrible execution. Strong buy as a gift if you hate someone but want to seem like a nice guy.