Hot Wheels Starter Set Track Set
by Mattel
Our Price: $39.95
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Category: Toy
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: MattelBrand: Mattel
Release Date: 2008-11-01
Model: N8499
Product features:
- Blast your cars up, down and around the motorized loop raceway
- Hours of awesome Hot Wheels racing fun
- Includes motorized booster for stunts and crashing action
- Includes one vehicle
- Not for use with some Hot Wheels vehicles
Toys and Games Reviews of Hot Wheels Starter Set Track Set
Customer Review: One of the better sets--a keeper
Summary: 5 Stars
As a father of six boys, we've had a number of Hot Wheels sets over the years. Most often, they were too complex (and fragile) to handle repeated use without exceptional care. Our six-year-old son is the latest who's been enamored of these sets, so we picked this one up for him after finding it on sale at a local retail store.
It's Simple, and That's Good
The simplicity of this set really impressed me. Unlike some sets that had tons of smaller parts, this one has fewer, and those it does have seem to stay attached quite well. Some of the sets we had before would become marginal or even useless if the boys lost a single support or special piece, and it seemed easy for pieces to get lost when they were dealing with so many. This one has stayed together quite well--it sits nicely atop his dresser
The cars run in a continuous loop. After rounding the curve and going through the loop, the car ends by coming onto the ramp where it started. It goes up until it loses momentum and stops, and then slides backwards down the ramp to go through the whole circuit in reverse! My boys were amazed by that little feat until we shut it off and manually walked a car through the path. After going through in reverse, the next time it starts it is going forward again. One continuous circuit, and my boys found it mesmerizing.
It's Easy to Assemble
Fewer parts also means something else: easier assembly. I've had a few sets that left me scratching my head and staring at the instructions, but not this one. In fact, our son was able to assemble the entire set himself (save for two times he asked me to help get things to snap into place). It was a real treat to sit back and watch him lay out the pieces and put it together.
An Exciting Bonus (for me, at least)
Another thing that made this set different from most other sets we've had is that it didn't come with a sheet of stickers. That's the part I liked least about so many of the other set: way too many stickers (and obscure places to put them). This set came with all labels and stickers in place, so I was smiling twice as wide as my son put it together.
Don't Forget the Motor (or the batteries)
Sure, this unit will burn through a couple of "D" batteries after hours of play. If it is going to be an everyday toy, either stock up on cheap batteries, or invest in some rechargeable ones.
That motor is really the best part of the set, though, so don't wish it away. It's the reason this one is called the "starter" set. That little motor (two rotating rubber wheels that propel the cars) will send them a long way on a flat surface, and can even propel them uphill quite a ways. If you have other sets, or extra track, your child will be able to use the motor to propel cars up to a higher surface (e.g., table, dresser) before letting gravity return the car to him or her. If you end up with multiple motors, you can create some pretty extensive setups. [There was even a line of video games created around that premise, and they're quite fun!]
Educational? Really?
I gave this set three stars for its educational value. "Three?," you might ask. Yes, three. I felt that putting together the set helped my son better understand how pictures can relate to real world objects. He had to turn parts around to try to line them up with other parts, teaching him (whether he realized it or not) about perspective and exploded diagrams. Then, once playing, he got to experiment with multiple cars on the circuit at once. He soon learned that some cars took less time to complete one cycle than did others (as evidenced when the second car would catch up the first and cause a crash). He and his siblings also found out that they could put three cars that weighed about the same on the track at the same time--if they timed it just right. Even that line you see on most set boxes, "Not all cars for use with all sets", provided a little opportunity to learn. My son soon found out which cars would and would not run successfully, and even figured out why one of his favorite trucks would not go far at all ("The wheels lift it up too high so it doesn't get pushed."). It's just a good reminder that kids can learn from almost any play.
This Parent's Verdict
A definate thumbs-up! It's one of only two or three Hot Wheels sets I'd recommend.
Description of Hot Wheels Starter Set Track Set
Blast your cars up, down and around the motorized loop raceway! Boys can use multiple cars on the set for hours of awesome Hot Wheels® racing fun. Includes motorized booster for stunts and crashing action.
- Includes 1 vehicle
- Not for use with some Hot Wheels® vehicles
- Recommended Ages: 5 years & up
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