Carrera Go Speed Racer slot car set

As winter approaches, it’s time to start thinking about some indoor automotive fun for the big kids in your family. And what could be better when money is tight than this keenly priced Carrera Go slot car set?

With more than six metres of track, the £32.99 Speed Racer pack is great value for money – if a little fiddly to set up. Still, once it’s built the track is very impressive, and includes a banked turn, plus even a loop-the-loop.

You get two cars in the Speed Racer set, and keeping them on the track can be tricky. Levels of grip seemed to vary on all the models we tried – including a KTM X-Bow, Fiat 500 and Mario Kart (all of which can bought for an extra £9.99 each) – so they can be matched to driving ability. The Speed Racer cars feature working lights, which makes night racing entertaining.

While the controls have a cheap feel, they were simple to use and have a turbo button for extra power. The rest of the set was robust and the lap counters and detailing impressive. So as long as you have the time and patience to put it together, this pack can’t be beaten for the money.