Slot Car Sets Tested

Slot car sets offer hours of fun for racers young and old, but there’s never been such a wide selection to choose from. We pick our favourites from 12 top buys.

Auto Express Car Reviews

December 2009

There’s slots of fun for drivers of all ages this Christmas... with slot-car tracks of all shapes and sizes promising to provide plenty of entertainment.

Digital sets – where up to six cars can be raced on a two-lane track and swap sides to overtake – have provided a new lease of life, and all the top UK brands now offer a version.

Increasingly complex ways of using the new technology are being developed, too. Pitstops, refuelling and computer-controlled racing are available.

One manufacturer even provides wireless controllers, so competitors can operate from anywhere around the circuit. If you already have track, most types can be upgraded to digital and the cars converted.

But it’s not all about going digital – there are still lots of analogue sets on offer, plus small-scale versions if space or budget is an issue. These might also appeal to young racers. So which are the Brawns for this winter’s budding Buttons?

We raced 12 sets to find out.

The Test

Our test team included both big and little boys racing a variety of digital, analogue and small-scale sets. Our winners had to be easy to build and dismantle but, more importantly, fun. If the kits are fiddly to set up or the cars keep flying off the track, the toys will stay in the box.

We also assessed what you got for your money – how much track, what accessories such as barriers and borders are included, plus the number of cars. Our prices do not include delivery costs, and you might find better deals by shopping around online.

Verdict

Among the small sets, Scalextric’s Cars was a clear winner. The track went together in no time, and the racers were fast yet easy to drive. SCX takes the analogue crown due to its lengthy track, while the digital prize goes to the Carrera. The SCX PitBox is a close second.

Contacts:
Carrera 01908 605686 www.hobbyco.net
Ninco 01773 573916 www.abgee.co.uk
Scalextric 01843 233525 www.scalextric.com
SCX 01782 715544 www.scxuk.com