OK,
Just had a barney with the Mrs about Christmas prezzies for me the kids - Its got to be Scaletrix but justs been on the website and things have got a bit complicated - micro sets (how small?) and "digital"
Anyway what would you recommend for 6 and 4 year old - starter set?
cheers
MC
I looked into this last year and was told to avoid the micro sets as they are poor quality.
We bought a set from Argos. There are various deals, but this looks like a reasonable one to start with - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3885404/c_1/1|category_root|Gifts+and+hobbies|14417351/c_2/3|15701076|Scalextric|23761301/c_3/4|cat_23761301|Scalextric+sets|23761531.htm
Add more cars / track as required.
Don't know about the micro sets but my kids had a set called something like "My first Scalextric" which was very simple, very small not great quality and they got fed up with in about half an hour. Digital seems to make everything very expensive so I would agree that a basic non digital but full size set is the way to go and then look to pick up additional pieces and cars on good old ebay after xmas.
Hmmmmm. I did this a few years back. Childhood memories shattered:
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Smash cars and track up. Have a spliff.
Wanna race sc xc? You don't sound very good.
scxc they have magnets on the bottom now to help them stuck better.
http://www.scxworldwide.com/
these people make some really nice cars that stay on the track no problem.
I remember the night my dad came in the door with a hugh suitcase of bits of scaletrix there was loads. I always wanted it but was told it was to expensive 1979-1980, I still have them 2 minis a capri and escort great fun.
We bought a 'starter' set (probably not the right name but aimed at jumiors) for a 4 year old. He just didnt get it. Even after a few weeks it's all either full speed - crash. "GO GET THE CAR BACK ON THE TRACK!". Full speed - crash. 2 weeks later we took it apart and will get it out in maybe 2 years time. All kids are different though.
The cars took a real battering. The track was worse though as he just didnt get that it's not like a train set track he can just yank apart and walk over at every opportunity.
I am rubbish. mosschops, if you are in the midlands - I have a set that you are welcome to. It's a 'Speed Machines X1"
Cheers sc-xc -not in Midlands but thanks for offer
I am gonna google TCR Total Control Racing - wonder if I'll regret it
You want one of these;
:-)
Now get the router out and get thee to your shed
My god, what a sorry looking bunch of ****....
>Even after a few weeks it's all either full speed - crash.
Not too sure what it is, but there's an age at which kids don't have the hand/eye co-ordination to control the things properly - they'll try to use it like an on-off switch (cue cars flying everywhere). something to be said for buying the micro sets...
For general info just google slot car, there's a lot of compatible makes - much of it really far too good to trust to kids 
- the Scalextric stuff's generally a bit more robust and less realistic, depending on what it is (other brands SCX, Carrera, Nico, etc)
FWIW - the scalextric digital and sport (analogue) use the same track that's easier to assemble than the old stuff - and you can get connectors to link it to the old style track of 10(?) yrs ago - but the controllers/cars are different so can run cars in the same slot (there's overtake sections like railway points). You can retro fit the digital car controller into older cars tho'.
Dunno how well it runs, but one advantage with Micro scalextric is it takes less room - put out a decent amount of 1/32 stuff (ie 'proper' scalextric) and it takes a lot of room. Another lot worth looking at might be Tomy AFX (Argos *used* to sell sets) - smaller scale too (HO I think it's called) - mebe google for spares availabiltiy
Ah, thought SCX and Scalextric had some sort of tie up..kinda:
http://www.scxworldwide.com/about_us.php?subPageId=2
A couple of years ago we did a street party and I sorted the Scalextric (bloomin' kids, the adults never got a look in - someone should have packed em off to bed !) - found some good deals of little used track/sets on fleabay - now got a big pile of it in the spare bedroom One lot I bought from via ebay and separately are http://www.lddiscounts.co.uk/ - occasionally there's good deals, esp of unboxed stuff.
I'd suggest you store any track somewhere that's nice and dry - that's possibly not the attic. I once left a set in the car boot overnight, just the condensation in the car brought out some rust spots ! The plating on the track's very thin and you really don't want to attack with anything much more abrasive than a duster...
Edit - I ought to add I'm not a slot-car anorak ! - I just do a fair bit of research before buying stuff And you realise when the kids aren't around then drinking and driving is obligatory
Not too sure what it is, but there's an age at which kids don't have the hand/eye co-ordination to control the things properly - they'll try to use it like an on-off switch (cue cars flying everywhere).
If I'm anything to go by, it's anything up to the age of 35. I suspect it's likely to be anything beyond, as well.
The most interesting bit is building a mental circuit. The racing bit only really works if you've built it so that the tight corners are so far away from the power unit that the cars slow down for the bend through sheer loss of voltage.
My kids are the same age and have had a set since the eldest was a week old 
They manage fine although the more delicate cars have a few "owws" on them. A lap counter is a good to get as it gives them something to aim for. First one to 100 laps gets a trophy etc.
The new cars have magnets on the underside to help keep them on the track. We have a pair of Ferraris and Starsky and Hutch that you can almost drive flat out. The Caterhams need a bit more finesse and the old 1980s one i got of fleabay are for the more senior drivers only.
We did also by the micro/my first set at one point. Went to the recycle place after a couple of weeks. Waste of time and money.
*they've* had a set, eh
Dunno much about it, but the Carrera Go stuff might be worth looking at - at some point, if not now:
http://www.lddiscounts.co.uk/carrera-carrera-go-sets-c-91_95.html
- somewhere between micro and normal scalextric in scale (1/43), plus extra track looks readily available (tho' not in the high st..)
http://www.lddiscounts.co.uk/carrera-carrera-go-track-c-91_100.html
(btw - I think they've had magnets on for quite a long time..)
Just checked - one set I picked up s/h (if they still do it) has a Porsche and an Audi TT - good little cars, stay on the track a bit better 'cos they're shorter - and close to indestructible ! Also picked up a pair of drift cars - the guide rotates through 360 degrees so they tend to spin and stay on the track rather than the guide popping out of the track and car flying off.
No magnets when I were a lad. Have to say though, the old ones I got of ebay are far more satisfying for the oldies to play with. When you get that mk11 Escort sliding round the corner with the tail out....
It is the kids really!!
Yes - sorry - I realise they didn't used to. I've got a set from about 11 years ago that's got a couple of Jaguars (complete with revving handcontrollers - that'd drive you round the bend !) - depsitethe magnet they're not easy to keep on hte track 'cos they're quite long.
I (briefly) had a scalextric looky-likey when I was a kid - 4 lanes worth figure of 8. Used it the Christmas I had it, but 'cos it needed lots of batteries my dad soon had the bright idea of screwing the whole lot down to a baseboard with a transformer (slicing the battery boxes in two to hang the lot together). Unfortunately whatever transformer he used lobbed out too much voltage - try to use it and the hand controllers started smoking. That was the last I ever got to use it 
Surely it has to be an old style analog Scaletrix purely and simply for the aroma of electrical fire from the hand controllers? Oh and if you want tricky handling, try a king cab!
High CofG and balloon tyres make for an interesting ride although mine was brown I think, and much better than the one in this picture, but not as fast as the motorbike/sidecars, or the MG Metro's that came with my original, and much expanded, kit
I got a set for my wo boys (aged 4.5 and 2.5 roughly) - they like it.
It's a "Start" set so it's easier for them to put together and take apart and you can get adapters to match with the other normal 'non-Start' track.
The controllers have a little grub screw type thing on so that you can turn down max-throttle - thereby avoiding the
"Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track
Put car back on track
Press - zoom - fall off track"
on every single corner.....
Kids manage to get the back out on some longer sharp bends but works OK.
Might get a bit more track for Christmas so they can go right round the sitting room with one big circuit?
HTH
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