Scalextric Start C1271 Pro Racing Series 1:32 Scale Race Set

I was slightly dubious about this product based on some of the other reviews, but I wanted to have some more track for my son's start set and as it was so cheap, I considered that if the set was poor, I would at least have got more track for a fraction of the price.

How wrong I was to listen to the other reviews. The package arrived quicker than the money being taken out of my account, so for delivery, superb. I then thought i would set the entire set up and see if the cars and track worked. The cars are no more flimsy than any other scalextric car, but they are light, so unless you want to drive them into a wall, then they are fine and bounce around with no difficulty. Both worked and came with extra quick fit braids. They went round the track with ease and I have no idea what the problem is with the lap counter, because mine worked great. There seems to be a right and wrong way for the cars to drive through them, so maybe other reviewers didn't get that bit right?

I tested both cars on both tracks with both controls and had no issues at all. As far as the track is concerned (and remember that this is a start set for younger kids) I would recommend placing it on a flat surface and pushing together in a flat motion, but there were no dead spots whatsoever. It also can be linked to my son's other start set and the cars from that work fine.

I think for up to half the price of the same set in other stores, I got a bargain and I think that you need to remember that it is a TOY, it isn't a professional test track for your living room. I haven't had any problems and would certainly recommend it to others.

I chose this set as my son is 4 and it appeared to be specifically focussed on younger children to get them used to Scalextric. However, the only real difference, apart from quality, is that the sensitivity on the hand controllers can be adjusted. It's many years since I played with Scalextric track but, on opening the box, I was disappointed by the feel and quality of the track and components. My concerns were realised when we put it together and tried to use it. Neither car would complete a full lap before simply stopping. I am an electrical engineer so I checked all of the track connections and the external contacts on the cars but there was nothing obvious, so I can only presume that it was a problem within either the cars or controllers, or a problem with the track overall which, as I said, was pretty poor quality. I'm just glad that I hadn't spent loads of time putting the decals on the cars (no, they don't come with these on already).

The other issue with this set was the 'Lap Counter'. This operates on a mechanical system with a small lever in each track to detect the car as it passes. However, on the occasions when we did manage to get a car running past the start/finish line, it was thrown off the track on every occasion by this lap counter lever.

Overall, therefore, I would not recommend this set and, from the wider reviews of Scalextric Start sets, this line of products seems to be way below acceptable quality. Obviously some people seem to have been lucky and received a working set but I do think that is down to luck as the product is certainly not robust. Also, I have now just received a 'proper' Scalextric (for less than you can now buy this 'Start' set) and my views of quality have been confirmed. This 'real' Scalextric is much better. The track, and especially its connectors, are of a much better quality, as are the rest of the components. Also, despite my concerns about how usable this would be by my son (aged 4 (almost 5)), he has taken to it easily. Therefore, I strongly recommend ignoring this 'Start' line of products and going for proper Scalextric. You can pick sets up for much the same price, if not cheaper; they are far more likely to work 'out of the box'; and they will be far more enduring as they do not need any adaptors to work with the rest of the Scalextric range.

this set of scaletrix is amazing value for money.
there are 5 different ways of track set up so a child doesn't get bored with the game.