12/01/2012

The all new classics from Carrera are likely the most anticipated releases from them this year. I could hardly wait for them to arrive and now that they are right in front of me, it is taking a lot of willpower to write this review.

I thought it would be awhile until I had my own, but The General (my wife Cindy) decided my Christmas had to come early. Who am I to disagree with her? Our box arrived safe and sound from Slot Car Corner and it was time to start having some fun.

All I really want to do is race them! After getting the chance to test these cars at a recent track opening in Tennessee, I knew how well they looked and ran. We had a ball with them right out of the box and I just wanted to start tuning and enjoying them.

But let us take a quick look at all of them first.

For the scale enthusiasts, all you need to do is a quick search on the web to realize Carrera has done a decent job in 1/32nd scale. I have been rightfully accused over the years of being a "rivet counter", yet also been labeled "too forgiving" to the manufacturer of glaring mistakes. I like to think of myself as different than other members of the prototype police. Different in that even if I do see scale issues, most times they will not stop me from racing and enjoying a model.

Since images of these models have already been around the web, you might have already came to your own conclusions. If not, then research them and simply make up your own mind. Are they perfect? No. Not many slot cars are. In fact, not many slot cars that cost 2 to 3 times as much as these are.

One of the neat things about these cars is the work done behind the scenes. Carrera takes great strides in acquiring proper licensing and working directly with race teams to make these cars the best they can. They have had fantastic cooperation and response from both Shelby and Bill Thomas himself in the creation of these models and that just adds more appeal to them for me. So if they are good enough for Bill Thomas and Team Shelby? They are good enough for me.

Carrera makes these cars not only for the advanced enthusiasts but for everyone. So if a mirror or spoiler is too thick, or an antenna misplaced or left out, I am not going to complain. You cannot please everyone.

Interesting first glances tell me there are 4 different body styles. On the Cheetah, they could have took a shortcut and made a decal for the hood vents...but they didn't.

You can see a mile into this finish.

For my home racing hobby they have done a great job. The fit and finish on these cars is very pleasing to my eyes. They have stepped up the standards from what I can see. Markings are clear and opaque and the clear coat is about as tough and clean as it gets.

Wheels and tires look well enough on all models. Again, nothing is perfect but they captured the look well enough for my home racing.

The correct tire markings are not here. For me it isn't that big of an issue, and for enthusiasts who will change out to after-market tires shouldn't complain at all. You will soon make them a blank slate anyway. Again, you make the call. I will tell you that sometimes licensing small items like this cost big money. It isn't always the fault of the toy manufacturer. Sometimes it just isn't cost effective.

Detail level here is more than enough for me. The dirt screen is not on the #16, but I can add it if I want. In fact, detail enthusiasts enjoy challenges like this. That is half the fun of this hobby for many of us. We might not be good enough to cast our own body, or even get a decent coat of paint. But we sure can add a few touches of realism here and there.

Both cars are inline and have the usual polarity switch to allow you to change direction.

Box Stock Testing

This review is quite different. My first taste of action with these models was last weekend at the home of my friend and fellow HRW administrator Jeremy Bibbee. Here is our post in the forum covering the fun we had when another friend, Rusty Hooper, brought them over for us to test.

Drifting the Cheetahs!

Nothing has changed here at HRW HQ. From the box to the track they run just fine. In stock form on plastic track they are very stuck down and should please the magnet racer.

On our wood track they are also very surprising. Are they perfect? No, but they were not made for these kind of tracks either. Most wood track racers out there realize that when we build tracks like this, that we cannot condemn ready to run models like this too quickly. They were not made for these tracks, nor for non-magnet use. They are simply toy cars designed to be fun and function well on Carrera track. But you can get a good feel of a model and see if you have a decent platform to tune upon.

And a good platform we have. These cars ran with a little hop to them, but that is always expected. The Cobra seemed to have a little more but nothing too glaring. It is the front end supporting too much weight as usual and the tires simply need trued.

Lap time were close. 4.629 for the Cheetah and 4.989 for the Cobra. The Cheetah has more grip due to the wide tires and it could handle the corners a little easier. But for me, they are close enough. I know with some tuning that both will be very competitive against each other.

Stock tires are fine, but I will change them out when tires are made for these new wheels. As of this writing Paul Gage is close to making OEM type tires while Slot Car Corner is working on replacements for those who switch over to C.B. Design wheels.

Sounds like a lot of slot car teamwork going on around us to me. This let's you know how important these classics really are for our hobby.

The only tuning I am doing now is using the Tire Razor and truing up the wheels and tires. This alone makes a difference and the operation of them just got better. Lap times dipped into the 4.5 and 4.7 range for both cars. Amazing what a little sanding can do for a slot car isn't it?

Under The Hood

Cheetah Data

Wheelbase - 72.05 MM

Height - 37.50 MM

Length - 116.72 (Body on chassis)

Width - 60.35 MM (Rear Fenders)

Weight - 85 Grams

There are 5 screws for the Cheetah to remove the body from the chassis. One screw is covered by a plate in the rear that must be popped off. I have to say this is not the most user-friendly design idea. In truth, it doesn't need this rear screw at all and I did not install it back on mine.

The standard E200 motor is here as expected. It has a 9 tooth pinion and 27 tooth crown gear. There are two magnets in both cars. The midsection magnet in the Cheetah is located under the circuit board. It also has a shim so you can adjust the magnet height if you desire.

Cobra Data (Hardtop Chosen)

Wheelbase - 72.05

Height - 40.25

Length - 122.60 MM (Body on chassis)

Width - 52.35 MM (Rear Fenders)

Weight - 80 Grams

Same motor and gearing found in the Cobra. Same magnet system is used as well.

Beginners and Boxstock fans in our hobby will just enjoy these right out of the box like they should. They function very well and will deliver plenty of fun. So I cannot help but advise anyone who likes the look of these cars to get them.

Advanced enthusiasts? Well, I am not telling you anything you  don't already know. You can see where the tuning process will start and I know many of you will share your methods as time goes on.

Final Thoughts

Slot Car Of The Year? How about Slot CARS Of The Year? Not only did Carrera bring us a new classic series, they did it 4 models right out of the gate. So even those of us with 3 or 4 lanes can start a series, NOW. Too many times companies make just one, or if we are lucky, two models and then we have to wait a year or more for others to follow. Hard to make a fun series with no running mates. I can wait awhile now since I have such a good selection to start.

Plus it is a classic series we can afford. This means a lot to racers I have spoken to over the years. Average retail is around $36.00 from various dealers. Slot Car Corner had them listed as low as $31.99! You might check the MSRP from other companies out there. They are much higher for models that do not offer anything more, and certainly not this American Classic appeal.

So yes, Carrera wins this year easily in my eyes.

Well done Carrera. This hobby is supposed to be about having fun and giving us nice cars at an equally nice price certainly increases that fun factor.

-Harry

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