Saturday January 26, 2008

When it comes to modern LMP models my collection is slim to say the least. This is due mostly to my preferences towards more classic type models that just have more physical appeal to me. However, once in awhile a new car comes around that catches my eye and this release by Carrera is one of them. It just arrived here just in time for the weekend so it was time to see what this monster could deliver.

My initial impressions were quite favorable just with the attractive livery alone. The paint work here is very accurate and captures the prototype very well. The flat black is accurate although some may not care for this look. Of course the model does appear to be a little on the high side looking at the overall stance, but not enough to really offend me. Given the track banking system Carrera uses is most likely why the model sits this way. Like all models today only you can decide if the overall look of the car is done well enough.

The paint and Tampo stamped markings are very crisp and overall I was pleased with this effort. Mold lines are virtually minimum except around the rear view mirrors where things are a little sloppy. Nothing glaring mind you, but needs mentioning.

Something that some of you will find interesting is that the rear wing is easily popped off in one whole assembly. Many enthusiasts would not race without it, and in these cases the wing will pop off rather than break in many de-slots. In our testing the wing popped off about 50% of the time. The other item that really impressed me is not on the car at all, but included with it: A full set of replacement side mirrors and top antenna array. This may not mean much to some, but those of us who truly race our models we know the value of having spares such as this. I give high marks to Carrera for providing these and so should many of you who have asked for this kind of thing for years.

The wheels and tires seemed round and true enough although they do appear to be slightly on the large size for scale. For some, this may offend, for others like myself it is not enough to stop me from racing and enjoying the effort brought forth. The compound of the tires seemed to be of a medium to hard compound and sanding would be required to get them just right.

Turning this beast over we see the dual magnet system Carrera is using along with a polarity switch to change direction and the large front guide. The polarity switch on some Carrera models are set so deep in the chassis you can hardly get to it with just your fingers. On this model it is closer to the edge of the chassis and I easily could switch it by hand.

On item that some enthusiasts have commented on is the large guide that Carrera is outfitting their cars with. Well, in my opinion I like this guide as it is plenty deep enough and although the length of the guide is too long for tight hairpin turns, it was designed to be trimmed to suit different track styles. The guide travel is about average with other models but for some it is a bit too short. The self centering spring is also a little tight for some racers tastes but easily fixed by removing the spring. All in all this guide is much better than some other brands just given the fact it is deep enough. Having to trim it is much easier than having to go out and purchase a new guide with a decent amount of depth.

There are 4 screws that secure the body to the chassis. The body is a 2 piece affair with the rear coming off first, followed by the front fender and interior area. Once inside you see plenty of wiring due to the polarity switch and front and rear lighting system. The lighting system uses clear (front) and red (rear) plastic to "channel" the light from the bulbs to the desired lens areas. This works well enough for the front, but the rear is barely visible with literally no light showing at the rear lenses.

Back underneath we see the single motor pod screw. This screw is different from the body mount screws so make sure you do not get them mixed up. Removing it allows you to release the pod and expose the motor and gearing. The standard Carrera motor is equipped with a 9 tooth pinion that turns the 27 tooth crown gear. As with most Carrera cars, the gear mesh is very smooth and quiet.

Box Stock Testing
Artin Plastic Track - Aftermarket Power @ 12 Volts - PARMA 25 OHM Control

Let me state that I am not a heavy magnet fan before I report. Magnets are great for many racers, I just prefer none at all or perhaps just a little. With this said, our of the box test showed this is one stuck down beast. Yet, I am not knocking the car because as I stated, many like running with magnets and this test is to judge the operation of the car straight from the box.

Operation was smooth, quiet and FAST. 3.8 seconds was our average of a 50 lap test and that should satisfy most enthusiasts in our hobby. However, what really surprised me is the amount of control I had. With most heavy magnet cars, once you push them too far, they simply flip off due to very little correction time. Not so here as the dual bar magnets allow you to slide a little and telegraph to you when you are too heavy on the gas.

And let us remember that if you do not like this much magnet, you can always remove one of the magnets to loosen things up. I like the approach they have taken with this chassis as it can be tuned for virtually any driving taste.

Wood Track Testing
3 Lane MDF Routed Wood - Flat Latex Surface
Copper Tape Conductivity - Aftermarket Power @ 12 Volts PARMA 25 OHM Control

The first couple laps told me that this car was going to need some real work to get it to smooth out. 6.5 seconds was the average for the few laps I raced. In Carrera's defense, it was not made for this type of track so I cannot really complain too much. Although I sanded and trued both the wheels and tires, the tire compound just does not give me the grip I needed to smoothly operate the car and still maintain good speed. Since after-market tires are available, I will get a set of them and begin to tune with lead as needed.

Final Thoughts

All in all I still like this model and glad I added it to my collection. For most enthusiasts on plastic track they should find a very rewarding model that will deliver hours of fun. It also is a good platform for the advanced enthusiast to build upon. Is it perfect? Of course not. Some fine scale enthusiasts will likely pass on it. However, I have to stress the "bang for the buck" factor. For $36.00 you are getting a whole lot of slot car complete with some spare parts. Even if you are the type that re-builds every car you purchase, why not just start with an inexpensive platform. As budgets seem to get tighter and tighter it pleases me to see some models that still are friendly to our wallets.

I like what Carrera has been producing and the price is right. If you are just starting out in our hobby I would really look close at this model as well as the rest of the line. Although I like this Peugeot, it needs a running mate. Since Carrera has several other LMP models this will be an easy task. Dollar for dollar this is a great addition to the current Carrera series and I look forward in collection a few more.

- Harry

As always feel free to contact me about this article or just the hobby in general at harry@homeracingworld.com, or better yet drop into our Message Forum and share your thoughts with other enthusiasts!

Thanks Go To SLOTCARPLACE For Sponsoring This Review!