Metal toy cars - good brands?
21 February 2011, 05:10 AM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Metal toy cars - good brands?
I'm looking on Amazon for an F458 toy car for my son. Loads of choice, most of them probably rubbish. Don't have a toy shop nearby so was wondering what a decent brands are out there?
21 February 2011, 11:51 AM
#3
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: God's promised land
Posts: 80,907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Step into my office 
I have a, ahem, small collection of diecast.
Minichamps, since that's been mentioned, are only average.
The best brands are, CMC, BBR and Exoto (now out of production). Those lead the pack by miles. Not much to choose between them, though CMC in my opinion just have the edge.
Below that, you have Mattel Super Elite. They're way better than the Bburago "toys", but no match for the three above. In the same category you have Kyosho. Good but not outstanding. AutoArt are also tier two, some of their recent models aren't too bad.
Below that you then have Mattel "regular". Glorified toys in my opinion. And about the same as Minichamps. Then there's Sun models for the more unusual subjects, again just average.
The problem with Ferrari models is that Mattel holds the licence, so nobody is allowed to do a Ferrari model below a certain price point, ensuring Mattel get the majority of the business. I don't know what that price point actually is, but i'd estimate it's something like £175 in 1:18 scale.
Therefore, for the 458, you're very limited for choice at the moment, to Mattel Elite (the one above the Bburago "toy" level). Typically, Mattell will bring out a Super Elite if the Elite sells well enough, but you might be waiting another year for that to appear, if it ever does.
I think it's unlikely that CMC or BBR will do a 458, as it's sorta similar to the Enzo which has been done to death at the high end, but i could be wrong. Matell's Super Elite 458 is ok, but for £100 give or take, it ought to be. But it's crude compared to what can be done by the leading manufacturers.
Hope that helps
I have a, ahem, small collection of diecast.
Minichamps, since that's been mentioned, are only average.
The best brands are, CMC, BBR and Exoto (now out of production). Those lead the pack by miles. Not much to choose between them, though CMC in my opinion just have the edge.
Below that, you have Mattel Super Elite. They're way better than the Bburago "toys", but no match for the three above. In the same category you have Kyosho. Good but not outstanding. AutoArt are also tier two, some of their recent models aren't too bad.
Below that you then have Mattel "regular". Glorified toys in my opinion. And about the same as Minichamps. Then there's Sun models for the more unusual subjects, again just average.
The problem with Ferrari models is that Mattel holds the licence, so nobody is allowed to do a Ferrari model below a certain price point, ensuring Mattel get the majority of the business. I don't know what that price point actually is, but i'd estimate it's something like £175 in 1:18 scale.
Therefore, for the 458, you're very limited for choice at the moment, to Mattel Elite (the one above the Bburago "toy" level). Typically, Mattell will bring out a Super Elite if the Elite sells well enough, but you might be waiting another year for that to appear, if it ever does.
I think it's unlikely that CMC or BBR will do a 458, as it's sorta similar to the Enzo which has been done to death at the high end, but i could be wrong. Matell's Super Elite 458 is ok, but for £100 give or take, it ought to be. But it's crude compared to what can be done by the leading manufacturers.
Hope that helps
Last edited by TelBoy; 21 February 2011 at 11:52 AM.
21 February 2011, 12:26 PM
#4
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Far Corfe
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
21 February 2011, 12:33 PM
#5
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: God's promised land
Posts: 80,907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Or, try Ebay if you don't want to pay Grand Prix Legends' extortionate prices.
Even from Greece and Germany, you can import almost any model at 25-35% less than GPL, with no additional import tax or duty to pay. I'd only use GPL in an emergency, if such a situation could exist for a diecast model...
Even from Greece and Germany, you can import almost any model at 25-35% less than GPL, with no additional import tax or duty to pay. I'd only use GPL in an emergency, if such a situation could exist for a diecast model...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JonMc
Subaru Parts
22
06 February 2016 09:50 PM
ossett2k2
Engine Management and ECU Remapping
15
23 September 2015 09:11 AM
