Toy Garage - with a lift and ramps preferably

[GoldenSnitch]

DS is 2 and a half. His favourite toy at both PIL's and Toddler group is a plastic garage with ramps and a lift, he plays happily with them for hours, that quiet, intense, imaginitive play they only do when they're really engrossed. I want to get him one to have at home too. He has tonnes of cars and nothing to do with them except put them in lines and drive them over my sofa. (Also, we're having a new baby about a week before Christmas and I need something he'll love playing with to keep him amused while I feed)

I've been looking at the Fisher Price (Ramps Around) garages but they're just not the same as they used to be when I was small and are aimed at 1-3 years olds - as he's nearly 3 now, maybe he needs something a bit older?

ELC do garages for over 3's and they look good but are about £50!

I don't mind spending that much but would want something good for my money.

Does anyone have anything similar for thier DC's? Can anyone recommend a good play garage that would last an almost 3 year old for a few years....?

[GoldenSnitch]

No-one?

[Itsjustafleshwound]

I bought the ELC one for my son for his 2nd bday - no quibbles - it is sturdy plastic and seems to be standing up to his heavy handedness. I don't know if the offer is still on, but the garage came with a box of cheap cars which really didn't make it past a month of use ...

[IsThisNameTaken]

My DS (2.5) has the fisher price one and loves it - I can't see him growing out of it for a couple of years at least yet. The cars that come with it may seem a bit young for them but as your ds has lots of other cars he'll be able to use them as well - mine just loves piling up about 20 cars down the ramp at the same time!

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

Ds had the Fisher price one when he was 2.5 and still plays with it at 5+.

I tink ages on stuff are odd, everyone seem to presume now that by the time they are 4 it will be all Ben 10 and Power Rangers.

[GoldenSnitch]

Is that the Big City Garge Itsjustafleshwound?

I like the little ELC/Fisher Price ones but the bigger ELC one has car washes and more ramps so think it might be a bit more involved for him.

[spicemonster]

My DS is also 2 1/2 and has the ELC one which he really likes - it makes car engine noises when you send cars down the ramp. I got it for him for his 2nd birthday - I think they have to say over 3 because of the small parts on the cars.

I'd not seen the FP one before but I would have still chosen the ELC one because it's designed for those standard toy cars rather than the bigger ones so is a bit more flexible maybe? It makes a whizzing car noise when you send cars shooting down the ramps and a helicopter noise when you land one on the roof.

justafleshwound - what on earth did you do to the free cars? Mine are all still going strong - bit battered and bruised but they have lots of off-roading adventures so to be expected really

[shonaspurtle]

Ds has the Fisher Price one. He got it for his first birthday and it's only really in the last year (he's almost 3) that he's really got into it. Plays with it every day.

The good thing about it having big ramps is that all his cars fit in it and I'd say it'll definitely last him another few years.

Dn who's 3.5 has the ELC one that's similar (also for bigger cars and has a helicopter pad on the roof) and again, it's a favourite and still going strong.

They both use all sorts of sizes of cars in them.

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

Just realised ds doesn't have the one in your link, that one is quite babified.

What about this?

Or this? But is ££££

Or e-bay?

This is the one I had as a kid.

This is ds's, it's just got a bit more going on than the new one.

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Yes - it is the big city garage ! Although it says from 3 onwards, my 2yo seems pretty happy with it!

The helicopter lasted 5 minutes - whereabouts unknown - and what cars my son didn't manage to bury in the sandpit, he managed to bend the wheel axes .. but as spicemonster posted - the cars are easily replacable

[spicemonster]

I have a helicopter in my handbag - perhaps it's yours?

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Can't say I shed too many tears when it went - it just averted the arguments between the 4 and 2 yo ...

[MrsJohnDeere]

We have the Le Toy Van garage (2nd link in WTWTW's post). Have had it for about 2 years and it is showing signs of wear but it has been used very intensively by ds1 (now 3.5) and now 19mo ds2 too - it is played with every day, and has been stood on, sat on, etc.

Looks fab (although a real PITA to build), has good ramps (can be replaced for about £10 when they break, iirc), good lift.

You can sometimes get the 'proper' old Fisher Price garages on ebay. MIL still has dh's from when he was a child and it survived play by 4 children and many grandchildren.

[Golda]

We have the Le Toy Van one and it broke after about a month (lift and both ramps) plus it is too heavy for ds to get out by himself to play with. I will get rid of it before ds2 is old enough to play with it and get a different one for him.

[GoldenSnitch]

Wow, that's 2 very different reviews of the Le Toy Van one! It is probably more expensive than I would ahve liked too.

The Big City Garage is looking favourite I think - I didn't know it did noises! PIL have the original Fisher Price one and I'd rather not double up as that'll just speed up him getting bored of it. DS has loads of matchbox type cars so if the freebie ones aren't any good, we've got plenty to replace them with.

[MrsJohnDeere]

Actually Golda's post has reminded me that we had to send our original garage back because the lift was faulty, but the replacement has been fine.

[GoldenSnitch]

Big City Garage it is then. Thanks guys

[ArghhhhmazingBouncingSpider]

Snitch have you bought the big city garage yet?
If not I wouldnt bother with the free cars offer and try to wangle a 20% off voucher from somewhere (you can usually get one from customer services if you phone to say you havent received your birthday club voucher they'll email you one straight away)
Its much better to have the 20% off IMO.

Im buying it DS for Christmas, everytime he comes into work he makes a beeline for it!

[TheBlairSnitchProject]

Lol, just seen your message Arghhh - that's pretty much what we decided to do..try for 20% instead of the cars. I had heard they were rubbish and broke really fast.

Good to have an 'insider' review too - thanks

[beth83]

this one is lovely www.tishtashtoys.com/image.htm?tttid=LT028
they also have other cute wooden toys car parks cooking things that might be suitable

www.tishtashtoys.co.uk

[richarda]

The Djeco My Garage is really cute but again about £50.

[nappyaddict]

The ELC wooden one is nice.

[nappyaddict]

and this one too.