Is it just me or is Hotwheels really shit?

[BlandSoup]

I got my 7 year old some hot wheels for Christmas. It’s been totally underwhelming. The cars just go round and round and do nothing else. Half the cars don’t work on the cork screw thing that takes them up to the top. I can’t figure out why some cars work and others don’t.

looks like you can add an extension on but there’s so many tracks and I don’t understand which ones would work or how they would keep momentum to go round a track.

Is he just too old for them? He really wanted a set but has only played with it for about 5 mins. He said it wasn’t as fun as he was hoping. Which to be fair, it isn’t.

5 year old loved them last Christmas, was bored of them by New Year.

Which set is it? Some cars don't work, others do. My ds is only almost 4 though as has always loved little cars. He uses them for imaginative play and makes up families/trips to zoo etc. We got him some shark garage set with loop de loop from a local charity for peanuts and he's absolutely nuts over it, and building his own tracks from the spares and boosters. I've no experience with 7 year olds though, it might be verging on too young maybe?

The tracks themselves seem a bit closed play to me, like they do one thing and no more. Vs say bulk duplo/lego where you can make anything.

My 7 year old loves his but he is autistic and cars are his hyper fixation

I would have said 7 is maybe a bit on the old side, but we found them useless and my DC never liked them.

We got DC speed track, which is a long strip of track but bends and you can set up loop the loops and run it downstairs, over/under furniture. It's so much better, I'd recommend getting a few meters of it, allows for much more range of play.

To be honest I think they are a very expensive for what they are. My 5 year old is bored of them.

The cars are fantastic. Great to collect.
A basic loop de loop is usually fun. We had a track that was just a long downwards ramp, a loop and then the cars jumped off the end. We used to do stuff like see which car jumped the furthest, make a car leap over several other cars etc.
The large novelty sets like those shark things are a load of pants.

We got this too and absolutely agree

It's not just you, it's shit.

We got DS speedtrack for Christmas after a recommendation here, it's been everywhere we've been this Christmas and the adults have had as much fun with it as the DC. Hotwheels track is rubbish

My 6yo still plays with it sometimes but it’s more configuring the tracks or bits like the carpark or car wash. Very little actual driving cars along a track.

DS is 4 and adores his HW. He has a huge collection. Some of the sets are better than others - the Ultimate Garage is brilliant and he plays with it every day (DD8 plays with it too, sometimes!)

We got him the Toxic Gorilla for Christmas and he's had so much fun with it. We've got a few of the mini playsets, some are great and some a bit crap. He's also got a drag race which he loves, but no extra track because he doesn't have the patience for it. His favourite thing is just the cars, though.

My son loves is and we have any different hot wheels toys. The ultimate grace is a favourite here.He got into it aged 3 and is 5. I'd expect him to lose interest by 7 tbh. I think your boy is a bit old for it, maybe try a remote control car and see if that holds his interest more.

My son loves his and we have many different hot wheels toys. The ultimate garage is his favourite. He was 3 when he first got into it and is now 5. At 7 I think your son is maybe a little old for it, perhaps a remote controlled car would have been more appealing.

It’s a massive hit here, we have loads of it. You do need sleek cars to get round the corkscrew bits. But no, no complaints

Hot wheels are shit. Take ages to put together and limited play value. No imagination needed etc.
I got DS an £8 game where he and one other have to cooperate to steal a diamond from a vault. Think it's diamond heist? Really fun and skilful

He’s too old for it I’d think. My four year old got loads of different things handed down from his cousins and loves them, but I can’t see a 7 year okd enjoying it to the same extent.

I think 4-5 is probably peak Hot Wheels age.

We have this & a whole load of other bits (hand-me-downs) & DS2 & DS3 love it. They are nearly 9 (NT) & 11 (autistic). Visiting friends age 8/9 also love it. They like pretending it is a rollercoaster, we love theme parks as a family. They do similar with wooden train track!

Ok, not just me then. And seems like those who are into it are a bit younger. I feel bad because it was the main present which he’d been asking for for ages. The cars just go up the hill and then whizz back down. But that’s it. He said he was disappointed because you just watch it but don’t play with it.

I don’t want to buy more track as it’s all so expensive, even for a few bits of extension. Wish I’d gone for Skalextrik instead. I had that and loved it as a kid. I’ll have a look at that speed track stuff.

Does anyone know if you can connect speed track to hot wheels? His hot wheels goes round and round but also has to option to connect to other stuff. Could do it down the stairs then. Supposed I could just bodge it together maybe?

Is hot wheels or scalextric (sp?!) the one with dual track so you can race people? Whichever one could do that got more play value, plus rebuilding into different courses to increase/decrease challenge.

Whichever car set we had that let you race was good for playing with someone and adrenaline type games. Train set was better for longer play as more scope to be creative as well as playing alongside each other.

What did he imagine he'd be doing with it? Racing? Course building ?

Hmm, I don’t actually know what he thought he’d be doing with it. That’s a really good question. I’ll ask him tomorrow. He’s just seen other kids have them and they look fun. But now he’s actually got one it’s boring. He’s tried to be really grateful for it but I know he’s disappointed. Maybe a different set would have been better but I know nothing about them. And so expensive for what they are.

Skalextric is the one with the little controllers and you race each other. I’m not gonna buy one now, just trying to think what might be better in future.

We’ve got lots of hot wheels but the thing that’s had the most play is just the big box of track (you can also jump a car off the lid of the box). That has been played with all the time for three years, and also you can chuck all the cars in the box too.
Im not as keen on the sets, they are all quite expensive for what the are and harder to store

DS is 3 and has loved HW since 2. Can’t see it lasting too much longer, he’s moving on to other things.

You could sell it on local sites for cash? They sell well where we are