Scalextric or similar - yes or no? Hotwheels even?

[NeverTalksToStrangers]

My DH has a habit of wanting my 2 DS (4.5 and 2) to play with toys that HE had when he was younger. I don't have an issue with this, but I won't buy crap either.

Scalextric seems to range from £40 for basic tracks with varying reviews to £300 or so. I know there are other brands etc. There's a decent enough looking one in smyths for £50. If I do get a set, it will probably be that one. My point is, do boys still actually play with them in February??? Are kids' expectations nowadays past cars going around in circles??

I don't want a large expensive item cluttering up some room gathering dust. Any videos I have watched of them the cars still come off the tracks, just like they did when we were kids.

What about hotwheels? Are they mostly fiddly novelty-wearing-off shite??

DS1 will be 5 in early March though, so at christmas he'll be almost 5. Still too young?

Hmm my boys love Scalextric but I agree with dogona that I'd wait until they are a bit older. The 4.5 yo might be able to do it (but quite possibly not) but I would be very surprised if the 2yo can (you need a reasonable amount of dexterity to keep the speed steadyish otherwise the cars just fly off the track)

Hotwheels seems rubbish to me (we have 1 set, it doesn't get played with much) What they did love at that age were these little contraptions that fired toy cars across the room - loads of fun and one of those cheap toys that were a major hit for Christmas and beyond.

DS1 got a Star Wars one last year, it is a bit annoying really as it just flies of the track all the time. I seem to remember DSIS's doing the same about 20 years ago! He hasn't played with it much. Thankfully it was only about £15 on Black Friday so no money lost.
Hot Wheels cars are great the tracks are crap as above. We've had loads of sets and none have been very good.

My ds (4.4) had a basic scalextric last year and has ignored it. I find that toys that can only be played with in one way like robots, scalextrics and remote controlled cars don't have any longevity. He did lack the skill needed to really use it too. It's bundled up at the moment so I suppose we could try again at some point.

Hot wheels tracks are awful. Have you looked at blue trak?

Sorry, it's blutrack!

We''ve just bought the rally cars scalectrix from isme reduced to £72 and used the offer code to get £30 off. DS is 5. Am planning to tape handle so cant get to full speed- at least until he is used to it! Hoping cars won't get wrecked that way!

we got ds(9) scalextric when he was around 5, dh and I set it up before Xmas one day while he was at his grans and tried it out. Quickly realised he wouldn't get much out of it and put it in the loft. We got him something else that year and gave him the scalextric at 7 and he could play it ok then.

ime wouldn't recommend for below 7ish years old and it would need to be a reasonably interesting set, not a basic one. once he managed to keep the cars on the track he found it quite boring going round and round in a figure of 8.

The set I'm looking at is very good for the price, it has a few loops and parts where the cars go at an angle. Only one review on it, but gives it 5/5. Again, the kid was older. I also seen a video review on you tube from christmas 2011, which looked good, but the owner then admitted in the comments below that as of a few months ago it was in the loft. It's certainly MUCH cheaper than the equivalent scalectrix would be, but £50 is still £50. No point in wasting it.

I agree that toys that can only be played with one way tend to be left alone. My DS1 plays with his buzz lightyear and woody, other cars, magic wand (he loves HP), anything to do with art, blocks, leap pad, mario kart... all of these things can have multiple uses.

Had a quick google of blutrack. It looks a bit mad!! Must investigate more.

Thanks!!