I know this has been covered once before somewhere. I am looking to get back into slot cars. I have seen the SCX Digital 132 sets in local hobby shops in my area but didn't notice much of anything else. I was wondering how the SCX digital set compares to the Carrera digital set? I know the Carrera can handle the 1:24 cars. But thats not really what I am worried about. I am looking for a set to pick up that has the most build ability but yet hold up over time. I have been reading for a few days but I haven't seen much mentioned on the SCX sets really. I was convinced on picking up the SCX since I can get some of the parts locally. But since reading on here I kinda want to lean towards the Carrera set now. Any help is much appreciated. I am also in the US. From what I have read, I guess certian brands run cheaper over here (not much of a concern though).
Carrera or SCX?
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Between the two, I'd pick Carrera in a heartbeat. The track is larger, but some clever layouts help you fit a lot in a small area. Carrera beats SCX hands down in features and quality, IMHO. The only thing SCXD has that Carrera doesn't is a fancy light strip for fuel. Instead, Carrera cars flash their lights and stutter as they run down, and the lights flash as you refuel. If you spring for a Driver Display, you get a few lights specifically for your car's fuel and position as well. There are other features that put Carrera over the top for me, though, such as 10 steps of power and brakes that can be programmed (and is stored in the car chip!) individually for each car. Bruce's race management software is also quite feature rich and well loved. Honestly, if I were starting fresh knowing what I do now, I might have gone for Carrera instead of Scalextric... SCXD would be my last choice.
Thanks for the input. I am going to see if a local shop carries carrera sets there. Hopefully they carry both so I would be able to get them locally anyways. Do you have a particular set to recommend from Carrera? I am looking to run probably mostly GT style cars. Since I am starting fresh. I would like to get a good starting set. I would hate to have to dump a lot in accessories right off the bat.
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Greg is so right...
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I think if I knew what I know now I would have started with Carrera as well. Anyway that is water under the bridge.
If I had to buy a set RIGHT NOW, I'd go for this one: Carrera GT set.
HTH.
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If I had to buy a set RIGHT NOW, I'd go for this one: Carrera GT set.
HTH.
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That's a nice set, but I'd want one that comes with the NEW Control Unit, not the old "Black Box" control. Last year's system was good, but it's the new stuff that really knock it out of the park.
I'm hoping to have a play with some soon, actually.
I'm hoping to have a play with some soon, actually.
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Uuuuuuh.....darn. Is that one old already?
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I thought because it had two 2011 digital cars it will be new....just shows you how much I know about Carrera systems...
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The cars....are great, don't really care what other people say.
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The cars....are great, don't really care what other people say.
been with SCX since 2007 and never looked back.
It works well from the box, has the back up (scx have published their reliability stats) , and hasnt been through 3 different control systems.
Theres not much SCX traffic on this board as SCX has its own site.
Ta
Dave
It works well from the box, has the back up (scx have published their reliability stats) , and hasnt been through 3 different control systems.
Theres not much SCX traffic on this board as SCX has its own site.
Ta
Dave
I have both systems
Scxd = fast to setup and play around with, great quality on track pieces and cars. Now with the universal track its posible to run analog on your track. the best if your not running a permanent track.
D132 = takes ages to setup a course, track pieces are very unflexible, but when its all in place it feels very sturdy. And i like its car selection. Hate the thumb controllers, can never get used to them.
There is alot to say about both systems but scx has a very strong support in usa with brian at scxusa. He is the best.
Carrera has a way of switching system every 2-3 years so they can sell more stuff, quote from one of their german reps.
But as allways its down what you need.
Scxworldwide is where most scxd people post.
Scxd = fast to setup and play around with, great quality on track pieces and cars. Now with the universal track its posible to run analog on your track. the best if your not running a permanent track.
D132 = takes ages to setup a course, track pieces are very unflexible, but when its all in place it feels very sturdy. And i like its car selection. Hate the thumb controllers, can never get used to them.
There is alot to say about both systems but scx has a very strong support in usa with brian at scxusa. He is the best.
Carrera has a way of switching system every 2-3 years so they can sell more stuff, quote from one of their german reps.
But as allways its down what you need.
Scxworldwide is where most scxd people post.
http://www.scxworldwide.com/uploaded_files...ade_Catalog.pdf
2011 scx catalog
2011 scx catalog
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Yeah, the price on Carrera Digital cars is astonishingly low by comparison. I only wish I could get detailed cars with a chip installed for that kind of money.
QUOTE (MrFlippant @ 9 Nov 2011, 15:53) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Yeah, the price on Carrera Digital cars is astonishingly low by comparison. I only wish I could get detailed cars with a chip installed for that kind of money.
at least the Carrera chips are Big compared to ssd
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at least the Carrera chips are Big compared to ssd
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QUOTE (geekaya @ 9 Nov 2011, 18:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>...Carrera has a way of switching system every 2-3 years so they can sell more stuff...
They made one change that eventually obsoleted equipment. Their first digital system- ProX- was licensed from someone else. When they decided to make their own, in house system, they offered Pro-X users a trade in program. They also continued to make compatible equipment for more than two years after the switch to D132/D124.
Their new releases since then work with all existing equipment. The 'more stuff' they are selling is all new and additional, and expands their digital system greatly. I guess you could say they have expanded their system every 2-3 years. From where I sit (very happy Carrera digital user) that's certainly not a bad thing. Nothing has been obsoleted since Pro-X.
For me, the biggest advantage Carrera digital has over other systems isn't even a digital feature: it's the track. The wide, smooth, hard surface is as close as you will get to racing on wood without routing some wood.
They made one change that eventually obsoleted equipment. Their first digital system- ProX- was licensed from someone else. When they decided to make their own, in house system, they offered Pro-X users a trade in program. They also continued to make compatible equipment for more than two years after the switch to D132/D124.
Their new releases since then work with all existing equipment. The 'more stuff' they are selling is all new and additional, and expands their digital system greatly. I guess you could say they have expanded their system every 2-3 years. From where I sit (very happy Carrera digital user) that's certainly not a bad thing. Nothing has been obsoleted since Pro-X.
For me, the biggest advantage Carrera digital has over other systems isn't even a digital feature: it's the track. The wide, smooth, hard surface is as close as you will get to racing on wood without routing some wood.
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Chips alone are still spendy, but their pre-chipped cars aren't usually more than $5-10 more than the analog versions. The chips are bigger, that's true. I never would have been able to chip the Moto GP bikes for Carrera. Still, their chips seem more robust than Scalextric chips, being able to handle slot.it motors without issue. For that, we need a slot.it chip or upgraded chips.
Don't get me wrong, I still love my SSD, and have no intention of switching. But the question was "between SCX and Carrera", and for me, the clear choice would be Carrera.
Don't get me wrong, I still love my SSD, and have no intention of switching. But the question was "between SCX and Carrera", and for me, the clear choice would be Carrera.
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I chose Carrera because of the track. Sort of. Not even knowing slot cars still existed, I found myself standing in a hobby store that sold Carrera and Scaley. I liked the look of Carrera track compared to the Scaley track. More substantial. It was a blind decision influenced by the word 'Austria' printed on the box. I suppose I really knew it was all Chinese product.
Anyway, I've often thought that if I were just starting out, and knew what I know now, I might go with SSD.
Many reasons. The tremendous aftermarket support (which led to the APB), SSDC, the close ties to Maurizio and hence oXigen. The large community of users here.
But. I'd have to give up Carrera track. And since the release of the new Control Unit and associated accessories, I'm not quite as envious. When I finally understood that oXigen could be fairly easily integrated with Carrera digital and Ninco digital (not as simple as placing a properly chipped car on the track, like SSD, but not too bad), I was very happy. I don't even know how much I will take advantage of that fact- but it's great to know it's there.
Anyway, I've often thought that if I were just starting out, and knew what I know now, I might go with SSD.
Many reasons. The tremendous aftermarket support (which led to the APB), SSDC, the close ties to Maurizio and hence oXigen. The large community of users here.
But. I'd have to give up Carrera track. And since the release of the new Control Unit and associated accessories, I'm not quite as envious. When I finally understood that oXigen could be fairly easily integrated with Carrera digital and Ninco digital (not as simple as placing a properly chipped car on the track, like SSD, but not too bad), I was very happy. I don't even know how much I will take advantage of that fact- but it's great to know it's there.
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If the advances made by MIH for the InCar-Pro chip firmware were included in production SSD chips, and the ability to utilize those features were added to the APB from the factory, or as a downloadable update, then the decision would be harder. Also, if Scalextric ever comes up with a REAL fuel/pit system rather than a "lights out" game, well, that would also make a big difference. The APB is a truly great product, and only gets better with updates and the addition of a computer to control it. Still, most people (e.g. the ones who are not on forums), appreciate off-the-shelf products from the OEM. SSD is great, but only comes to full greatness with 3rd party products. SCX and Carrera both have fantastic off-the-shelf features.
I also have both systems. Carrera - especially with the new control unit and pit lane, is a really great system. The fueling system and options work well, the car lights with braking looks fantastic and the whole system works really well. The track is superb to drive on, with or without magnets. On the downside - if you have limited space, the large track format and lack of hairpin curves really limits the layout you can have.
SCX offers a lot more fun features, all sorts of chicanes and bridges and nice display towers. Due to the passive lane changes, the price is low on these, the sets come with a lot of them and it is easy to add a lot more. The track is a lot smaller though which means more hazards if you take a lane change at speed. The system also has some strange not-so-well-thought-out quirks like all the cars stutter and cannot change lanes during the instant another car crosses the start finish, and some people have found the lap counting system to be susceptible to errors and missed laps. Generally its another good system.
All the systems have there pros and cons.
SCX offers a lot more fun features, all sorts of chicanes and bridges and nice display towers. Due to the passive lane changes, the price is low on these, the sets come with a lot of them and it is easy to add a lot more. The track is a lot smaller though which means more hazards if you take a lane change at speed. The system also has some strange not-so-well-thought-out quirks like all the cars stutter and cannot change lanes during the instant another car crosses the start finish, and some people have found the lap counting system to be susceptible to errors and missed laps. Generally its another good system.
All the systems have there pros and cons.
From reading on this site for the last couple of years I'd go for Carrera if I started again. I chose Scalextric, in part due to that's the association in my mind being English, and in part due to getting the Top Gear set for my son (which started this ball rolling).
For me as someone who didn't relish the prospect of using a soldering iron (I've got pretty decent at chipping cars though), or fiddling with electronics unless absolutely necessary, Carrera seems to offer the best features, and the digital cars are a real bargain. The only drawbacks I can think of are the space issue, and the fact that Pioneer cars (my current favourites) come so easily set up for SSD
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I suspect Carrera D132 is also the biggest bargain for US based slot types, but I have no proper research to back that up. . .
For me as someone who didn't relish the prospect of using a soldering iron (I've got pretty decent at chipping cars though), or fiddling with electronics unless absolutely necessary, Carrera seems to offer the best features, and the digital cars are a real bargain. The only drawbacks I can think of are the space issue, and the fact that Pioneer cars (my current favourites) come so easily set up for SSD
I suspect Carrera D132 is also the biggest bargain for US based slot types, but I have no proper research to back that up. . .
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