[m60g]

When I wrote that, I thought the same thing

 

[MANIMMAL]

I was really looking forward to this car.

I’d be annoyed if I pre ordered this car almost a year ago…

I’m going to run it but the reality with this car is her value to a collector is zero. I’ll give it heaps and when all the paint is worn off nobody will notice. Years ago I used to scratch build and sell on eBay and I would not list this car, I’d redo it. This sucker will keep buying the Australian cars that catch my eye but not much else, it’s too much of a gamble.

there are many bits of dust and wobbly clear coat too that don’t show up on my iPhone camera as it has an anti ugly filter.

 

[Wankel Ickx]

That first photo I couldn't see the fault. I thought the white on the bumper was a highlight. Until I realised it wasn't. 🫤

Edit (hours later)
That does look like a great livery. I don't know what it is about the Torana - I know nothing of its racing pedigree - but I thought I badly needed one... until I realised it sports the FF motor. 🫤

Still think I might cave if I see a cheap one at a swapmeet. 🤗

 

[mattcrackers]

Just wondering David, did you send this VL back as well?
Did you get a third one?, I mean 2 out of 3 ain't bad, lol. (be funny if it actually wasn't)
These cars were just released in Australia over the last week.
Local hobby shop only got them Tuesday afternoon, none actually hit the shelves.
Would of liked to see the finish on them.

 

[MANIMMAL]

I have one on pre order with Armchair Racer so I’ll comment on this thread about it either way once it arrives.

 

[Dopamine]

Just wondering David, did you send this VL back as well?
Did you get a third one?, I mean 2 out of 3 ain't bad, lol. (be funny if it actually wasn't)

No I didn't. It was only ever intended to be an (expensive) shell and chassis to be modified for racing, so on that basis I've kept the replacement car.

I did, however, take a big risk and buy two more Scalextric Commodores that I wanted to make a grid of four, this time from Australia in the rather forlorn hope that the batch that was sent there might be better finished, and because they were a lot cheaper than buying them in the UK, even allowing for the greater postage cost.

C4434. This one is made in China and I have no complaints. Its finish is not up to the standard of most other brands these days, but then Scalextric rarely is now.
(photo isn't my car. It's just for illustration of the model)

C4547. This one is made in Vietnam and its finish is disappointing. It's not as bad as the car I started this thread about, nor quite as bad as that one's replacement, but it leaves a lot to be desired, primarily poor application of decals leaving air bubbles, and specks of dust sealed in the paint. Those are blemishes that are not easy to photograph so I haven't bothered, not least because there are only so many platitudes I can bear to hear from Simon before I'll scream, so I'm scaling back my complaining.

As I said earlier this car is not as bad as either of the Mobil cars, but for the cost they really are poor-value cars these days, only worth buying if you a) aren't at all fussy, b) don't have high expectations, c) are mentally ill. I'm fussy, but didn't have high expectations. I'll leave others to judge the state of my mind, given that I continue to buy Scalextric cars every now and then. 😜

I continue to dream that the people at Scalextric have the will and ability to improve things, but in truth I don't believe they have either.

As an aside, I can highly recommend UK buyers buying from Australia, the only caveat being to keep your parcel value below £135 to avoid UK customs being a nuisance. I've made two orders recently, they each took six days to arrive and the prices were highly competitive compared with the UK. I bought from www.showusyaslotz.com.au and www.slotshop.com.au and will happily use both again.

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Little, to me, is quite so annoying as a retailer who doesn't filter out 'Sold out' stock when close to half the listing is, quite literally, unavailable. 🤨

Shaking my head in disbelief.

Whatever, more on topic, the algorithm put a video about Hornby's financial position in front of me the other day. Apparently, allegedly, they are at the mid-point of a three-year recovery plan which, you'd hope, would see tight quality control being the order of the day. 🤔

 

[beardy56]

But that would mean employing someone with QC experience which would hit that recovery program.

 

[Kevan]

Can someone explain why...

...from Australia, yet

...from the UK

Who's kidding who?

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Demand and supply, I'd say, Kevan. 🤔

With added potential risk of poor sales factored in to the final UK price?

Just a guess. 🤗

 

[MANIMMAL]

It doesn’t justify the degree of mark up but shipping Aus-uk would be part of it.

 

[Kevan]

It doesn’t justify the degree of mark up but shipping Aus-uk would be part of it.

They're not made in Oz though are they?

 

[Kevan]

I think it's more like good old Brit-tax, another example, first NSR on their page:

Aus...

...UK...

 

[beardy56]

Can someone explain why...

If an Australian release then the supplier, in Australia, will need to make a profit, add to that carriage charges then add import charges. All of that before the UK sellers profit and VAT and don't forget about changes in the exchange rate.

 

[MANIMMAL]

No, not made in Australia. I’m referring to a UK dealer importing the Aus exclusives through an Australian retailer. Regular car prices may be better here due to our proximity to the artisan sheds producing our things? I don’t know.

 

[Johnny's Workshop]

Amazing, this thread is going strong! Hopefully will make a difference

 

[Mr Modifier]

UK prices - Scalextric modern Mustang - £50, Carrera modern Mustang £48. Scalextric quality control is questionable at best with poorly applied decals, dust in the paint etc. Carrera cars, at pretty much the same price, are beautifully finished - right up there in terms of collector standard. If Carrera can do it for that price surely Hornby could if they got their act together.

I recently bought the Scalextric Gulf RS500 and the paint finish appears to be gritty. At the same time I bought a Carrera Z4 GT3 and the finish is spectacularly glossy and blemish-free.

Yes Scalextric cars are slightly faster on Sport track than the Carreras (we run magless) but when we run Scalextric only or Carrera only grids the Carreras are just as much fun to drive and seem to be much more closely matched.

An acceptable standard of finish at that price is obviously possible and, as Carrera seem to still be in business, it is sustainable to achieve that level of quality. So come on Hornby - rise to the challenge. We want you to succeed but there are limits…

 

[Kevan]

Sounds like we need a '2025 World Cup of Slot' and see if Scaley can make it to the final again...

 

[MANIMMAL]

An update on my Torana.

I contacted Armchair Racer where I purchased the car from to ask them to look at my Brock Commodore prior to shipping as the Torana was junk. They asked for photos which I supplied (same as posted here earlier) to arrange a replacement. I advised that I had already built the car up for my style of use and a swap out wasn’t my desired outcome - my desired outcome is receiving cars that look like the marketing images.
Ultimately Alex at Southern models (Australian Scalextric distributor) is sending me a replacement body which is more than I wanted but works for me as it won’t bug me when I look at it and when/if I move the car on years from now it’s value isn’t hurt.

 

[MANIMMAL]

My Commodore arrived yesterday and nor surprises it’s pretty good, although not perfect. She did get a small amount of blue paint added to the front bumper where the decal was overstretched.
In a seperate parcel, this time from southern models the replacement Torana body arrived. This time around the wing was similarly poorly fitted, otherwise it’s good. I levered off the wing, trimmed the dangle berries that were interfering with the proper fitment and reattached - sorted.