With Christmas approaching, many parents are looking for a gift (to ask Santa) for their children (young or old). From product lines to licenses, here’s a short guide to help you choose.
First, you need to choose the product line.
Range
Carrera offers different ranges:
FIRST, for younger players aged 3 to 6, the vehicles almost never leave the track and the tracks are small.
GO, for players aged 6 and up, also popular with older players. The cars are very fast and require precise control.
Evolution, Digital 132, or 124, for older players aged 8-10. Requires a much higher budget and plenty of space.
FIRST
For younger kids, it’s easy: the FIRST range is what you need. Tracks cost between €25 and €50 depending on the size, and feature many popular licenses (Paw Patrol, Cars, Mario Kart, Spidey, Batwheels, etc.).
A cousin of the First range is arriving this year: the track case with First cars (note: not all are compatible).
https://carrera-toys.com/fr-eu/products/20016002-disney-pixar-cars
A great choice for those who want to travel with their tour. Easy to open and store.
GO
Then, for the older generation, there’s the GO range. Please note that the cars and components in the FIRST range are not GO compatible.
Fast cars that require the driver to throttle the throttle. There are plenty of licenses, from Cars to Mario Kart, including DTM, GT3, Formula 1, and more. There’s a wide selection, from small tracks to larger ones. A wide selection.
GO sub-ranges exist:
GO +: End of life and not very reliable, so we won’t even mention it.
GO Battery: An interesting range because it uses the GO rails and cars. The track runs on batteries, and the cars are a little slower. The tracks offered are generally smaller. This is a range I recommend for those who are a little older than the FIRST and not yet ready for the GO. Once the drivers have mastered the vehicles, simply add another GO track to get full power, new cars, and new rails. You’ll have a large track. The first purchase thus continues its life.
You’re looking through catalogs or the Carrera website and you’re a little lost. Here are some tips:
The budget
The logic is simple: The larger the circuit, the more expensive it is, and for the same size, a licensed circuit will be more expensive than a generic circuit.
License and track shape
Hot Wheels, Mario Kart, Cars, Formula 1, …. You’re spoiled for choice.
And under the same license, you have small or large circuits.
The cars depend on the license, and here I advise you to look at the cars’ condition. Check if the cars have any parts that could break: spoilers, mirrors, antennas. For example, Formula 1 cars are fragile. If your child is a good driver and takes care of toys, you can try Formula 1; otherwise, be careful. It would be a shame if on Christmas Day, the front or rear wing broke on the first track outing.
Especially since, when talking about track outings, you have to take into account the track layout and its accessories. There are aggravating factors.
- Crossing is a killer. If two cars meet in the center of the intersection, it’s guaranteed to wreck the front of an F1 car.
- A loop taken at low speed and a car falling onto its roof—bam, it doesn’t like it.
In order to compare and measure the fragility of cars and the danger of circuits, I created the GO: Risk Exposure Index (IER)
And here is the page to define the index: Indice Exposition au Risque
And just because the default route has a high risk rating doesn’t mean it should be avoided. You can simply avoid elements that increase risk, such as crossovers and loops.
EVOLUSION, D132 D124
Since these ranges are specific and designed for older riders, I won’t dwell on them too much.
But be aware that you can have up to six cars on the track, change lanes, manage fuel, etc.
You’ll need more space and the budget is higher.
My favorites for 2025:
Carrera Speed Arena case, a derivative of the FIRST model, is ideal for taking your track anywhere and setting it up or packing it away in 30 seconds without assistance.
Police Chase case, item number 20016001
Recommended price: €47
Disney Pixar Cars case, item number 20016002
Recommended price: €53
We’ll be testing it soon, but while it’s not officially compatible with FIRST cars, some from the range can be used.
GO
In this year’s catalog, the GO DTM Speed Giants Set, item number 20062596
Recommended price: €96
And I mentioned it a few months ago, for me the best is the Ferrari Power Corsa, item number 20062575. With no loops or crossovers, it’s without a doubt the most realistic set.
20062575 : Ferrari Power Corsa – Mon coffret préféré
If you’re hesitant, this little guide may have helped you make your choice. Choose the box set that you like with the license you or your child dreams of.