Best Slot Cars

Review & Comparison, Last Update October 4, 2024
Is your child passionate about fast-paced games? Then, buying an awesome slot car track is a great idea! Indeed, what could be more thrilling than race riding on twisty tracks! Have a look at our review to decide on what you need exactly! ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
TRACK TYPE
TRACK SIZE
NUMBER OF BATTLEFIELDS
NUMBER OF CARS
POWER SUPPLY
CONTROL
GAME MODES
FEATURES
TRACK SET
RECOMMENDED AGE
 
PROS
An adjustable magnet system is designed for easy and quick track assembly. Create your own racing empire with a wide range of cars and track sections!
CONS
Before a race start, cars make a few laps to test the track.
OUR VERDICT

This is not a basic racing kit but a real action replication. Use virtual weapon to beat your opponents and come out a winner in race!

detailed parameters
TRACK TYPE
Digital
TRACK SIZE
3.5' x 8.5'
NUMBER OF BATTLEFIELDS
8
NUMBER OF CARS
2
POWER SUPPLY
Rechargeable battery
CONTROL
Wireless (Android, iOS)
GAME MODES
Race, Battle, Time Trial, King Of The Hill, Tournament
FEATURES
Supercars, Upgrades, Weapons, Сompound with magnets
TRACK SET
2 x Robotic Supercars 6 x Curved track pieces 4 x Straight track pieces 2 x Riser pieces 1 x Four-car charging system 1 x Tire cleaner
RECOMMENDED AGE
8+
PROS
A broad choice of game modes will keep you amused for a long time. Use free ARC app to share your results with friends on the Internet and compare statistics.
CONS
You might find it difficult to configure the app before the first use.
OUR VERDICT
Immerse yourself into the world of racing. This true-to-life slot car is much more than a future-to-be racer could dare dream of.
detailed parameters
TRACK TYPE
Analog
TRACK SIZE
6' x 7.3'
NUMBER OF BATTLEFIELDS
3
NUMBER OF CARS
2
POWER SUPPLY
120V, 60HZ
CONTROL
Mechanical (joystick)
GAME MODES
Quick Race, Drag Race, Practice, Tournament, Grand Prix, Endurance Race, My Garage Mode
FEATURES
Pit stops, Tire wear, Fuel usage, Pre-race configuration settings
TRACK SET
1 x Race track 2 х Car racing 2 х Hard wired hand controllers
RECOMMENDED AGE
5+
PROS
Sideboards and a speed controller won't let your cars fly out on the curves of a track.
CONS
Only one race mode available.
OUR VERDICT
A small size of cars and tracks and simple assembly make this set perfect for little racers. And what's more important, the kit is well worth the money.
detailed parameters
TRACK TYPE
Analog
TRACK SIZE
2.3' x 4.6'
NUMBER OF BATTLEFIELDS
1
NUMBER OF CARS
2
POWER SUPPLY
120V, 60HZ
CONTROL
Mechanical (joystick)
GAME MODES
Race
FEATURES
Junction is an absolute hotspot, Long circuit
TRACK SET
2 х Car racing 3 x Standard straight track 1 x Track junction 6 x 1/90 Curve 1 x Connecting section 3 x Short straights 1 x Mechanical lap counter 2 x Wired speed controllers 1 x Transformer
RECOMMENDED AGE
6+
PROS
Take this convenient slot car set to the park or to your friends' place, enjoying hours of fun in a multiplayer racing game.
CONS

Android and iOS players cannot participate simultaneously in a racing competition.

OUR VERDICT

An original approach to creating this track allows for a versatile race and setting up different traps to overtake your opponents and win.

detailed parameters
TRACK TYPE
Digital
TRACK SIZE
3.5' x 8.5'
NUMBER OF BATTLEFIELDS
1
NUMBER OF CARS
2
POWER SUPPLY
Rechargeable battery
CONTROL
Wireless (Android, iOS)
GAME MODES
Battle Mode, Race Mode, Team Mode
FEATURES
Easy setup, Supercars, Upgrades, Weapons, Roll out on any floor or table
TRACK SET
2 x Robot cars 1 x Race track 2 x Charging cases 1 x 3-port power cord 1 x Tire cleaner
RECOMMENDED AGE
8+
PROS
Multifunctional joystick with an upgraded firmware. Provides a great number of battlefields.
CONS
Rechargeable batteries are not included.
OUR VERDICT

This superb portable car track can be easily and quickly set up anywhere in your room. Enjoy hours of fun without the need to constantly recharge your batteries!

detailed parameters
TRACK TYPE
Digital
TRACK SIZE
3.2' x 8.2'
NUMBER OF BATTLEFIELDS
40+
NUMBER OF CARS
2
POWER SUPPLY
6 AA and 6 AAA rechargeable batteries
CONTROL
Wireless (joystick)
GAME MODES
Practice Mode, Championship Mode
FEATURES
No slots and lanes, Artificial intelligence, Hardware, Real Racing, Battery life over 4 hours
TRACK SET
2 x AI R/C Vehicles 2 x AI R/C Handsets 20 x Real FX Sensor-Track sections
RECOMMENDED AGE
8+
X

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Anki Overdrive Starter Kit

Are You Ready to Try It?

Let's take a closer look at the Anki slot car set. The Anki Overdrive is an improved version of the previous Anki Drive version. The track is composed of 10 pieces: 6 curved and 4 straight. The entire track size is 3.5 X 8.5 feet. Various track combinations allow you to build up to 8 battlefields. Slot cars use traction magnets, which stick cars to the track to make them go faster. Small sensors prevent cars from falling off on the curves of the track. This digital slot car set requires no power supply. Therefore, it can be set up anywhere in your room for your convenience. On the manufacturer’s website, you will find a wide range of track components for endless building options to enjoy hours of racing fun. When assembling the track, it's better to focus on the track complexity rather than its size. Thus, to make your race more challenging, you may add rises and falls, twists and curves to your layout.

In this review, we have considered Skull and GroundShock included in the Starter Kit. They are battery operated, providing up to 20 minutes of continuous gameplay with a fully charged battery, which is enough for several races. Each car has its own characteristics and weapon arsenal. Skull is less speedy but has more firepower armed with Plasma Cannon, Depth Charge, and Chaingun. GroundShock, in its turn, moves faster, but it has less powerful fire attacks. It’s equipped with the following weapons: Electro Pulse, Charge Beam, and Core Inverter. Anki slot car set uses wireless technology, which makes it easy to operate. All you need is to download the Anki Overdrive app on your Android and iOS device. It’s compatible with different operating systems. Moreover, up to 4 cars can race on the same track simultaneously. So, you can arrange a real championship! As an added bonus, you can view post-race statistics and change game modes in the ARC app available for free download on the web. Slot car enthusiasts will definitely be satisfied with a great variety of available cars. Build a collection of your favorite vehicles with different driving characteristics and unique weapon! If you have your favorite cars from old Anki Drive collection, it could be of great use.

The good news is that Anki Overdrive supports all your old Anki cars in Open Play, Battle, and Race modes as well as in King of the Hill and Time Trial new gameplay modes.

Review of Anki Overdrive Starter Kit

Let's See If You Can Make It To The Top!

Anki Overdrive Starter Kit allows you to choose from 5 game modes: Race, Battle, Time Trial, King Of The Hill, and Tournament. Thus, you may compete with each other or artificial intelligence (AI) as well as sharpen your racing skills in a single player mode. There is a special docking station for 4 cars that will charge the track in 8-10 minutes. The set includes vertical risers, which allow building bridges and jump ramps for more fun. Also, there is a special tire cleaner for maximum control over the tires.

Without any doubt, this slot car set will appeal to those consumers who are keen on advanced technologies and dynamic races. The assembly of the set takes just a few minutes, then you need to download the app, choose one of the supercars and here we go, a race can start. Now let's see if you can make it to the top!

Anki Overdrive Starter Kit in the use

More Products to Consider

To enhance gaming experience, install Anki Overdrive app (for Android or iOS). You could also purchase additional kits of accessories and cars to build more tracks and hold real races. 

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $125.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00V6951I0

VIDEO
Anki Overdrive Starter Kit - Unboxing
 

Scalextric ARC One, App Race Control Set

For Classic Connoisseurs

Now let’s pass on to the classic Slot Cars, particularly a revolutionary Scalextric ARC ONE slot car system. It has 16.3-foot long track and consists of several pieces, what allows you to build 3 different track layout combinations for more diverse gaming options. The track slots are made of metal, which conducts electricity, moving vehicles forward without the need to constantly replace or charge batteries. There are special pickups designed for building bridges and jump ramps, that makes the game more dynamic.

Now let's consider the cars in more detail. There are two 1/32 scale slot cars, which come with a durable and impact-resistant body. The conductors at the bottom of the track make the cars move along the track. In fact, Scalextric equipped the slot car with Magnatraction magnets at the bottom of the car to stick vehicles to the track for providing maximum stability at high speeds. By the way, the cars are easy to control with a joystick connected to the main unit. Besides, in addition to Porsche car master copies, the set includes a variety of cars, from modern supercars to Classic F1 Models and rally. You can buy these vehicles too, but alas, they aren't included in the kit. Follow the links below to see the products available.

Review of Scalextric ARC One, App Race Control Set

Carry the Palm in Each Race

One of the distinctive features of this model is the ARC smart app, which can be downloaded and installed on your Android or iOS device. All you need is to turn on Bluetooth, run the app, and start the race. You can select player’s name, lap number, and game mode. In general, Scalextric ARC One has 7 game modes: Quick Race, Drag Race, Practice, Tournament, Grand Prix, Endurance Race, and My Garage Mode. Owing to the great variety of game modes, you can enjoy hours of gameplay and come out on top in each game. You will quickly become an experienced racer in a practice mode while "my garage" mode will let you have your own car collections and save your favorite track combinations and best racers. Moreover, with the ARC app you can keep track of the data on Jump Start, Start Reaction Times, Lap Counting & Timing, Top Speed, Fuel Load, Tyre Wear, and other comprehensive information on the current race.

Scalextric ARC One, App Race Control Set in the use

Company Background

A popular racing system based on Slot Cars, Scalextric, was introduced by Fred (B.F.) Francis in 1956, after he had failed to progress with the original Scalex company and decided to invent something new. He experimented by putting small electric motors in Scalex cars and running them on model railway tracks. Then, he designed rubber slotted track and provided the cars with a “gimbal” conducting wheel to pick up the electric current in the groove of the track. It was battery-powered and had a separate on/off button to control cars. That's basically how Scalex-electric had become Scalextric.

At a toy fair in 1957 they immediately earned recognition among both children and adults. There was an enormous demand on those toys. So, Minimodels worked very hard to completely rush all orders. Later in 1958 Francis sold the Minimodels company to Lines Brothers and the slot cars were still popular. In 1960 a plastic housing of the slot car was replaced by a tin housing. In 1964 Scalextric was advertised as “The Most Complete Model Motor Racing System in the World”. In 1968 production of Scalextric was transferred to Rovex. Now it’s owned by Hornby Hobbies.

More Products to Consider

To make your kid (and yourself) more happy, buy him/her some really cute cars. Today you can buy a miniature Bugatti Veyron, McLaren P1, Ford Mustang Boss 302, Volkswagen Beetle and many others. These small prototypes of racing cars will add more fun and excitement to your games. 

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $287.50
Stock In stock
ASIN B00KXWZCSA

VIDEO
Scalextric App Race Control (ARC One) Review
 

Carrera USA GT Contest Track Set

Cars From "Cars"

The next slot car to consider is the Carrera GO!!! by Carrera USA. First of all, let's have a look at the slot car track design. The track consists of several pieces with the slots to insert vehicles. The entire track size is 2.3' x 4.6', so you can easily set it up even in a small room. Actually, you can install special guard rails along the track perimeter to keep cars from falling off the track. There is only one option of the track available in the set, but you can buy accessories separately and build your own perfect track.

Here is some information about the cars. The set includes 1/43 scale Ferrari 458 GT2 and Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. This slot car racing set is a great choice for children from 6 and older, as they are able to develop high speed due to their small size. It should be noted that Ferrari 458 GT2 is as powerful and speedy as its 470-horsepower original version. Therefore, it will be difficult for your competitors to win. The Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, in its turn, is a prototype of the legendary car, which has won many championships and it’s not an easy task to outpace it. And what about controls? It's a piece of cake! There are only two buttons on the mechanical joystick - a start button to begin the race and a turbo button for quick acceleration. As an additional benefit for young racers, there is a speed controller under the start button, which helps control car speed by preventing the turbo button from being fully pressed. If your kid is a fan of the Disney Сars cartoon, then he will be surely delighted to find under the Christmas tree a couple of cars or even the whole slot car set based on his favorite cartoon characters.

Review of Carrera USA GT Contest Track Set

Just Press and Go

As it was mentioned above, small-sized cars go at high speed that complicates counting the number of laps. With this in mind, the Carrera GO !!! manufacturers provided the slot car track with two special analog lap counters. Thus, you can always see which car completed more laps and, thereby, determine the winner. Generally speaking, this model is extremely easy to control and quickly to assemble due to special connectors. Next, put cars on the track, press the start button and go! That’s why there are no additional modes and settings so that even little slot car enthusiasts can guide this slot car model.

Carrera USA GT Contest Track Set in the use

More Products to Consider

For smaller kids a collection of racing cars could include “McQueen”, "Mater", “Security Finn McMissile”, “Sally” slot cars with Disney characters. 

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00VBIHDY6

 

Anki DRIVE Starter Kit

Joystick Is Always There

This is the first Anki model in our review. It's made as a 3.5' x 8.5' roll-up mat with one available race track. This slot car set is the best choice for children, as they can easily use it without their parents' help. The Anki Drive Starter Kit is a slotless race track, which allows cars to ride along the whole track with no limits. There are special road markings and artificial intelligence that help guide cars round the track, preventing them from flying off the track. Consequently, no additional track borders are required, which significantly facilitates its use. The Anki Drive Starter Kit includes 2 battery-operated robot car warriors: Boson, the Fast Attacker and Kourai, the Agile Striker. The slot car is controlled wirelessly via your Android or iOS so that you can have a joystick always within your reach. All you need is to download a special app and select the desired game mode. This app allows you to update your cars, set traps and shoot your virtual opponents that will definitely make your long race more interesting and challenging. In fact, cars and tracks from this manufacturer are fully compatible. And if you want to use new cars from the Anki Overdrive series, then simply download the new Anki Overdrive app from the app store.

Review of Anki DRIVE Starter Kit

Immediate Racing at Home and Much More

This slot car set offers 3 game modes: Battle Mode, Race Mode, and Team Mode. So, you can always race with your friends to win the championship, become the fastest racer or complete the largest number of laps. What we like about this model is a convenient design that doesn’t bound racers to stationary use. What is more, this slot car can easily be used outdoors, which is a great advantage if you love outings and gatherings with friends in the park or backyard. The set includes 2 docking stations to charge the cars and a tire cleaner to provide better traction with the track.

Anki DRIVE Starter Kit in the use

More Products to Consider

When your kid gets bored of the cars from the kit, there's no reason to throw the whole set away. Go purchase some more great vehicles and your child will start playing it afresh. There are many great sets with absolutely fantastic weapons. The Thermo expansion and the Guardian expansion are the two we believe are amazing. 

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $249.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00G6MWM1Q

VIDEO
Anki DRIVE Unboxing (Feat. Will)
 

Real FX Racing Slotless Racetrack

Almost Continuous Racing

Real FX Racing track features a unique track layout. So, what makes it unique? Unlike the majority available models, the components of this slot car are made of microfiber PVC coated fabric to ensure incredible durable. Meanwhile, the car slot is lightweight, compact and wear resistant. It's also very easy to put together despite it consists of 20 pieces. The evident advantage of the set is that it offers extreme versatility when it comes to making up battlefield combinations. With 20 pieces, you'll be able to build and run up to 40 tracks!

The set includes 2 cars both capable of developing speed up to 180 mph to provide more realistic racing. The cars are equipped with front and rear optical sensors that read the data from the track 200 times per second while artificial intelligence takes over control of the cars, preventing them from moving off the track. That's impressive! The cars come with a set of 6 regular AAA batteries, providing up to 4 hours of continuous racing, which is, undoubtedly, a pleasant bonus. So if the batteries run out flat in the middle of the game (which may happen indeed), you wouldn’t need to wait until the charging is complete. Replace the batteries and off you go! However, if the regular battery charge is not enough, you can simply use rechargeable batteries of the same type. This will provide a continuous race for many hours, which will be a real fun!

Review of Real FX Racing Slotless Racetrack

Look Around!

This slot car set implies setting up traps, both random and local, so just racing won’t lead you anywhere. You’d need to keep watch in order not to be trapped by other racers. What attracted our attention during review is a stylized design of a joystick in a form of a gun. It offers good grip and easy-to-use control buttons along the sides. An embedded speaker informs of a current race and required settings. It's possible to update joystick drivers and game console to raise the race level. But there's more to come! can be connected to headphones so you can keep on racing even at night still hearing all sounds and not disturb the others. The car slot uses 3 AA batteries.

Thus, this slot car is perfect for those who are bored of a classic race and wants to primarily focus on enemy attacks and a bit aggressive gameplay. 

Real FX Racing Slotless Racetrack in the use

More Products to Consider

Even if the track out-of-the-box is rather plain and comprises few tracks only, you can extent its drastically by purchasing additional sets with various twists and turns. Some of the popular tracks that are frequently bought today are the Crossover set and the Expansion track set. 


Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00IGNT3KQ

VIDEO
Real FX Slotless Racing Cars - Argos Toy Unboxing
 

What is a Slot Car

Ready, set, go! Racing has always been one of the most common forms of entertainment and kinds of sports. When you go racing, you get an intense adrenaline rush and pulse-pounding excitement that trigger your competitive spirit. It goes without saying that a victory brings an incomparable satisfaction accompanied with a feeling of pride. A car racing is an entertainment exclusively for adults. And what about kids? A slot car simulator was designed for children to feel the thrill of a real race driving, yet except for the dangers the racers usually face. Curiously enough, but even adult men hold slot car championships, that makes this type of car racing a very popular pastime.

Actually, slot cars are a mini version of real race tracks with miniature cars and a variety of additional track curves. You can drive cars with a joystick or manage races wirelessly via your smartphone. Also, you can choose from a variety of available game modes. For instance, select a single mode to practice your racing skills or a championship mode to add multiple players in the race.

Below you will find out the key features that should be taken into account when selecting the best slot car.

Grown-up kids and their parents should take a closer look at the RC сars to try their hand at higher levels of racing.

What Features to Compare

Battlefields

First of all, you need to find out the type of a race track. Originally, slot cars took their name from the technology used in their production. They were mains powered and had special slots, which made cars move on the track. However, technological advancements helped replace the old complex mechanism by rechargeable batteries, making slot cars available in the updated version. This allows you to manage races wirelessly via your smartphone or tablet, set up race modes, make virtual traps for your opponents, and share your results on social networks. Moreover, new slot car tracks offer the freedom of movement. Thus, now cars can freely move along the whole track instead of the same route. As you can see, slot car tracks have a more limited motion path, yet cars move at higher speed due to small magnets that provide the attractive force, keeping vehicles from flying off the track on the curves. Besides, these magnets allow cars to make a loop that will definitely delight your child. Whatever a slot car set is, the track sections available will be one of the key factors when choosing a slot car. Sure enough, if you have only one track section, you will get bored with the game pretty quickly. And with a number of options, you can change tracks every day. The assembly also plays an important role when choosing a slot car. Analog models can be attached to the surface with grooves, clicks or magnets. Digital models can also use these attachments, but there are ones, which can be set up on a floor, carpet, table or any other solid surface.

Cars and Control

Depending on the track type, there are analog or digital slot cars. Analog slot car track sets are designed to match the track exactly. Small cars are ideal for high-speed battles while larger cars ensure a more realistic racing both for children and adults. Digital slot car track sets move freely along the whole track, still, they may not fit into the tracks made by other manufacturers. Besides, there are many different types of slot car controls. For example, analog slot cars are guided with a special joystick (remote) connected to the central track block. And digital slot cars are controlled by radio frequency signals or through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Game Modes and Features

To make races more diverse, manufacturers made it possible to select tracks and game modes. Thus, you can arrange an exciting race for your children and their friends. They can train their riding skills by using a single mode or compete with computer opponents using digital models. In addition, digital models have some extra features like entering pit stops for fueling and tire replacement. Besides, you can set traps or shoot your opponents while racing. All the features mentioned above, make racing even more realistic and dynamic.

Sources:

1. Christopher Neiger How Slot Car Racing Works, HowStuffWorks.

2. Tom Wiltshire Scalextric and Slot Car Set Reviews: 2015 Group Test, Auto Express. November 24, 2015.

3. 10 Tips for Buying 1/32 Scale Slot Cars, eBay. March 3, 2016.

4. Joseph Flaherty Start Your Engines — Slot Car Racing Is Back! Wired. June 13, 2012.

5. Slot Car, Wikipedia. May 26, 2016.

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