[KensRedZed]

Every manufacturer tries to find a niche to boost sales. Every manufacturer has defective cars. Some more, some less.

We run Carrera Classic Stock Cars as one class. Scalextric Trans Am in another class. Fly LeMans yet another. What a funny mish-mash they all are.

We overcome the strange handling and heavy weight of Carrera stock cars by... adding more weight. We have a 100-gram minimum. Just when you thought it was too heavy? We add more. They stick like glue at 100-grams. The best and slowest drivers usually finish on the same lap. They are a hoot to race because the race is always neck and neck. Not to mention the cars look absolutely amazing.

Common sense would say you can't race a Carrera stock car against a Thunderslot LeMans car. Try and keep the same brands and classes racing against each other, and everyone usually has fun no matter who makes it.

[mcreeder]

I'd agree with most of what's said about Carrera cars. Would add that they seem to have licences for some makes that Scalextric struggle with (ie Ferrari)

On the subject of there performance, and acceleration out of a corner. Is it a case that the gearing is too high on them? I know their weight doesn't help. but would there be any way of lowering the gearing a bit, or is that hard to change?

[KensRedZed]

Hello McReeder.

It's not usually the gearing that makes a car roll or flip out of a corner. A heavy body usually brings the weight up high making cars "tippy".

Adding weight to the lowest part of the chassis lowers the CG and helps handling.

[Savage GT]

I'd agree with most of what's said about Carrera cars. Would add that they seem to have licences for some makes that Scalextric struggle with (ie Ferrari)

On the subject of there performance, and acceleration out of a corner. Is it a case that the gearing is too high on them? I know their weight doesn't help. but would there be any way of lowering the gearing a bit, or is that hard to change?

I am fairly sure they are geared pretty much the same as Scalextric inline cars, usually 9/27 or 3.0:1.
Motors are probably similar to scalextric, maybe a little slower if anything.
It is the weight causing most of the issues, they use chunky thickness plastic and are over-engineered.

But as mentioned, race them like for like and all is well.

I only have 6 Carrera cars, 2 were lightly fettled as in shorter geared to help braking and changed wheels and tyres for Slot.it/NSR and some chassis weight.
These go well and race each other nicely.
The other 4 are subject to a little more involved modification, to fit long can motors for better torque to help braking and acceleration.
Again they won't be taking any performance crowns, but I buy them in pairs for a racing duo at home  .

As already mentioned some weight down low is always a great help.

[sabre]

Nice review! I came upon this thread when looking for some background about the Carrera cars. It made me loose some initial reveservations and added some Carrera cars to my collection of mainly Scalextric ones. My opinions so far:

PLUS:
- very well detailed and nice paint finish
- have a very sturdy feel to them
- guide can be removed, at least in the later Evolution cars. This makes them stand on my desk that bit nicer when not being raced, very nice!
- run pretty well for a simple home racer like me

MINUS:
- no lights in the Evolution cars. Lights on cars are half the fun for me, so extra soldering required (which can be fun in itself, so not to worried about this)
- screws which attach the body to chassis have a feeling of giving up after 2 or 3 times removing and putting back in
- due to the inline motor, the interior does not have a lot of depth
- tyres on some cars have the Carrera brand name on the sides in white, what is that about?

[rallyhub]

- tyres on some cars have the Carrera brand name on the sides in white, what is that about?

Saving license costs.

[sabre]

- tyres on some cars have the Carrera brand name on the sides in white, what is that about?

Saving license costs.

That makes sense!

[a_st74]

What would people recommend for a motor swap to help solve the lack of brakes? I did swap the motor out for a Scaleauto Tech1 on a Porsche 935 but it required a fair bit of hacking the chassis to get it in - are there any better fits? Cheers.

[steveaca]

To a_st74, , I think a good motor would be the H&R 18k rpm motor. These have decent performance and brakes and would be a direct fit in the Carrera chassis.

[Anthony B]

Great thread - nicely done guys!!