[CMOTD]

Slot cars are getting bloody expensive with Scalextric, Carrera and SCX priced round the £50 mark and upmarket cars such as Slot.It, NSR etc from £60 upwards to silly money. Now a car that retails at about £22 stands out from the crowd somewhat but that is what we have in the shape of the Policar Home Racer series so are they any good?

At that price level I would expect blacked out windows, no interior and cheap components so it is a pleasant surprise when you discover that they contain Slot.It parts with a full interior and front lights as well. They are undecorated road cars in somewhat garish metallic colours but impact resistant with rubber mirrors and windscreen wipers. There is also a rally version available for a couple of pounds more if you prefer fully liveried items and a Toyota version as well.

     

What's inside?
Removal of the usual 4 fixing screws reveal this:
   

First thing to note is that there is a wiring harness for the lights which is attached to both the body and chassis so you have to be careful removing the body or you can pull the wires out and have to resolder them. Ask me how I know this!
A nice touch is the screw fixing bracket over the motor which avoids the need to glue it in. The rear axle mount is an oddity though, the axles run in brass bushes but they are captive mounted in holes not slots so the only way to remove the axle is to remove the wheels - not ideal with plastic wheels. You can't pop the axle out like you can in other cars which is somewhat strange to say the least.  

   

The driver platform is also peculiar as it includes a passenger reading pace notes which is not something you normally find in a road car. This is a left over from the rally version and is easily altered if it bothers you.

Chassis
Bearing in mind that Policar is wholly owned by Slot.It the chassis is a departure from their normal versions and seems to be a bit of an SCX/Carrera hybrid. The magnet follows SCX practice in that it has a 2 screw attachment underneath rather than being fixed inside so is adjustable and/or removable very easily. This is an excellent system for the magnet racers amongst us and should probably be standard practice across all makes.

The guide/braid system seems to be a direct copy of the Carrera version with bespoke braids which restricts you to manufacturer replacements or a lot of fiddling about each time they wear out. Nothing wrong with the system but an unnecessary departure from normal Slot.It braid replacement I think. If you wish to modify it then Wasp Slot do a Carrera guide adapter that fits in the hole once the original guide assembly is removed. You need to cut the legs off and glue it in position, but it does allow you to use a Slot.it guide (plus many others). LINK
Early versions of these cars were fitted with 13500 rpm motors but were later upgraded to 17000 so roughly on a par with Scalextric.

   

Performance
At the price I wouldn't expect these to be pocket rocket ships but they are really not at all bad. Apart from a bit of running in and loosening the body screws a tad I left them completely box stock. The tyres are Slot.It C1 plastic track variety but they are just about OK on a wooden track as well. The cars circulated in the low to mid 6 second bracket on my 50ft track without any real handling traumas which is well on a par with various SCX saloons I have. If you push a bit too hard then they will roll over rather than de slot so a bit of added chassis weight might be advantageous. I had read elsewhere that they lacked brakes but I didn't find this at all and mine stop just fine.

Verdict
I mostly keep this type of car for inexperienced visitors so they don't wreck more expensive ones but they are enjoyable to drive and provide good close racing, super fast isn't the only way to enjoy the hobby and I am perfectly happy with a more sedate pace at times.

There are some downsides in the design which I have mentioned above but it would be churlish to quibble too much at the price point and overall these are remarkable value for money.

[Kevan]

I have a blue version, there's a lot to like...and a few not to like

likes:

• Unbreakable 'breakables'
  
• Plastic wheels are pretty damn good and fairly true
  
• Metal rear axle bearings
  
• Front axle bearings make a change from flopping around in a channel
  
• Interior/driver/navigator
  
• Lights
  
• Motor is pretty quick
  

unlikes:

• Guide setup
  
• Front lights only (but they're BRIGHT!)
  
• Motor mount (I don't like braces across the chassis that can cause chassis tweaking)
  
• Motor has very little brakes
  

As you say perfect for visitors or to keep in a 'Club Spare Car' box.

It's obviously not designed with racers in mind, two body mounts either end dramatically limits body float, one in the middle at the back would be better but two makes for a more 'crash resistant' car, which is also probably why the motor brace is so sturdy.

The guide setup I don't like at all and not easy to fit an aftermarket one but with a few extras these go well 

...Policar, with such a nice looking basic car, where's the competitive Rally/racers version?

[Kevan]

I see Policar also make a Subaru WRX STI and Toyota GT86 in this range...also both Rally versions, also both would be popular in competitive Rally events with the right gear (inline pod, long can, sprung guide)

[Gordon Steadman]

I was considering these for guests. The only RTRs I have are ProSlot Alfas and they are just a bit too good to take the rough and tumble to the concrete.

Thanks for the review, will probably get a few now.

[Gpa113]

I am another fan of the Policar Subarus 

A while back I asked our forum members for a bit of help and guidance re either these, or the Ninco 1 series cars.  
The Ninco models didn't get the best of feedback,  whilst the Policar Subarus seemed good. So I purchased one, and loved it.
Proper Slot it components,  decent wheels and tyres,  which work great on my repainted Scalextric Sport track,  and do a pretty good job on the Routed Raceway wood track, and they look fun.  The design system for removing the magnets is excellent, so easy.  As has already been mentioned,  super quick cars isn't the only way to enjoy this hobby. 

I have 5 now, for club racing.  They replaced the old BTCC Super Tourers we were racing, which weren't much liked, these are much more popular!    Slightly garish colours are good, they are colour coded to each lane, which makes things easy. 

One of my favourite things about the Subarus is that they are so evenly matched.   Ideal for using on 4 lane tracks, or for heats and step up Finals. Last week we raced them with No marshaling,  at 10.5 volts,  and had a lot if fun, with some of our less experienced drivers doing really well. 

The only issue I have had so far happened last week. It appears we have a motor which may have packed up.  Need to do a bit more checking,  but can't see any other reason for a complete failure to proceed.

Good fun, very cheap, and well matched for racing.   

One thing I would say is that they aren't the easiest of models to strip right down for a repaint.  All the lights and lenses are separate items,  so not the simplest job.  We needed a blue version,  which were sold out everywhere,  so I did a repaint.  What did I see at Gaydon 6 weeks later,  you guessed it........