42109 | LEGO Technic Top Gear Rally Car

Review: LEGO Technic Top Gear Rally Car 42109

By Andrew Morrey | August 24, 2020

39% of the LEGO Technic Top Gear Rally Car is Pins. I’m not joking…

Theme: Technic

Item: 42109

Pieces: 463

I’ve never ventured into the world of LEGO Technic before, so when I stumbled upon the remote-controlled Top Gear Rally Car set, I couldn’t resist. My imagination ran wild with visions of high-speed, adrenaline-pumping remote-controlled adventures. However, the reality turned out to be a bit different, as I discovered during the build and performance testing.

Watch the Video Review Here: LEGO Technic Top Gear Rally Car Review

Let’s start with the build itself. While it was undeniably enjoyable and provided a refreshing change from the typical brick-on-brick construction, I was surprised to find that a substantial portion of the set consists of LEGO pins. Out of the 463 pieces, a whopping 181 are various types of pins. This wasn’t a drawback, just an interesting departure from my usual LEGO building experience.

Now, let’s dive into the performance aspect. One of the main reasons I chose this set was my desire to create a video that deviates from my usual stop-motion animations. Connecting the car to the app was surprisingly effortless, even more so than pairing with my Bluetooth speaker, which has a single function. With the car ready, I hit the streets to line up some shots.

My initial impression was that the car wasn’t as fast as I had anticipated. Perhaps I had set my expectations too high for the LEGO 9V electric motor. Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable experience. However, there’s one thing to keep in mind—LEGO plastic tends to attract dust and dirt like a magnet. As soon as I took the car out of its plastic bags, it seemed to attract every stray speck of debris on the road.

The car offers three gears that can be switched between automatic and manual modes using the remote control. I managed to capture some slow-motion shots for my video, but I encountered a challenge—keeping my eyes on the road and maintaining control. Since the controls are on a flat screen of a smart device, I couldn’t feel the feedback as I would with physical controls. I often found myself accidentally reducing the speed to zero or drifting off course while trying to maximize the speed.

Overall, my time with the car was a lot of fun. I tested it in various terrains, from flat cone dodging challenges in the driveway to high-speed action shots on the road, and even on uneven pathways with mini-hill inclines and declines. I pushed it through gravel paths, accidentally drove it into gutters, puddles, fences, and over rocks and sticks. This rally car has certainly seen its fair share of adventure and bears the battle scars to prove it.

So, what will your experience be like with this LEGO Technic Top Gear Rally Car? Will it become a shelf decoration after a brief stint in the living room, or will you take it outside for some thrilling off-road action? Share your thoughts in the comments below!