Customer Reviews

Toy Story 3 RC-Remote Control Car

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Here he is, the one remote control car made to be very authentic to the RC in the Toy Story film series, using PIXAR's own computer data for his design. This is the RC all the collectors are after, and for good reason. RC is fantastic, beautifully detailed, and he's fully operational too! He looks and sounds like he came right out of the movies! As with all these film accurate toys, yeah, there are a couple of inaccuracies, but most wouldn't notice them offhand. RC's got a fifth wheel under his body that allows him to turn and lift himself up. This fifth wheel is the main complaint stickler's of film accuracy have had about him so far, along with some folks who just don't like the idea of an RC car that can't turn its front wheels. Another inaccuracy is the remote, which has Forward and Reverse modes rather than Turbo, On, and Off (as in the films), and also includes a series of 4 buttons below the steering wheel that are not in the films. However, the general look of the remote is exactly like the film besides these tiny details changed for the sake of RC's functionality. Of course, many collectors aren't thrilled when film accuracy is sacrificed for play features. There are other RC toys out for the kiddies. As was mentioned, all the Toy Story Collection certificate of authenticity toys have problems like this, but they are still pretty amazing looking for us collectors, and the special play features are still fun, especially in a case like this, a remote control car. RC can do all kinds of stuff. A bit reminiscent of the R2-D2 interactive toy, RC has various fun modes like Explore, Talk, Talk Back(MIC ON/OFF feature), Follow, and of course the regular R/C mode. In the Explore Mode, RC will wander around on his own, very rarely bumping into anything thanks to his infrared sensors. If he does bump something, he has a good shock-absorbing front bumper to send him the other way. In Talk Mode, RC will do expressive movements and sounds (honking, spinning, shaking excitedly, and stuff like that), and in Talk Back Mode, he'll respond to your voice with such things. Then, there's the Follow Mode, which relies on your voice, something that never works perfectly well with interactive toys, but still works okay and is fun when it does. Basically, RC will come to you and follow your voice, you just have to be pretty loud. The four small buttons on the remote control these features, and the steering wheel and forward/back lever along with the trigger are how you do the basic R/C stuff.

Now, I notice there have been a lot of complaints here on Amazon about this toy, mainly I think from parents who bought this toy for their small children. Perhaps some or even all these cases are truly a matter of getting a defective RC, but I can't help but wonder since my RC worked quite well as soon as I loaded it with batteries. By the way, he takes 6 AA batteries, plus three AAAs for the remote. Something that might be confusing for some is that RC's different modes, including a sleep mode to preserve battery life, take some studying to get to know. I mean, one might think RC is ignoring them/not working when he is just in sleep mode or the wrong mode for what they want him to do. There are a lot of RC toys out there, and the fact is, this one is the one geared for older kids and collectors. You REALLY have to study the instructions on this one. For example, if you leave RC idle long enough to enter sleep mode, you have to press a button on the back of the car to wake him up. If you didn't notice that in the instructions, you might think he just quit working and never get him going again. There's also the Play, Off, and Try Me switch under the car. When you remove RC from his box, not only do you need to add batteries (and the 4 inside, just enough for the Try Me button and not enough for full play mode, are probably usually almost played out), but you also have to switch him from Try Me to Play. Switch him off when not using him for a while if you really want to save the batteries. Anyway, all these modes and buttons can make it easy to see why some unhappy folks may not have gotten a defective RC after all, though perhaps some did. Anyway, if you get a functioning one and read the instructions, I think most people will be very happy with this RC! Just remember that he is intended for indoor use only, and not for shaggy carpet. In fact, since his extra wheel is rather small, even on short/new carpet it can pick up fibers after a while. So, though he works well on tight, short carpet, be sure to check his third wheel out and clean off any carpet fibers that have collected after play.

The Toy Story Collection RC, the only one to get if you care about accurate size and appearance to the one in the Toy Story films, can be identified by its unique package design and its mention of included Certificate of Authenticity. That C.O.A. is how you know you are getting a Toy Story Collection toy and not one purely made as a plaything for kids. The desert road art on the package is meant to make it look like the package RC might have been in when Andy first got him rather than a toy based on a film. Unfortunately, as with all toys in this collection, these lovely packages have their fantasy nostalgia effect ruined by the Toy Story logo still being placed on the front. Oh well, saving packaging isn't the best idea anyway, though Woody's and Buzz's boxes look so cool except for that logo! Pricey and in need of batteries and practice using the instructions as a guide, RC is really for older kids and collectors, and for younger kids I recommend something cheaper and less complicated. However, if you're getting this for a real Toy Story fan who will appreciate its film accurate details as much as its cool features, I can highly recommend RC as probably the must fun toy in this excellent line. And, if you are a big fan that is new to this collection, the other toys released so far are Woody, Buzz, the Alien 3 pack, Rex the dinosaur, and the bucket o' soldiers. All of them have a small inaccuracy or two, but all of them are also the most amazing and accurate Toy Story toys released to date. Just make sure to look for the C.O.A. mention on the packaging, as there are cheaper versions out there of all these toys. And, so far, images have been released of upcoming Jessie, Bullseye, Utility Belt Buzz, Hamm, and Potato Head toys for this line, plus the new Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear character from Toy Story 3. Here's hoping we eventually see those released, and more! I've gotten all of them so far, and believe me, they look even more awesome when displayed together!

It seemed really neat with lots of potential. Our daughter was excited when she got it. It is a nice looking car and very nice detail, also a little larger than expected. It does not stair very well the way it is set up and does not go very fast. The concept is great but I would not buy this again unless it was $19.99, it is disappointing for a $70 remote control car. Our daughter likes it but does not play with it much since it can be boring with its slow response time.

Sorry, but for that much money, the car should go a lot faster. Front wheels do NOT turn. There's some leg underneath the car that props the car up when you want to turn, not smooth and fast in anyway. I just wanted to go forward and it constantly stop to do it's on thing (stupid toy story toys having minds of their own..). Way too many random extra functions. Signal strength between the car and remote seemed weak/gone between 15-20 feet. But by that time I had already lost interest. I never tested it with the batteries that came with it, I just put new energizer ones in as soon as I opened the box.
I bought two of these, one for my son and the other for my nephew. Good thing I tried it out before I wrapped it up for Christmas. I found it cheaper in a local store as oppose to online, but still not worth the price. They need to make one of these that just drives fast (like in the movie...).

This could have killed his Christmas. If you do decide to take your a chance and buy it, please try it out before you show the kids. This is not a remote control car, it's a rip off. And it's going back to the store tonight.

Like the other reviews stated, "RC" should use the real front wheels for steering while driving with the remote.

"Remote control driving mode" RC's responses are painfully slow,and since it uses the 5th wheel to pivot, its impossible to drive. It also stutters, pausing every foot you drive it.

"Follow me mode" is also useless, with the short attention span of a 4 year old and how slow the response time is between RC's movements. I have yet to see it actually work like advertised.

"Explore mode" only half works if used on a hard, clean flat surface(recommended by the instructions). In the real world, in a carpeted playroom littered with other toys, "RC" will get stuck on nearly everything. I think it would help if the cars suspension was real, at least on the rear wheels.
However, I do like the sound effects while RC tries to drive around.

How does Santa handle returns?

I can't believe that they have priced this poor excuse for an RC car over $120. And it doesn't even come with batteries. The front wheels don't steer and the top speed looks to be around 4 or 5 miles per hour. What a wasted opportunity! For a contrast, check out the Electrix RC Circuit stadium truck, also sold on Amazon for the same price. The Circuit is an ACTUAL RC car, it comes with a rechargeable 7.2 volt battery pack, a real radio transmitter with a range of over 100 yards, the top speed is almost 20mph, which is pretty darn fast for a 1/10 scale car. It's tough as nails, has a great suspension system and large knobby tires. My son and I have been tearing up gravel roads and dirt lots, hitting ramps and jumping over 15ft. The Circuit just keeps on going without a hiccup. It even comes with batteries for the radio controller.

Even better, Electrix makes a whole line of accessories and upgrade parts, also sold on Amazon. If you want more speed, you can buy a faster motor for under $20 and get up to 25mph. If you break a suspension arm, buy a replacement for $5 and you are back in business. Our local hobby store has a whole wall of upgrade parts and replacements. My son and I have as much fun tinkering with the car as we do bashing it.

The Toy Story RC car is a joke, don't waste your money. It's made to spin around your kitchen floor. Do a side by side comparison and you will be blown away by how much car you can get for your $120 when you go with the Electrix RC cars. I don't work for the company, but I am a huge fan of their product.

Circuit 1/10th Stadium Truck Red

My grandson loves his RC car. He has had hours of fun with it. Seems to be very durable and child proof. Helping him with his motor skills. At 4 years old he said, "best toy I ever got in my whole life." Got to love them. Thank you.

It's cute looks like rc from the movie, but having a fifth wheel to pivot or turn was a horrible idea. I don't remember rc driving so slow and the stopping popping out a fifth wheel just to make a turn. Not like a real rc car at all. Overall if your getting it for looks it's really nice, if your getting it for your kid to have fun with pretty disappointing and boring:(

There are a lot of people writing reviews here who think they're very clever about batteries. We got our son RC for Christmas, and put in the full set of batteries, in both car and remote. The remote simply *does not work*. We used fresh batteries. It's defective.

Now, trying finding someone at Thinkway Toys who cares. We tried to give the company a chance to make it right, but our experience was:
* "Someone will call you back". No one ever did.
* Finally, after repeated calls, "We'll send you a new remote." None ever arrived.

Tomorrow we're taking RC back to the store and getting our money back. It's a shame for my son, especially, but Thinkway simply *does not care* if you get a defective toy. I have the distinct impression that this is a known problem with a certain number of models, and they're trying to avoid the costs of genuinely fixing it.

My son is the biggest Toy Story fan in the world! So of course I purchased this toy for a great value on amazon! well on christmas day he went crazy and wanted this car out of the box pronto and make it go! well this car first of all is not like an average RC Racer!! it's more like a movie prop or something your put on a shelf to look at because the details are on point.. it has a fifth wheel that pop up when you want to make it turn!! I feel bad for anyone that has a rug.. it really doesn't have any suspension.. it's really an indoor on wood or hard surface car.. if you like the movie then ok you'll understand.. if want something for a 10 year old to play with in the park!! DONT BUY IT!! .. lucky I purchased this toy on amazon for half the price that Toy's R US was charging!! but over all my son is happy because he has the whole gang in his room!! so for the fan A+ for anyone buying for every day use F-!!

We received this as a gift for our 5 year old daughter for Christmas. RC details are amazing! Like you took it off the Toy Story movie screen. Personality is dead on! Remote took some time getting used to however, was not that challenging. RC moves accordingly and for the review who wrote it does not move very fast...I don't think it was intended to race and it moves fast enough for any child who loves RC. Build quality is great!

Bottom Line:

If you love Toy Story and you Love RC then you will LOVE this toy!