The Original by PlaSmart (Purple)

This toy is just plain fun. Even for your kids! In fact you might have to get them one as well! It started when we ordered a couple for our two grandkids. Both boys. One barely walking and the other a 4 year old that doesn't know the meaning of walk. Once we got these put together we saw how much fun they were we had to find a reason to order more, so we decided our niece and nephew needed them as well.The specifics:1. The toy is easy to put together. All you need is a hard rubber mallet (a block of wood and a claw hammer works just as well), and a Philips screwdriver. (You will not need to put in any screws but you will need the screwdriver with the included socket tool to help you tighten the nut on the steering shaft). There is a good video on YouTube about how easy it is to put together.2. The toy is sturdy. Check out some of the plasma car race video's on YouTube to see how sturdy this toy is. (In no way do I suggest this is the way to treat the toy, but the videos are entertaining.) In any case they state the toy can handle up to 200 lbs on a smooth surface. I can personally testify that it will handle a bit more than that with no problem. (Hey Plasma Car! How about a bigger model made for us full size 50 year old adult frame types. I am at a significant disadvantage when sidewalk racing because of the cramped posture I must assume when competing!)3. The toy is fast enough for any toddler, and on a downhill slope can be a real thrill. Toddlers will find it fun and they figure out how to make it move without any instruction. They can also paddle it around with their feet as well. Believe me, they will make it move plenty fast with just a little practice.4. The toy is expensive but consider that if they start at 4 years old they could ride it for 10 years or more. So it only comes out to about five or six dollars a year. How many toys can you say that about?5. No motor. No fuel. No batteries. You might think that means no fun. But not so! Certainly it's not as fast as a dirt bike. But watching my 18 year old daughter cruise around the house made me realize that fun riding toys don't necessarily need motors. And since we won't let her ride the dirt bike indoors, (or even her bicycle for that matter) this becomes a fun alternative.6. Quiet. Except for the giggles and squeals.If you read other reviews you will see a couple of disappointed reviewers. As for being hard to put together, the ones we received went together easily. You will need a hammer of some sort, and some tool like a screwdriver to turn the socket tool but that is all. Fast and easy to put together. As to being slow, well it can be. It can also go fairly quickly. It's all in how you work the handles back and forth. Really, check out the videos on YouTube.I think kids of any age will really like the Plasma Car. I highly recommend this product.

We bought a couple of these cars about 5 years ago. My kids love them and have been riding when possible since. We have had two more babies since and they are of age now to start - so I bought a couple more.I upgraded the old cars by purchasing roller blade wheels (80/82a) and they fit and worked perfectly. They cut the sound down to nothing and made it possible to ride in the house on tile floors without driving us nuts. But putting them on the front wheels slowed the car dramatically - so I took them off the front wheels and left them on the rear wheels. It still is a 70% reduction in noise and much more stable around corners. The kids are racing them all the time now.The new cars I purchased - the roller-blade wheels do not fit as the wheel wells are thinner. I wish they had left the design the same.************Update 12/27/12:Found out that you can purchase super hard roller blade wheels to put on the front of the car. Search Amazon for hyper 84mm hyoctane. When you first put them on - the child will think that it slows the car down - and it will for a little bit - but once they have broken in - they get right back to full speed. Everyone, including the child loves how whisper quiet they become. I recommend replacing all four wheels with these. We also replaced the stock bearings (they come with ABEC 7 bearings) with Bones Reds. Each wheel requires two bearing sets - so you'll have to use the entire package if you replace all four wheels on the car (see below).We determined that you can fit the rollerblade wheels into the rear wheel wells if you drill out the spacers that are in the wheels. You also have to machine out about a mm of the hub of the wheels on both sides to get the white plastic axel holders not to rub against them. Most people won't have access to the equipment to do this - but if you want your sanity - it's worth every penny to find someone who can do it for you.The racing has become super competitive and fun! We've set up a figure eight track on our back patio which only adds to the intensity and risk taking. Sandbaggers can have their cars kicked and we have added lap penalties for touching obstacles or cones or putting your feet down. If you have younger children that want to participate - you can give the serious competitors lap penalties for touching the cars of the younger children. You should see the smile on the younger children's faces as the realize the power they wield as they roam the track with impunity.Imaginations run wild as the kids discuss tricking out their cars with rocket boosters and spring tension rods. If you have girls - get them the pink car with orange butt plates. It's the most popular car.

Great price and my daughter loves this. They have them at her daycare/preschool and they are fast and agile. They don't use them as intended but kick to get them going then put their feet up and steer. The steering is really responsive, and the higher front wheels help with the varying elevations of our sidewalks and changing surfaces. It obviously works better and quieter on smooth surfaces, but she gets around on the blacktop just fine and drags it over lawn and steps by lifting it up a bit. These are really great for toddlers, my 2+ yr old whips around on this thing like a race car driver.Only suggestion would be to put a hole in the back to mount a flag for visibility or tie a rope for parents to have some more control over stopping for street use for little ones, or helping them stop on slopes. I recommend sneakers with thick rubber front because she wears the front of her shoes off on this from dragging her feet.