Review: LEGO Technic 42124 Off-Road Buggy

Today we quickly tour the LEGO Technic set 42124 Off-Road Buggy, a box of 374 pieces that will join from January 1, 2021 all LEGO products that benefit from the Control + motorization ecosystem. The promised interactivity and the presence of the Hub Powered Up (88012) and two L engines (88013) increase the retail price of this product to 129.99 €.

Those who spent long hours outside with their Nikko Dictator or Dominator in the 80s will be able to treat themselves to a nice breath of nostalgia here. The designer did his homework well and we find the aggressive look of the small radio-controlled cars of the time: the big wheels with white rims, the notched tires, the antenna with its white ball, the fins and other spoilers, the colored markings. , everything is there. The comparison and the homage unfortunately stop there.

The vehicle is assembled in less than half an hour, including the installation of stickers, and those who have had a copy of the set in their hands 42109 App-Controlled Top Gear Rally Car will quickly understand that this new vehicle equipped with elements of the Control + ecosystem is nothing more than a new version of the Top Gear rally car on which we add front and rear suspensions, all packaged in a different packaging. We therefore quickly understand that this buggy will not stand the comparison with the cars of our childhood from which it is inspired.

As with the Top Gear rally car, LEGO is reworking some overly optimistic illustrative visuals and displaying a description that evokes the "off-road" possibilities of this new vehicle. In fact, it is already so sluggish on flat and perfectly smooth ground that a simple passage over gravel or in the grass is enough to slow the machine considerably. It lacks torque and the 650 gram buggy (batteries included) is too light to really take advantage of the integrated front and rear suspensions when attempting to cross.

The lower surface of the Powered Up Hub which accommodates the six AA batteries necessary for the operation of the vehicle is not protected but the ground clearance of this buggy is sufficiently substantial to avoid friction and scratches during outdoor use. However, this toy remains a product to be used indoors, it will adapt more to a very smooth parquet than a dusty path.

The Control + application will be updated to offer a control interface dedicated to this buggy. The proposed skin is ergonomic and allows a quick grip of the machine. It's no frills but it's within everyone's reach. As usual, some uninteresting challenges will be offered and a few additional buttons allow sound effects to be broadcast via the smartphone speaker. Smartphone under iOS or Android essential as for the other sets which make use of this dedicated application.

In short, if you were hoping to finally get an agile and fast machine, it's once again a failure: this set is far too expensive for the construction experience and the driving sensations it has to offer. The same thing without motorization but with a replica of the vintage remote control, all for 60 or 70 €, I took without thinking to add this buggy with the successful aesthetics on a shelf next to the NES.

There, at 130 € for a joke, I will wait patiently for this box to be taken out of stock at one of the brands that are used to slashing prices on this type of product. Nostalgia is priceless, but a little bit all the same.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at December 27, 2020 next at 23pm. "The" I try, I participate "are automatically deleted, make an effort.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.