Fiction Meteor remote control car review

Remote controls cars just got upgraded to infra-red

10 November 2006 0:00 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Remote control cars you control by wiggling joysticks on a remote control are so last century. To be the total gadget master that you clearly must be for wanting to read this review, you'll want the Fiction Meteor from a company called Smoby.

Why? Because this futuristic toy car is controlled via infra-red beams emitted from a hand held controller to a range of approximately 3 metres (10 ft) that's why.

The car can go forwards, backwards, left and right, inside and outside, day and night and will follow your commands anywhere - well almost anywhere - the accompanying booklet says "Do not drop your car from height".

The Meteor, which is the size of a small child's head, comes in tasteful blue and yellow or gold and red and looks like something out of the Jetsons or Battlestar Galatica rather than the Ford garage down the road and on a full charge, which takes about 6 to 8 hours, has some speed to it.

Surprisingly, everything including the rechargeable batteries and charger are included in the box so there'll be no panic on Christmas day that you've forgotten the power. In fact, the only thing you will need is a screwdriver to get in the battery compartment and the patience of a god to get it out of the packaging.


Verdict

This is unlikely to beat the likes of the supped up remote controls you longed for as a kid, but its certainly good fun.

We love it.

Score

4.0
share print story pdf email story

Review Recap

Made by
Smoby
Price as reviewed
£30
The good
Controlled by light, batteries included
The bad
Won't out race your regular supped up offering
Quick verdict
This is unlikely to beat the likes of the supped up remote controls you longed for as a kid, but its certainly good fun
Score
4.0

Recommended articles


Full tags
Gadgets, Toys, Smoby, Dad, Car And GPS

Search

Loading

Follow


Best iPad 2 apps

We detail the best iPad 2 and iPad apps in the app store Which iPad app should you download?

Windows 8

All the features and details of the new Microsoft operating system explained What's new in Windows 8?

iPad 3 rumours

What comes next? We look at the possible features, leaks, images, specs and more

Pocket-lint poll

Q. Will you be buying a PS Vita?

Vote YES Vote NO

» LAST TIME
When asked Will Samsung be making a mistake if the Galaxy S III isn't shown at Mobile World Congress in February? 51% said yes and 49% said no