HW Elite's are not that bad!!!

So you are saying there is three Hot Wheels F50's? Elite, non Elite & another non Elite based on the old Maisto?

Why would they have two non Elites? I understand one is based off the old Maisto, but why did they even bother to release another one?

Maybe the Maisto one is going to end up replacing the non Elite one or something like that? Just seems weird....

 

What alternative choice is there to the 288GTO Elite? And, I have the model and enjoy it very much, especially for the $49 USD it cost me.

 

The regular versions were made for kids who enjoy playing with Ferrari models. The Elites are for those kids who have become adults.

 

I think you got me wrong. When the real car was introduced the first ones to make a model were Bburago. In my opinion it is the best one made. BUT..... it has few inaccuracies, like the shut lines on the engine hood, because the model was made from the prototype, not from the production car. Almost immediately after that Maisto released their model. I Believe it was the second Ferrari ever they made. Then, I believe in '97 or '98 Mattel paid something like $26 000 000 for an exclusive deal to have exclusive rights for producing Ferrari die cast models and toys in general. Before every company paid some kind of royalty fee to Ferrari. Since this deal now everyone has to pay Mattel. This effectively put an end to Ferraris made by companies like Bburago, Maisto, UT, Minichamps (which is now AutoArt) So A lot of the models that Hotwheels produced were already existing moldings from other companies. This is the case with the F50(Maisto) F40 (Bburago) 288GTO(Bburago) 355(UT) 550(Maisto) 250 GTO/TR/LM(Bburago) 456 GT(Bburago) The Calli Spider is retooled POlistil.
This is why there is a huge difference between the base models of this cars compared to the Elite and the base models that are HW originals and their Elite counterparts.
So about the F50, Hot wheels made only one Base model and one Elite. There is barely a difference between them and they are both identical to the Maisto one.
To find a regular release 288GTO by HW is next to impossible now, but it is also identical to the Elite, save for the red accents in the interior. The regular version sold for $29. On average today's Elites are $69.
The F40 is copy of the Bburago model released in the '80s. This model is accurate only to one example in the real world. The prototype F40 which by the way was owned by Enzo Ferrari himself. The only thing that Hotwheels changed on it were the side windows and the seats, which were hideous. The onlt difference on the Elite is some paint detailing(of no quality) and the photoetched grille on the back. It may sound cool but compared to the Kyosho's F40, which sells for $20 more it is a POS.

 

Well I guess some ppl like to rain on others parades, oh well. It is what it is!! Others dont mind paying that much for a car that most of us could never afford.

 

THNX for the info Lucky, I am better informed on the quality of my purchases even if I decide to purchase a basic HW.

 

Heres some comparo pics thanks to Idcow!!!
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Thanks so much more clearing that up. I misunderstood. I now see that Hot Wheels, since they have the license just uses some other compainies prior made molds. I guess at least they paid the other companies for their old molds!

By the way, isn't Autoart the old UT, not Minichamps?

 

I agree. I just got my Elite Ferrari 125S yesterday and it is more impressive then it appeared in the pictures. I also have a BBR 125S but i must say that this 1/18th scale version from Hot Wheels is incredible. The fact that i can open the hood and see a lot of engine detail is what gets me about these Elite series models. I can't wait for my next Elite Ferrari. Maybe the 430 Scuderia (as mentioned in another thread)...
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Nice 125S, thats been a hard one to find.
I think I will have to look on ebay...