UT vs. Mattel

Can anyone tell me why the UT F355,1/18 scale models command a greater premium than the Mattel cars?
What is the difference? The Box?
Thanks,
Zebra

 

I have a UT 550 and 355, and the quality is substantially higher than Mattel, but just a bit less than Kyosho. They are very well done, and were about 30% more expensive than Bburago (similar quality to early Mattel) in Germany.
jmho
rt

 

Do you know that UT are defunct as a company?

Do you know that the newest UT model dates back to 2000!

Hotwheels I can buy from my local K-Mart.

UT would classify as a limited edition now.

The HW 355 is ok - the interior is pretty rubbish, moreso on the Spyder.

The HW 550/575 is actually quite damn good - I have the 550. It is supposed to be an old Burago die?

In any case I love my 550 but would not buy any other HW without thorough inspection at K-Mart.

Although they are cheap, if you buy, you have to look at it and even if they were free and they looked bad - doesn't that defeat the purpose?

http://home.exetel.com.au/tony/f550_1.jpg

T.

 

I wouldn't really call the UT cars "limited editions". Some of the cars are still very eay to get - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=223&item=6927500737&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW . The 550 is OK , but about equal to a Maisto , Burago or HW . The 550 was one of the early UT's and doesn't have carpeting. You will pay a premium for the F355s & Mac F1s because they are the best out there and getting more scarce.

The UT F355 looks better and has a little more detail then the HW version. Some colors even have racing seats . Most of the HW Ferraris are existing , but updated, molds from previous manufacturers .

 

Well limited editions is going a bit far I realise.

I'm after some kind of UT McLaren in 1:18 and let me tell you - it's no easy task.

There are a fair few deals on 1:18 UT models around - particular the more unloved BMWs and Porsches.

In fact I see some UT stuff for less than HW prices but not the UT Ferraris and McLarens.

At this stage I'd take any McLaren, Maisto, Burago, I don't care. Just like the first 360CS I see, I'll buy.

T.

 

UT has better qaulity & detail than Mattel, I've seen any new UT models recently, just the mass produced HW line.

 

http://www.collectablediecast.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=220

Silver Mac F1 for $24.95 (they have the green for $34.95).


They still have them in stock - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=223&item=6927892312

 

I prefur ut. Much better in a lot of ways

 

- UT made better models (better paint, fit, interior, tires, rotors ect..)
- UT made better boxes...lol
- UT is out of business

 

Here's a HotWheels and a UT model shown side by side. I imagine the experts can tell which is which. Detail wise I'd say out of the box the UT model is a lot better on the interior, but the exterior is identical, even down to the fact that both models have a plastic engine lid with the rest of the body being cast.

The interior on the hotwheels model started out entirely black with the exception of the gear lever area.
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I have a UT 355 Berlinetta and a Spider.. I recently also bought a HW Spider to add to the collection. I have found that the UT cars have a much better overall look and the quality, especially at the rear.. The HW 355 looks s**te to be honest, those that know will instantly realise that the rear does not look quite the way that it should. Also, the wheels that come with the HW are too shiny, I ended up repainting mine to a matt finish and also added red calipers and a rear challenge grille to finish it off....
I post some pics of it shortly....

Jaz.

 

Rick,
Thanks for posting the pics. They look almost identical to me, also. I think the top pic shows the UT car and the bottom pic shows the Hot wheels car with some upgrades. Or do I have it backward?

As close in appearance as they are to each other, I wondered why a Ut 355 GTS sells on ebay for $ 100.00 plus and the Hot Wheels car is $15.00 or less.

It has to be the better box! LOL

Thanks again for the pics!

 

I agree with you.

UT has plain rotors (top)

HW has a fetish for drilled brake rotors (bottom)

If you can find a HW 355 Berlinetta, grab it. That carpet looks good. Makes it seem more like an Autoart than a HW model.

T.

 

You're both correct the top model is a UT. I paid $70 for it, including $21 for delivery to the UK. It came from Brazil, purchased on ebay, unopened, and was very well packaged. At the same time two other UT 355 Berlinetta models went for $121 and $124 respectively on ebay.com.

The HW model cost me £6, bought on ebay.co.uk. I think it might have been £8 including delivery; that's why I wasn't too worried about experimenting with it upgrade wise. The carpet is felt. It is perhaps a little thick in scale terms but looks quite good if you ignore that part. I've decked it out to be as close to my actual car as possible.

 

You must admit that the Hotwheels is very very very close for the money they ask.

It may not come to the last 10% of UT or comparable 1:18 models but it embarrasses no-one. Like all things, Exoto could make one for USD$200 but would it be 10x as good?

If I saw the HW 355GTB at K-Mart I would buy it - I love the Berlinettas for their purity.

T.

 

BTW - if anyone doesn't have the UT 550, you should pick it up from this guy. I have no idea how he managed to get 40+ NIB UT 550s, but it's a great model to add to the collection. As far as 550s go, I would rank them UT>HW>Maisto>BBurago. I actually think my BBurago 550 is not in proper scale (!).

Another thing - echoing what many of us have said on the topic of HW 1:18 Ferraris, if only there was a magic price point (and therefore quality) between HW and Exoto, things would be great. For example, I think many of us would pick up scores of 1:18 Ferraris if they were in the $50-ish range. If Kyosho or AutoArt were to get an exclusive license...(although Kysoho has some kind of agreement with Mattel don't they?).

 

Rich,
I like your mods on the HW car. Thanks for the info and the pics.
It must be some great boxes that UT makes!

 

what are you guys talking about?

I only have an UT model (355 Spider) and it sucks horrible
even Bburago's 348 look more realistic
How come the front hood don't even open? that makes the headlight look fake

 

My UT 355ts is awesome, it even has carpet. But the windshield has started clouding up, I guess from being in the sun at my office. My HW 355 Spider is basically junk, but I only paid $6 for it at the Mattel Warehouse.

 

Okay, I have heard all of the arguments, let me point this out. Mattel used the UT mold to produce their 355 Model. In the berlinettas,everything is the same except for the workmanship, and the the carpet of course. Their is a subtle difference in the rear and the tail lights.
Cons:The Mattel 355 tail lights are too dark.
Cons: UT 355 Brake calipers and disc are wrong.
Cons: The Mattel 355 Rims are not gunmetal in finish.
Cons: The Mattel 355 has no carpet in the inside, neither do Jouef, Revell, Guiloy, BBurago, Maisto, and so on and so forth except for Kyosho whom have a better quality at half of the price, than the UT.

So let's compare a UT 355 Berlinetta to a Kyosho 328 GTB. For 45-70 U.S. dollars as opposed to $100.00 plus dollars. This is how it breaks down.

Kyosho- carpeted
UT- carpeted
Kyosho- Wired engine.
UT - Molded engine.
Kyosho- pop up headlights.
UT- No pop up headlihgts.
Kyosho- Fabric Seat Belts.
UT- No fabric Seat Belts.
Kyosho- Leather like seats.
UT- No leather like seats.

Why should I pay $100. + for a UT 355 Berlinetta,
When I can pay $25.00 for the Mattel version, which really
only lacks the carpet, and I can detail the rims myself in about 15 minutes?

There isn't $100.00 worth of diecast metal, carpet, screws, bolts and workmanship.

I too am a detail freak, but come on lets' compare apples to apples.

 

By the way, I have heard a lot of bad reports about the MAttel 355 Berlinetta, yet, if you do a search for a 355 Berlinetta in red or silver by Mattel, good luck to you in finding one. The 355 Challenge in silver by Mattel, I let the members on this board know about Muscara.com and I'll be damned if every last F355 Challenge in silver was not gone before I called to place my order. I have been searching for months to find that 355 Challenge for less than $50.00. Well guess what ! I can't find a one. The berlinetta came in Red, Silver, Silver Challenge, Yellow Challenge,Yellow GTS, Black GTS, Red Spider, and Silver Spider. I know that you think that ebay would have these, since they are such poor quality. I have tried ebay in every country listed, and for each country I have found an average of 2 out of 15 sites. Search Yahoo, Google etc, can't find em. And don't even go there on trying to find the mattel 288 GTO and the 250 GTO. Only one that has all of these models is Cavallino.

 

Yes we have all those models in stock at this time.

Cavallino Models