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 Totcars
Buyers Guide
How to choose the
perfect car for your child
Its not easy
buying a child's ride-on car as
there are so many different features
and manufacturers - how do you
decide what is the most suitable for
your child? You're buying something
they will play with for years and
will remember for the rest of their
lives - their happy childhood
memories are dependent on you
choosing the right car!
Each year all the ride-on car
manufacturers show us their new cars
and we evaluate every one of them.
We sift out the unsafe cars, the
cars we know will fall apart and the
cars with no spare parts or after
sales service available.
We sell pretty much
every type of ride-on, so not only
do we know what we are talking
about, but are also able to
impartially evaluate whats out
there.
Our Buyers Guide has all the hard
facts you need to be an instant
expert. And if you need further
advice just
give
us a call or send us an email.
Quick links:
Pedal or Electric?
It is something of a
myth that children get more exercise
from pedal cars. In fact they get
their exercise from being outside,
running around and jumping in and
out of their car. The more they
enjoy their car the more they will
be outside playing with it. Children
don't use their cars to get from A
to B, they use them to create
fantasy worlds, to feel the thrill
of being propelled at the push of an
accelerator just like Mum and Dad's
car, to test their steering skills
through ever tighter bends and for
the sheer joy of having their own
car to show off just like a
grown-up. They will play around, in
and on them - after a few months
you'll be astounded at their
skills.
Pedal Cars
Pedal cars come in two versions,
push pedals and rotary pedals. Push
pedals are like stirrups and the car
is propelled by the child pushing
each pedal in turn. Rotary pedals
are similar in style to a bicycle
and usually use a chain to aid
pedalling which makes it easier to
pedal and consequently the car is
able to go faster. When buying a
chain driven pedal car always check
the chain is covered inside the car
so the child cannot get caught up in
it or get grease on his clothes.
Cars are different to bicycles in
that the child will be sitting next
to the chain rather than high above
it.
Electric Cars
Electric cars come in 6 Volt, 12
Volt and 24 Volt versions. Which
type you choose depends on the
child's ability, weight and the
terrain you will be using the car
on.
6V
cars
A 6V car is ideally suited to hard
flat surfaces. A 6V car will go on
grass but not at a great speed and
factors such as the length of the
grass and the gradient will become
important. The car will go at around
walking pace for an adult. Generally
6V cars are suited to children under
5, above that age they want a little
more speed.
12V cars
They cost more - what do you get for
the money? More speed, more surfaces
it can be used on, more interior
space, perhaps rubber tyres and
movable seats.
12V
cars are suited to most surfaces
including grass, hard surfaces and
gravel - if you're going to use your
car predominantly on grass a 12V car
would be the best choice. 12V cars
go up to 5mph (8km/h) which is about
the same as an adult’s jogging pace
and so it is useful to ask for is a
speed limiter (see
‘features’). Progressive
acceleration is another feature to
look out for (again, see ‘features’
for more information).
Generally 12V cars offer more
flexibility and are suitable for the
widest age range, as they are
designed to allow young children to
drive them but have more interior
room so that older kids can fit in
and have the extra speed to keep
them happy.
24V cars
These
are great for older kids, they often
go up to 15mph and are usually
packed with every imaginable
feature. While they may be the
perfect size for younger kids too,
you do need to ensure you follow the
manufacturers age recommendation as
smaller children may not be able to
handle the extra power. If you have
concerns check if your 24V comes
with a speed limiter.
Features
Different manufacturers have
different features, so here are the
main ones to look out for.
Rubber
Tyres
Rubber
tyres are noiseless on hard surfaces
and provide extra grip. They will
also not crack or split after
prolonged use, but they cost more
and as such only premium sports cars
have them.
It is
also possible to get a child’s car
with pneumatic tyres which are just
like the real ones in that they
inflate and deflate. However at
present only one manufacturer offers
this feature (Yakari).
Generally top quality plastic tyres
are extremely robust, have deep
tread and will last for years. The
tyres on the quality Spanish and
Italian made cars are generally
excellent and will provide the grip
and strength you need. Be extremely
wary of cheap plastic tyres as these
may split and replacing them is
difficult and costly – even if your
retailer stocks them.
Remote
Control
Remote
controls are currently only
available with Chinese-made cars.
They are very useful for parents who
have children aged 1-2yrs, as you
can override the child’s driving
with the remote control (and thus
avoid the tree your child is
hurtling towards). However as this
is only available with the lower-end
cars, the product itself is of much
lower quality than its European
counterparts and it will not last as
long.
Progressive Acceleration
This
is a great little feature that adds
realism to the child’s driving
experience as the car will go faster
the harder the child presses the
pedal – just like in real cars.
Almost all of the top-end licensed
electric cars have this feature.
Speed
Limiter
This
is useful for parents looking to buy
a car that will last their child for
the maximum amount of time. They are
usually available on 12V or 24V
electric cars/jeeps and allow the
parent to limit the speed until they
feel the child can handle it. As a
result the parent can buy the
vehicle when the child is younger,
limit the speed, then take out the
limiter once the child grows enough.
Safety
It’s
not the sexiest aspect of buying a
car but if you don't think about the
safety of the car before you buy,
you certainly will when you see your
bundle of joy careering off towards
a brick wall. Please do not assume a
car will be safe because it is being
sold in the UK, despite the numerous
UK and European laws some cars slip
through. Child cars are made in all
parts of the globe with safety
standards that can range from non
existent to exceeding all
requirements. Here's what to look
for:
Safety checklist
Consider the following when buying a
car and contact the retailer if
necessary. If you are not satisfied
with the information you’re given,
steer clear.
-
What safety certificates does
the car have? EN71 is the
European Toy Safety Standard, a
CE mark shows the toy complies
with essential requirements of
the relevant European health,
safety and environmental
protection legislation and ROHS
shows the electrics do not
contain more than the allowed
level of certain chemicals.
-
What is the car made of?
Plastics are the best choice
here, as they will be able to
take some punishment before
cracking and more importantly
wont damage any furniture your
child may crash into. The
top-end licensed cars are made
from the plastic polyethylene,
which is both flexible and
strong.
-
Does the car have any sharp bits
that could harm the child?
-
Is
the paint that has been used
lead free and non toxic?
Additionally see whether the
paint has been deep-injected, as
this allows any scratches to be
buffed away.
-
What safeguards have been built
in to prevent the electrics from
overheating?
-
Is
it possible for the batteries to
leak?
-
Does the car have a speed
limiter? See ‘features’ for more
information.
-
Can the adult stop the car from
the outside?
-
Does the car have a strong
chassis that will withstand the
child jumping on it? The top-end
cars have steel chassis or
similar.
-
Does the manufacturer have a
reputation for quality and
safety?
Do you have to put it
together yourself?
Be very wary
of buying an electric car that you
have to put together yourself -
particularly if the instructions are
in dubious English. They look great
in the pictures but the reality is
being faced with a pile of plastic
you have to build yourself with
sketchy instructions, a non existent
guarantee and no spare parts
available – not what you want the
night before a big birthday or
Christmas. The quality children’s
cars come almost fully assembled,
requiring only small jobs like
attaching a seat, steering wheel or
roll bars. Quality products will
already have been assembled by
expert, skilled workers who know
what they are doing.
If you have to put it
together yourself make sure you are
provided with a detailed wiring map
and comprehensive instructions.
Pedal cars are much easier to put
together and some quality pedal cars
do require a little assembly, but
NEVER buy a car that requires you to
do any wiring.
Matching
the car to the driver's ability
Most child cars are
sold as being for ages 3+, but most
dads are eyeing up the new Ferrari
when their child is 20 minutes old.
So how old must the child be?
Unfortunately there
is no straight forward answer to
this as it comes down to the
individual child. The 3+ rating is a
guideline and it is up to the
parents to use their common sense in
assessing their child’s ability and
what is most suitable.
Many parents find
their 18 month old can cope in a
well designed car perfectly
competently as they can reach the
pedals and steer. Additionally most
pedal will not have a footplate
(i.e. will have a hole in the floor)
which allows the child to move the
car along with their feet until they
are able to use the pedals. However
a young child may lack the judgement
to avoid a tree or might start
chewing small parts.
For very young
children it might be worth looking
at a car with a remote control,
allowing a parent to override the
child’s driving (see the ‘features’
section for more information).
In order to asses how
long before the child will grow out
of the car, consider the size of it
along with features such as movable
seats, movable steering wheels and
adult controlled speed limiters that
enable the car to grow with the
child.
Licenses
In
your search for a child’s car, you
will probably have come across the
term ‘licensed car’. Simply put, a
‘license’ is when a brand allows the
manufacturer to use their name on
the car. Usually that brand will be
involved in the designing process,
for example a genuine, licensed
Ferrari Enzo will have been designed
by the Ferrari engineers and the
Toys Toys designers and as a result
the car looks much better and is far
better quality than its unlicensed
copies.
Do not be fooled by the branded
‘style’ cars. For example a ‘Ferrari
style’ car is not a Ferrari at all;
it is an imitation of the real thing
and probably a breach of copyright
law. If anyone tries to tell you
otherwise they deserve a call from
trading standards.
Build
Quality
Kids
will be kids, and as such the first
thing they will do with a new car is
see how hard they can bash it into a
wall. This is why it is vital you
ensure the car you purchase has
flexible bodywork as these cannot
dent and also will not damage your
home. Another point to look out for
is if the paint is deep injected
into the bodywork, as this allows
scratches to be wiped away.
Generally speaking, the European
cars are well made but the Chinese
‘styled’ cars leave much to be
desired.
European cars – are they worth the
money?
The
European cars generally cost a lot
more (some times double) the Chinese
prices, however they offer a much
higher standard of quality in both
the body work and electrics. The
child will often outgrow them before
they are worn out, allowing you to
buy one for your eldest and pass it
down. Additionally nearly all the
European manufacturers offer a UK
based service centre, making it easy
and painless to get spare parts and
expert help.
Of
course, it is nearly always the case
that the European manufacturers hold
licenses, meaning the car you buy
will have exceptional attention to
detail.
Chinese cars - know what to be aware
of
Ride-ons made in China are a
fantastic option for those who are
on a budget and can't quite stretch
to the price of a licensed product.
They usually also offer fantastic
features such as working lights,
start up sounds and even remote
controls for the parent (brilliant
for very young children).
However as you would expect, the
quality does not match up to a
licensed, high end ride-on. As a
result there can be a few aesthetic
faults and will not last as long.
The
most common issues of Chinese cars:
·
Misaligned stickers
·
Uneven
or discoloured paint work
·
Small
scratches and blemishes to bodywork
·
Fastenings that are not robust
enough
·
Body
panels that don’t fit perfectly
It can
also be difficult to get spare parts
or have your car repaired, so before
you buy ask if it is possible to get
spares from the retailer.
Chinese cars are great for those on
a budget who want a car for just one
or two summers as they are much
cheaper than the licensed versions.
Additionally only the Chinese cars
come with a remote control (see the
‘features’ section) which is handy
for parents with very young
children. Just be aware of the drop
in lifespan!
Battery
Life
The
actual battery life depends on the
individual product, so it is best to
check with the retailer exactly how
long the battery will last on the
car you’re looking at. Generally
speaking, batteries should last
between half an hour and two hours
however this is not representative
of how long the child will actually
play with it. The cars are designed
to be used as play accessories not a
means of getting to distant
destinations so in practice the
child will often get a full days
play from the car as s/he will be
stopping and starting, jumping in
and out.
Battery life will be determined by
the weight of the driver, the
terrain the car is used on and the
care of the battery. Rechargeable
batteries will last a long time if
looked after and used correctly.
Avoid lights on an electric car that
are linked to the main battery since
lights that have their own battery
will not drain the battery used to
move the car. Similarly horns and
radios should have their own power
supply.
After
Sales Service
Children's cars should be designed
to be hammered and bashed and be
able to take it time and again.
However they can break down just as
an adult car does. When buying your
car ensure there is an after sales
service which includes a repair
centre as well as a guarantee on the
body and electrical system.
Ensure
the outlet you buy from stocks the
things that may wear out or get lost
otherwise you may end up with a very
expensive, very large paperweight.
The
most common parts needed are:
-
Replacement batteries - These
are seldom included in the
guarantee and if not regularly
charged performance can
degrade. Alternatively you may
want a spare for when the other
is being charged.
-
New charger to replace the one
lost behind the sofa
-
Replacement wiring - if anything
goes wrong it’s usually quicker
and easier to plug in new wiring
rather than sending the whole
thing to be repaired.
-
Fuses - these are usually
designed to blow when junior
hits a wall and keeps pushing
the accelerator – they prevent
overheating.
-
Wing mirrors – they always
manage to get lost/snapped off.
-
Steering wheels – these take a
hammering from kids and are made
to be tough but not designed to
be jumped on - a child hell-bent
on breaking one will manage it
in the end.
Ask
about the car’s mechanism and ensure
it is simple enough for a reasonable
person to be able to fix. Well built
cars use very simple mechanisms to
power them and are designed to be
easily fixed at home with the right
part.
If
you need parts, please take a look
at our
spares centre.
This guide is intended as
an introduction to what to look for when buying a car, if you need any
further advice our friendly customer service team is available on
0845 834 0160 or at
info@totcars.com to answer any questions you may have. Every year we
evaluate every single child's car on the market and select the cars we
believe offer the most comprehensive features to our customers. And very
importantly the ones we know wont let you down.
We are specialists in children's
cars and maintain a very high level
of expertise to enable us to advise
you as to the right car for you and
give you in depth information on
each car's features to enable you to
make an informed decision.
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