Review: 6487481 Taxi
Posted by CapnRex101,
76269 Avengers Tower will be released later this week, alongside 6487481 Taxi as the associated gift-with-purchase. This is a peculiar companion for the tower because the vehicle seems generic and the supplied characters have little relation to Avengers Tower.
However, the presence of four minifigures in a promotional set is notable and the taxi looks quite impressive, taking a more modern approach than the equivalent in 76178 Daily Bugle. Moreover, the set contains a surprising array of printed elements, most of which are unique.
Summary
This is a strange gift-with-purchase for Avengers Tower, but the taxi is well designed
- Detailed and attractive taxi
- New printed pieces
- Four minifigures
- Strange minifigure selection
- Little relation to Avengers Tower
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Box and Contents
This set is packaged in a yellow box, with its instruction manual forming the artwork. In general, I prefer the standard boxes, but I believe these have a smaller production run than comparable sets. This packaging style therefore seems to confer certain benefits, particularly where printed pieces are concerned.
Minifigures
Black Panther never visits Avengers Tower in any of the movies, but is undoubtedly a popular character and this minifigure has only appeared once before, albeit in the inexpensive 76212 Shuri's Lab. The metallic silver and titanium highlights look great and the addition of claws is interesting. Black Panther has appeared with shorter claws in the LEGO Marvel video games, but only once before in physical form.
In my review of the minifigures from 76269 Avengers Tower, I mentioned the need for civilians requiring rescue. An unnamed Taxi Driver fulfils the role nicely and features some interesting pieces, as this torso has only appeared once before, in 76405 Hogwarts Express - Collectors' Edition. Moreover, the sand blue jeans look good and the minifigures comes with a coffee cup, as well as a printed slice of pizza, returning from 10312 Jazz Club.
A pair of Outriders complete the minifigure selection. Again, these characters have nothing to do with Avengers Tower, so their presence is odd, but villains were necessary and the Chitauri are already available with the tower. These minifigures are beautifully detailed and the blend of black and metallic gold is striking, while their additional arms are accurate to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
The Completed Model
When this set was revealed, I found the taxi decidedly underwhelming, based primarily on its seemingly awkward shape. However, this model is more attractive than I expected and I think the first image was unflattering. The proportions of the vehicle are realistic and the curvature of its bonnet and windscreen looks superb, which is something LEGO cars often struggle with.
In addition, the vehicle includes no fewer than five exclusive printed parts! The number plates allude to 76269 Avengers Tower and their flame yellowish orange colour matches the 'Empire Gold' plates found on many New York taxis. The designs on either side look appealing as well, complete with the same waving minifigure logo featured on the taxi in 76178 Daily Bugle.
The roof-mounted taxi sign and its trans-orange lights also recall the previous Marvel taxi, but this one is more contemporary. The use of 4x6 curved windscreens is effective and I love their shape, even though these elements lack pillars or a defined roof panel. This taxi was designed to maximise visibility when driving through New York City, presumably! The trans-red lights on the rear look nice too.
I think the interior is probably the weakest section of the model, with only enough space for one passenger, squeezed right behind the driver. There is ample luggage space though, housing a suitcase, another slice of pizza and a dark blue cap, adorned with the Avengers logo. The cap also appears in 76269 Avengers Tower and presumably belongs to the taxi driver, although he cannot really wear it with his double-sided head.
Overall
6487481 Taxi is, in many ways, a confusing companion for 76269 Avengers Tower. The four minifigures have little relation to the tower and LEGO fans interested in Avengers Tower may already own 76178 Daily Bugle, which includes another taxi. Honestly, this model feels like the result of designers not knowing what to make, which I would understand, as 76269 Avengers Tower already includes most things associated with this location.
On the other hand, the taxi looks quite impressive and differs significantly from the Daily Bugle version, which is a more traditional Checker Cab. Also, four minifigures is a generous quantity, even though the character choices are questionable. This is therefore a reasonable set and a bonus for anyone already planning to buy 76269 Avengers Tower, but not much of an incentive.
Thanks to Huw for the photos in this review.
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40 comments on this article
I'm just going to assume the taxi driver is Bill Murray.
Missed opportunity for a Cash Cab.
They could have saved this design for a regular City set. When was the last time Lego released a taxi set??
At first I also thought this looked really underwhelming, but on closer inspection it's actually a rather nice and clever build, with the exclusive printed parts making it highly desirable.
@CapnRex101 , said:
"I think the interior is probably the weakest section of the model, with only enough space for one passenger"
No official minifig taxi has ever had space for more than one passenger, at this scale I don't think more than that would be feasible. It's a shame there are big gaps in the floor though, but I suppose that if a plate was put in to conceal them there wouldn't be enough clearance between the driver's head and the windscreen?
@ao_ka said:
"They could have saved this design for a regular City set. When was the last time Lego released a taxi set??"
A standalone taxi? Don't know. They occasionally appear in larger sets, such as 76178 (Daily Bugle, 2021). Last year gave us 40532 Vintage Taxi, which was a GWP. And 2021 had 40468 Yellow Taxi, although it was a Creator set which was minifig-sized but not compatible.
Should have included a Bruce Banner figure with an angry expression for when the taxi gets stuck in New York traffic.
@Zink said:
"I'd be interested to hear from Marvel-heads what GWP they would have liked to see with the Avengers tower?"
"Harry & Meghan NYC High-Speed Paparazzi Pursuit"?
@Zink said:
"I'd be interested to hear from Marvel-heads what GWP they would have liked to see with the Avengers tower?"
Perhaps some kind of shawarma stand, given the post-post credits scene in the first Avengers movie?
Lately whenever I decide to spend big the gwp usually ends up being one I put on eBay and get stuck with for a while. Then when I can't afford to, gwps I like appear and I search ebay for them instead.
I'll wait on the tower so I don't get stuck with this. The gwp with the collusseum was much better.
The taxi driver minifigure is supposed to be Kevin Feige according to LEGO.
Looks decent enough and the prints are a very pleasant surprise (more of that please!), but can't say it's putting me in any rush to grab the tower rightaway - perfectly happy sticking with the taxi from the Bugle, much prefer the olden-style of cab over the modern look anyways.
This could just be me... but I believe there's such thing as too much detail on a minifigure, and the taxi driver's button on his jeans falls into that category. How's he meant to—you know—use it? It's not quite as bad as the knee scuffs on that Ron Weasley from a couple of years ago, but to me it just looks wrong.
@Ridgeheart said:
" @Zink said:
"I'd be interested to hear from Marvel-heads what GWP they would have liked to see with the Avengers tower?"
A Hulkbuster. It's been weeks, man."
Better yet, a War Machine Buster. It's begging for a UCS version, amirite?!
I've never seen such a thing but it would be super easy to convert it in to a cabriolet taxi.
@Ridgeheart said:
" @Zink said:
"I'd be interested to hear from Marvel-heads what GWP they would have liked to see with the Avengers tower?"
A Hulkbuster. It's been weeks, man."
Man, we haven't had a rubbish one for a YEAR now. Lego just hates us
@Zink said:
"I'd be interested to hear from Marvel-heads what GWP they would have liked to see with the Avengers tower?"
Small diorama of Kate Bishop as a young girl in her penthouse watching Hawkeye jump around. Throw in a Chitauri on a hovercraft so you know what it is.
@leetshoe said:
"The taxi driver minifigure is supposed to be Kevin Feige according to LEGO."
Really? Bit odd considering he already appears in the main Tower set
@Zink said:
"I'd be interested to hear from Marvel-heads what GWP they would have liked to see with the Avengers tower?"
shawarma
I just want leg printing and printing on the ear piece for Black Panther. His Minifigures (and Shuri's too) look unfinished without it given how detailed the torsos and movie costumes are.
@Zink said:
"I'd be interested to hear from Marvel-heads what GWP they would have liked to see with the Avengers tower?"
I think it should have been the taxi with the Hulk. So the Hulk could throw it at the invading horde on the tower. Replace Hulk in tower with Maria Hill and Coulson.
"but not much of an incentive."
To wit.
A real incentive would've been Maria Hill and Quicksilver.
Or, Captain Rex's missing fabric kama.
@StyleCounselor said:
""but not much of an incentive."
To wit.
A real incentive would've been Maria Hill and Quicksilver.
Or, Captain Rex's missing fabric kama."
Kama-n guys, still talking about this?
A schwarma shop would’ve been ideal as the Gift w/Purchase. Stafford mentioned he originally had it in a sketch model for the tower.
Or here with the cab, have Stan the Man Lee as the driver.
Interesting they’ve designed a Tesla cab. I see they’re rolling these out in NYC now.
@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
" @ao_ka said:
"They could have saved this design for a regular City set. When was the last time Lego released a taxi set??"
A standalone taxi? Don't know. They occasionally appear in larger sets, such as 76178 (Daily Bugle, 2021). Last year gave us 40532 Vintage Taxi, which was a GWP. And 2021 had 40468 Yellow Taxi, although it was a Creator set which was minifig-sized but not compatible."
Yeah, I'm aware of these, but I was speaking of a normal release set of a taxi, not a GWP or one in a bigger set. I know of two in the 70s and in the 60s only (forgot their numbers)
@CapnRex101
"Black Panther has appeared with shorter claws in the LEGO Marvel video games, but never before in physical form."
Maybe I'm misunderstadning something you have written, but BP appeared with claws also in his on mech (76204).
That 1x2 slope with the printed TAXI lettering would look GREAT on a modernised, minifigure-scale version of 608-2.
Stan Lee as himself caught in a jam from which he needs the heroes to extricate him - just like in the games!
Stan Lee as Willy Lumpkin, delivering the mail.
A set of five Iron Legion android minifigs and the pieces to replace the Hulk prison with Iron Legion alcoves and a holographic panel to show their status.
The Tony Stark that comes with 76210: Hulkbuster (with his tools), and some parts to add to the armor workshop.
There’s plenty more stuff that could’ve been an awesome GWP.
A minifigure in a marvel set finally gets leg printing - and it's not a hero, just an unnamed taxi driver...
@MrClassic said:
"At first I also thought this looked really underwhelming, but on closer inspection it's actually a rather nice and clever build, with the exclusive printed parts making it highly desirable.
@CapnRex101 , said:
"I think the interior is probably the weakest section of the model, with only enough space for one passenger"
No official minifig taxi has ever had space for more than one passenger, at this scale I don't think more than that would be feasible. It's a shame there are big gaps in the floor though, but I suppose that if a plate was put in to conceal them there wouldn't be enough clearance between the driver's head and the windscreen?"
Indeed, but there is usually a little more room inside and the taxi looks awkward with the minifigures so tightly packed together.
@Crasha said:
" @CapnRex101
"Black Panther has appeared with shorter claws in the LEGO Marvel video games, but never before in physical form."
Maybe I'm misunderstadning something you have written, but BP appeared with claws also in his on mech ( 76204 )."
Yes, I forgot about that one and have updated the review; thank you.
It's so weird that this taxi has more exclusive printed pieces (Not counting figures) than the tower itself...
Still a pretty cool gwp!
I'm expecting a taxi build in some near future set, otherwise budget going to printed pieces in this, in my opinion, mediocre GWP instead of the actual set would be extremely puzzling.
Looks like they’re saying the taxi dropped off Kevin Fiege and he forgot his cap, food and briefcase in the back.
OR he had to get out da cab fast and forgot all that stuff because those aliens were attacking!
Seems like the only reason they printed the pieces on this taxi is to make people buy at full price even they would rather wait. I'd love to have the taxi and the pieces, but not at any cost.
The minifig selection actually has decidedly made me not buy the tower. Again, such a missed opportunity for Quicksilver to fight an Ultron sentry. Don't even need a fourth minifig.
@cm5878 said:
"That 1x2 slope with the printed TAXI lettering would look GREAT on a modernised, minifigure-scale version of 608-2."
Funny, as soon as I saw that piece I was thinking the exact same thing.
@Zink said:
"I'd be interested to hear from Marvel-heads what GWP they would have liked to see with the Avengers tower?"
The Shwarma scene for sure.
Looks like a Tesla and Elon is the driver :D
@CapnRex101, Really confused about the set number. Database has it as 6487484. Just got mine and the manual says 6487483. And your manual pictured says 6487481!
Fact is, kids like Taxis and it's a neat idea to come up with a unique one as part of this series' sets.
Help - someone who knows where to find building instructions and minifigures numbers to theese figures in this Taxi set?