Review: 42205 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Posted by Huw,
42205 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is one of two 15-wide Technic cars that have just been released, and also the second version of the Corvette that has been made at this scale.
Once you've finished building it, or even before so for that matter, you can virtually drive it in a recently updated video game.
Summary
42205 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, 732 pieces.
£54.99 / $59.99 / €59.99 | 7.5p / 8.2c / 8.2c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
An eye-catching and attractive display model
- Includes code to unlock car in Asphalt Legends Unite
- Minimal stickers
- Not as curvaceous as the real thing
- Does not look to be worth the price
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Parts and stickers
This sticker sheet is fairly modest, due to this not being a racing vehicle that's covered in sponsor's logos. It's unfortunate, however, that essential details like the front and rear lights are reliant upon their application.
I am always delighted to find new general-purpose elements in Technic sets and the axle connector on the left is particularly intriguing. It's used to create the V8 engine, holding the pistons at the correct angle, but I suspect it'll prove to have more interesting utility once a good number of them have been accumulated.
The connector on the right was introduced last year, but this is the first time it's been used in a Technic set.
Construction
The engine is constructed first and here you can see the new element in use.
Although this model superficially similar to the other 15-wide vehicle that was released last month, 42204 Fast & Furious Toyota Supra MK4, it's actually constructed quite differently, partly on account of the fact it's rear-engined.
Reference
Source: Chevrolet.co.uk
The completed model
The 732-piece model is about 27cm long and 14cm wide and I think it looks pretty good, and far better than the earlier version of this vehicle, 42093 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
It's a fair approximation of the real thing, and I suspect just about as good as you're going to get using Technic at this scale.
Functionality-wise, the V8 engine is connected to the rear wheels via a differential, steering is accomplished by turning the gear on the top, and the boot, bonnet, and doors open.
Drive it in Asphalt Legends Unite
The set comes with a code to unlock the car in the video game Asphalt Legends Unite. I've installed it on my tablet but have not found the time to try it yet. I'll report back when I have.
Verdict
Those looking for 'authentic' Technic models with playable functions will need to look elsewhere in the product range because this is very much a display model. It does however incorporate all the functions you could reasonably expect a model of car at this scale to have.
Pedants will complain that it does not capture all the curves of the real car but, nevertheless, I think it's close enough to be recognisable, and I think it's attractive, partly on account of its eye-catching yellow livery.
The 732-piece set costs $59.99, £54.99, €59.99, so it has a very reasonable price per piece. However, its relatively diminutive size does not make it look like it's worth that much. It's not unique in that regard: that's a complaint that can be levied at all Technic cars at this scale.
It's a bit too soon for Amazon to be discounting it, but once it's down by 20% or so, it'll be much more attractive.
The two recent 15-wide releases look great displayed together. I'll dig out some of the older ones for a group photo in due course.
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27 comments on this article
"Chevrolet Corvette Stingray" is a phrase that makes me very angry that "Corvette" is pronounced "cor-vet."
Blue technic pieces. yay
Go Gaming Huw!
The design is quite good at this scale, but need to see against the Lamborghini 42161 which is my favourite so far.
I definitely prefer the proper Stingray.
"Does not look to be worth the price" - a problem with most Lego sets this year
@Andrusi said:
""Chevrolet Corvette Stingray" is a phrase that makes me very angry that "Corvette" is pronounced "cor-vet.""
Chevrolette Corvette Stingrette.
Wait, no, that's worse.
23 seems quite a lot for "Minimal stickers"......and especially for stuff like the exhausts it's disappointing that they even use stickers instead of replicating it with a few pieces.
And these cars are indeed getting pretty expensive too. The older ones were often available for around €35, won't see such prices anytime soon for this I guess.
I like this set. Also, the code in the box may now be expired, if you care about the game and want this set.
This set has gone under the radar, like most Technic sets that don't have thousands of pieces.
Not a fan of these mid sized Technic cars. Not matter how much squinting you do, they still look crap.
One in three Technic sets currently available on Lego.com are cars with steering and engine or cars with pullback motor and no steering. A further one in five are cars with steering, suspension, gearbox and engine. That's more than half of the Technic range. And all but one are licensed. Technic is not what it used to be.
@Duq said:
"One in three Technic sets currently available on Lego.com are cars with steering and engine or cars with pullback motor and no steering. A further one in five are cars with steering, suspension, gearbox and engine. That's more than half of the Technic range. And all but one are licensed. Technic is not what it used to be."
Yeah, the side view on this one is particularly ugly, with the open front fender that's just an undefined gap, whereas the one at the rear at least has a rounded wheel arch shape.
@HuskyDynamics said:
" @Andrusi said:
""Chevrolet Corvette Stingray" is a phrase that makes me very angry that "Corvette" is pronounced "cor-vet.""
Chevrolette Corvette Stingrette.
Wait, no, that's worse."
Still waiting for them to make the Lego Chevette.
My high school car (briefly). I had to disconnect the electrical system every time I got out of the car if I wanted it to start again.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fw0OvKFKhw
@Huw " it's actually constructed quite differently, partly on account of the fact it's rear-engined. "
technically it's a mid-engine with the engine sitting in-front of the rear axle.
Examples of rear-engined vehicles would be ones like a Fiat 500, Subaru 360, Alpine A110 & A310, etc...
Looks much better than the FAF Supra, but I probably still won't be getting it. I already have 9481
Grinding for this in Asphalt was agony (no, I didn’t use the code to unlock it, I’m honorable like that).
Yup. That sure is a car but made with Technic parts.
You know, I might have felt a bit differently if this was some clearly defined subtheme. 'Super Rides' or 'Collectible Racers' or something. That way it wouldn't feel so... you know. Like this is what the main Technic line is all about now. I am only now realizing that these blur together so much to me because they're all just lumped together under one pool that's been going on for years on end. Technic needs its own themes again.
It's probably just a me thing but I just feel like they might feel less repetitive and forgettable if they can be sectioned off as a deliberately similar style of set.
And it's not just these type of cars. We don't have 'Power Racers' within the 'Racers' theme... just pullback motor cars within the Technic theme. That appear year after year. The only thing grouping the recent ones are that they're all Monster Jam branded. Otherwise everything is usually treated as a one-off even when things are clearly not standalones.
This has nothing to do with the set itself btw. I just found it interesting how my perception might be affected by marketing.
Price is justifiably down -36% at amazon
As far as price goes these always go on deep discount in a few months especially from retailers like Amazon
If you still have it built, I'd be quite interested to see a side-by-side with 42093, @Huw, please!
I didn't think it looked all that bad... until the sideview photo at the bottom of the review. The space around the front wheels is hideous. I don't really know how it could've been improved, but that looks very rough.
Some vehicles/shapes just do not lend themselves to LEGO and/or Technics IMHO. This is one such example. That side profile is ghastly. Thank you though for the excellent review, Huw. :)
Spoiler alert! Copy-pasted in blue coming in June.
Looking at the reference picture, this set should have been made in Violent Yellow...
@StyleCounselor said:
" @HuskyDynamics said:
" @Andrusi said:
""Chevrolet Corvette Stingray" is a phrase that makes me very angry that "Corvette" is pronounced "cor-vet.""
Chevrolette Corvette Stingrette.
Wait, no, that's worse."
Still waiting for them to make the Lego Chevette.
My high school car (briefly). I had to disconnect the electrical system every time I got out of the car if I wanted it to start again.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fw0OvKFKhw "
I had one. It was an 1987 Domino's Pizza Car. I drove it delivering pizza. Then, they were selling them off. So, I bought one. Kept it for several years. Not any problems with it. 0-60, eventually!!!
@rustybud54 said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @HuskyDynamics said:
" @Andrusi said:
""Chevrolet Corvette Stingray" is a phrase that makes me very angry that "Corvette" is pronounced "cor-vet.""
Chevrolette Corvette Stingrette.
Wait, no, that's worse."
Still waiting for them to make the Lego Chevette.
My high school car (briefly). I had to disconnect the electrical system every time I got out of the car if I wanted it to start again.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fw0OvKFKhw "
I had one. It was an 1987 Domino's Pizza Car. I drove it delivering pizza. Then, they were selling them off. So, I bought one. Kept it for several years. Not any problems with it. 0-60, eventually!!!"
Lucky.
"Those looking for 'authentic' Technic models with playable functions will need to look elsewhere in the product range because this is very much a display model."
I always question why people buy a Technic anything as a "display" model. That is not the system's forte!