I remember it from a catalogue... 9V light & sound... guess I'd rather be an orphan then than not to have it. I didn't have it still.

From back in the day...never had it but man, it looks cool with lights AND sound!

Adjusted for inflation this would have cost $46.04. I can't imagine paying nearly $50 for this.

There is no way this was $25. I'd assume, as someone suggested elsewhere, that this was the Shop @Home price, which included S&H, but again, these were not retail prices.

^The 9v system was likely $10 or so of that cost.

In addition to the price probably not being accurate, using inflation alone gives an inaccurate picture. In the USA, at least, wages have risen at a much slower rate than inflation (especially after the Great Recession). The price of a set from 1991 has nearly doubled if you just look at inflation alone, as you point out. However, average household income hasn't even come close to doubling since then.

@Isabella and Lego Liker - I had such a light and sound set, albeit a futuron one, in the same price range and despite being a little more expensive than a regular set, it wasn't that steep a hike, as I remember buying it with some money I received as a gift, in Canadian dollars. And I definitely didn't have a fortune (not saying that in any way to be interpreted as ungrateful) to spend, especially on one toy item.

OMG! I got this beauty back then and STILL have it built and fully functional <3

I also have the 6450 Mobile Police Truck and 6480 Hook and Ladder Truck. These are among my all-time childhood favourites.

LEGO: PLEASE bring back the Light&Sound System!! (What are you waiting for)

Fond memories of that set although with "Pirates" small sets, memories are fonder :P
Sound and light features were nice but it made that vehicle a bit bulky (not to mention you had to take off the battery if you didn't use it for long periods of time). I also don't think that this set was that expensive in Europe to begin with (at least judging from my parents buying power back then)

Would be right at home in Robocop movie.

Fond memories of this, 6440-1 and 6480-1. I wish I still had all the parts, because I'm certain that the lights and sirens are compatible with Power Functions :\

I have this set, it's one of my favourite. I love its futuristic shape.

Nostalgia, you got me! I wonder if it is because of the light and sound that I remember vividly playing with this set.

This has to be one of my favourite sets of the '90s alongside the Res-Q hovercraft. Would like to see what LEGO would come up with if they were releasing this set today.

Weirdly futuristic.

My best friend when I was a kid had this one, and I was always a little bit jealous. I had the earlier police 9V set. I still do, actually, parked beside my favourite police station.

@Sammael--I suppose I could have worded it better. Perhaps it's not inaccurate, but it doesn't give a complete picture. In absolute terms, Lego may be holding pretty steady as far as price goes--but in relative terms, that's not necessarily the case. I don't think they're going about it wrong; after all, as you say, inflation is an objective way to compare prices. However, many people tend to think of prices in more concrete terms. So when someone sees that a $10 set from 1990 would be $20 today (for example), they might think: "I would have to work an hour and a half to get that set." However, it may only have cost them an hour's work in 1990.

Again, as you say, using inflation alone isn't wrong--but people may see these statements and make inaccurate conclusions.

I remeber being a kid in 1992 and looking at the page in catalog with 9v light & sound city sets with so much jelousy as they were too expensive for my parents. I eventually got it 2 years ago when my friend passed me his childhood lego collection. And I must say that it is a very plain and boring build. It doesn't turn very well because of its dimensions, the bulkiness of battery pack is just overwhelming. I'm glad my parents didn't spent money for gifts on this one back in the day.