It's another day here at Lightailing, which means it's another chance for us to talk about some of LEGO's most impressive recently released sets, and today it's the return of their LEGO 1:8 super car range, which first released with a Porsche model back in 2016, and has released a new super car model every 2 years since. 2022 marks the fourth model in the range, and this time it's Ferraris turn with the LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3.
Right off the bat, it's only fitting for us to come right out and say it: this set is glorious! It's a real showstopper, but the LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 price might be enough to make you question if it's worth buying. But don't worry, below we'll cover everything in our LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 review, from the price, right the way through to its good and bad points to determine if it's something you should hand over your hard earned cash for.
Ready to find out more? Then strap yourselves in for a racing review of this super car LEGO model!
Also read: How To Add Lights to LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 42143 Quickly
Set Details
The LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 set number 42143 throws a lot into its 3778 pieces. We're talking a working suspension, a loving recreation of a V12 engine, usable steering, and a working gear box which allows you to shift between 8 gears (and see how it happens beneath the car too).
All that in a 1:8 scale model of a Ferrari Daytona SP3 - yes, a model people, not the real thing - LEGO has managed to pack this set full of features that make this technical model worthy of the LEGO Technic name, and every aspect of it impresses.
We'll talk way more about the amazing features of this model below, but we're betting you're already excited to get your hands on the set yourself, right? Well then, we have good news! LEGO set 42143 is available for purchase right now (and has been since June 1st, 2022), so if you're dying to get your hands on it, then you can.
Feeling more cautious? Don't worry, our LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 review has all the details you need...
Price
The first, and often the most important detail, is the price. And yes, this set will cost you A LOT of money - $399.99 to be exact. But don't let that huge price tag scare you away just yet. We don't say this lightly, but we think it's worth every cent you spend.
You're paying over 10 cents a brick, which technically isn't ideal and means you're paying a little more than you should be. But just stop for a moment and look at what you're getting for the $399.99 you'll spend. Not only is the LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 set stunning whilst built, you get a whole bunch of technical components and moving parts that cost more than your average LEGO brick to make.
On the whole, we'd not only say that the $399.99 price tag is reasonable for the beautiful model and technically-minded build, but we might also suggest that we'd have paid a little more and still been happy. (LEGO, if you're reading this, you can take your fingers out of your ears now).
So, yes, in answer to the question we posed at the start of today's post - LEGO set 42143 really is worth buying. But if you need some convincing, then we're happy to spend the rest of today's post giving you all the reasons why!
Building Experience
Now, we have to be honest, this building experience is lengthy, it's time consuming, and it can, at times, be a little confusing. And normally that would be a HUGE minus for us, since part of the fun of LEGO is in the building, not just the display or play, right? But this set makes all the frustrating hours spent slogging through its two (yes, two) instruction books absolutely worth it.
The 7 bags of bricks you'll go through are packed full of technical bricks and small parts that need to be put together 'just so' in order to make the whole thing work. And that task is very labor intensive and very fiddly, which can ultimately lead to some sore fingers at the end of it. But no task worth doing was ever supposed to be easy, and this build proves it.
For the first 5 bags you'll feel like you're getting nowhere fast, which can be discouraging, but push through it because by the start of bag 6, you'll really start to feel it coming together as you attach more of those classic Ferrari-red bricks to build the shape around the more mechanical parts.
There are plenty of difficult bits along the way, so patience really is key here. We're thinking specifically about the doors right now, which work sort of as a cross between gull wings and classic scissor doors, as they come out and go up and down too in a really cool motion, but that makes putting it together all the more difficult.
All in all, though, the hard parts, whilst frustrating at the time, fade into insignificance the moment you attach that last brick - because this 1:8 scale Ferrari Daytona SP3 is as impressive as the real thing. It'll take you 10 hours+ to complete it, but just stick with it.
Trust us, it's worth all the effort at the end.
Model Features
But what makes all the blood, sweat, and tears worth it? Its impressive features, of course!
For starters, the whole rear opens up to show you a stunning recreation of a V12 engine, and the roof comes off in one smooth motion to instantly turn this super car into a convertible that you just wish you could sit in and drive. The hood lifts up too, revealing a sizeable trunk space. But perhaps our favorite thing of all is the doors. The way they open up is something to behold, especially when you consider that you achieved all of it by just throwing some LEGO bricks together.
And it's easy to forget about the LEGO bricks too, especially when you see some of the unique pieces that are put together to create the curved shape of this stunning super car. It's just not something you'd expect LEGO to achieve, but here they are achieving it, and the results are mind-blowing! Speaking of the way this looks, the blue interior is another surprise that really sets the cherry red of the exterior off, creating something that's striking.
But it's the mechanical elements that will excite most of you. The 8 gears you can actually shift through and watch working when you lift the model up, the steering that actually responds to your touch, and the suspension that bounces back every time you press the model down despite its weight - all of this is what sets this LEGO Ferrari apart from any regular LEGO build, and it's what makes the high price tag worth it.
The Goods
Want a quick rundown of all the reasons we love the LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 set? Then here are some points, old and new, below:
- The Ferrari red - this color will stun no matter where you see it, but to capture it so perfectly in brick form is something to behold.
- Packaging is insane - now, we don't normally cover this on our blog because we're far more interested in what's on the inside than the outside (cute, right?) but the packaging here is worth mentioning because it looks incredible, feels high end, and will be important to the collectors among you.
- Super car curves - we said it above and we'll say it again, managing to recreate those super car curves with LEGO bricks is a feat of design genius and we're glad we got to witness it.
- No stickers - not a single one in the entire set. Printed tiles are always more premium, but we half-expected there to be a few stickers snuck in here, but we were wrong. Seeing the prancing horse of the Ferrari printed onto the relevant tiles was both a surprise, and a triumph here.
- Custom rims - seems odd to point out, but the rims and wheels here are all custom made to represent the Ferrari Daytona SP3 perfectly, and that's a first for this range since the previous wheels and rims of the other models are all the same.
- A mechanic's dream - if you're interested in the more tech-y mechanical nature of this build, then nothing here will disappoint you. It. Is. Beautiful.
The Bads
But there's always room for improvement even in the most impressive sets, and 42143 is no exception:
- It's a small point, but the hood interferes with the windshield if you open it too far - and it's mildly inconvenient. Yes, we're clutching at straws here, but in a model of this quality, it's a shame to see the windshield piece bend in like cooked spaghetti when you open the hood too far. Now, we hear you, 'Just don't open it so far then', and you're right of course, but it's still a little irritating, don't you think?
- There are a few blue technic pieces on show - whilst nowhere near as obvious or as plentiful as the blue pieces on show with the 2020 Lamborghini in this range, they're still there and they ruin the look of the stunning red Ferrari somewhat. Maybe it can't be helped, but since LEGO has made a definite step in the right direction from the 2020 model, we're hoping to see even less blue next time out.
- Wing mirrors flap - again, it's another clutching at straws situation, but with everything else being top-end, it's a shame to see wing mirrors that flap around when you move the car. We're pretty certain the Ferrari Daytona SP3 doesn't have this problem, so why does the LEGO model?
The Verdict
You already know where this is going, don't you? Yep. Buy it. Buy it now. Buy it 10 times over if you like. Just make sure you get your hands on it. 'Nuff said.
LEGO Lighting
But of course, that isn't enough said, because it wouldn't be a Lightailing review without talking about lighting kits, would it? And truly, there's no set more worthy of one of our LEGO lighting kits than this LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3.
The lights we have in mind add so much more to an already visually impressive set. We're talking interior lights to make that blue color stand out in the dark, under-car lights that race along the bottom and create the impression of movement, and even bright blue lights that bring the V12 engine to life.
The only limit is your imagination because we have everything you need, right here at Lightailing.
So, if you want to make a stunning set like this one really sing - you know what to do. Head to our Light Kits page or Accessories page today, and get started on a Lightailing LEGO lighting kit that brings your set to life!
