Purchased by me
Working suspension that presses down, tilt-to-steer, and a four-cylinder engine with moving pistons. The neon accents remind me of the ’90s Technic sets. Just know the spoiler falls off a little too easily.
Lego Technic Off-Road Race Buggy (42164)
The verdict
Buy it if
you want a fun Technic buggy with real suspension and a moving engine, with a retro neon look.
Skip it if
you want a big, complex Technic build or something that holds together for rough play.
What’s good
- A couple of suspension pieces so it can press down, and honestly I really love the suspension on this thing.
- You can steer it by tilting it to the left or the right.
- Four-cylinder engine on the back, so you see the pistons moving as you push it forward and backward.
- Neon accents that remind me of the ’90s Technic sets, a really cool callback to the older ones.
The catch
- The spoiler could have been a little stronger. It falls off kind of easily.
- The 42164 is a smaller Technic set, so it’s not a big, complex build.
What it is
The Lego Technic Off-Road Race Buggy, a smaller Technic set with a couple of suspension pieces so it can press down. You steer it by tilting it left or right, and it’s got a four-cylinder engine on the back with pistons that move as you push it. The neon accents give it a retro look.
What I found using it
The suspension is my favorite part. It presses down nicely and makes it feel like a real buggy, and tilting it to steer is a simple, fun bit of play. The four-cylinder engine on the back is a nice detail too, since you can watch the pistons move as you push it forward and backward.
The neon accents remind me of some of the ’90s Lego Technic sets, and to me it’s a really cool callback to the older ones. The one weak spot is the spoiler. It could have been a little stronger, because it falls off kind of easily.
Who I’d tell to buy it
If you want a fun Technic buggy with real suspension, tilt steering, and a moving engine, plus that retro neon look, this is a cool one. Just know the spoiler is a bit loose. If you want a big, complex build, I’d look at the larger Technic sets. It kind of comes down to whether you want small and fun or big and involved.
How it did in testing
This is a quick hands-on, not a lab test. Nothing below is a score. The 42164 is just what stood out playing with it.
The suspension and the moving engine are the fun part, and the neon look is a nice throwback.
| Test | What happened | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | Presses down on the suspension pieces. | My favorite part. |
| Steering | Tilt it left or right to steer. | Simple and fun. |
| Engine | Four-cylinder engine with pistons moving as you push it. | Nice detail. |
| Spoiler | Falls off kind of easily. | Could be stronger. |
Living with it
This is a really cool set. The suspension is great, the tilt steering works, and the four-cylinder engine with moving pistons is a fun touch. The neon accents give it a ’90s Technic feel that I really like.
The biggest drawback is the spoiler, which falls off kind of easily and could have been stronger. Minor though. Overall I love this set.
