[Noah930]

I got a 1/32 Carrera set last year. I think I got it for about 1/3 off, free shipping, no tax, etc. My kids (pre-K) were way too young for that. Parts break on the F1 cars. As in the delicate bodywork snaps off. The running parts of the car (motor, chassis, wheels, etc) have held up just fine. The NASCAR bodies have been much more durable. (Imagine that.) They're just bricks, in comparison. The track's been durable, despite inevitable steps taken on it. In retrospect, the 1/43 would have been a better choice. But actually, even the 3 yr-old is driving the cars now without crashing too horridly. Attrition has slowed.

As for manufacturers, realistically you're looking at either Carrera or Scalectrix for a basic starter set. I don't think you can go wrong with either set. The track is NOT interchangeable, but the cars are (almost always). I'd go for the traditional analog (not digital set-up). A lot cheaper and simpler to use. Save the money for buying more cars.

The kids still love racing. I leave the set at my parents' house (they've got plenty of space, now). The kids want to race every time we're there, which is about once or twice per week.