Sturdy Bodied
Written: Jul 22 '04
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Pros: Bright red stayfast color; Appropriate height for walkers; Gentle noisemaker
Cons: Plastic steering wheel
The Bottom Line: The original cost of this toy can raise as high as $90, so shop for used. Great entertainment for an active child.
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| lisandrea's Full Review: Radio Flyer Retro Fire Engine 909 |
Grandma & Grandpa came to visit and brought along a super treat--the Radio Flyer ride-on fire engine! My 15-month-old nearly went haywire, he was so excited! What more could a boy want than a bright red ride-on toy with a bell? It's the stuff dreams are made of.
Classic Radio Flyer styling. Steady wide girth keeps it on the ground even as he crawls on & dismounts. Little bell doesn't ring on its own while riding on smooth surfaces, but can be reached with the toes of a creative toddler's Ked's. Logan especially liked the horn, which was so easy to press for sound. It's a funny little horn--not one any professional manly firefighting man would want to beep about town, but entertaining for a walker. He pressed it and pressed it and pressed it...but even continuous repetition of this sound won't send you to the loony bin. It's sweet.
The steering wheel is plastic, so we aren't, any of us, too confident about lifting the vehicle by the steering wheel, though it is the natural place to reach when trying to manipulate this toy by yourself from one room to another. I'm exercising caution so we won't have to replace it anytime soon. Radio Flyer the company, however, still maintains replacement parts for even their much older toys, so if we should even cross that bridge I know we'll be able to get a new part.
The two metal loops that hold small bolted-down ladders are a better place to grab to move the fire engine around, but better, yet, is the fact that this toy comes with a long handle with a soft plastic bicycle grip for adults to use to push a straddled-on toddler forward.
Thankfully, when the rod is not in place (easily snaps on & off) the metal pole it attaches to remains covered with a hard plastic stopper, so no child can fall against it and cut him/herself (as I did when I was 7 on an uncovered bicycle handlebar).
Saddle place where child sits is simple, as is the rest of this great design. Frankly, the only drawback I see is the steering wheel, and the difficult turning when 30# is in the seat. Very small turning radius and not easily cranked to move around corners.
Even if your child, like mine, is fully capable of reaching the ground on both sides and is independent enough to not need a parent's help accelerating, I see the handle as a good safety measure for outdoor play with this toy. In case he starts to roll too fast toward danger of any kind, it's easy to grab hold & reign him back in.
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.radioflyer.com/rideon/rideon_909.html
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10 used
Type of Toy: Car, Truck or Raceway
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
lisandrea
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Location: Virginia
Reviews written: 45
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
AP, NFP, WAHM/SAHM but NO SPAM (thank you, Ma'am)! :O)
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