Home | About | Blog | Contact Us
 Subscribe RSS
Home » Advertising, Film, Internet, Marketing, Mattel Disney Pixar CARS, Retail, TV, Toys, collecting, diecast

Mattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS: Bye Launchers, Say Hello to Wheelers (CASE Update)

The launchers are on the schedule are all still coming … namely the WM 2 (coming next week? Next few weeks? Your guess is as good as anyone working at WM  :roll:

Easy Idle 0-27084-71731-0
Shifty Drug 0-27084-71733-4
Tank Coat 0-27084-71730-3
Vitoline 0-27084-71732-7

CASE B is available from your Mattel resellers and contains:

Chick Hicks (1)
Shifty Drug (2)
Tank Coat (1)
Vitoline (2)

When will retailers get them? You tell me :-) If they order some from Mattel’s warehouse, they could on the shelves by next week but do they even know it’s out there?

And coming in CASE C - early January?

Easy Idle 0-27084-71731-0
Fiber Fuel 0-27084-71734-1
Mood Springs 0-27084-71735-8

Leaving these as the ‘new’ for CASE D?

Retread 0-27084-71736-5
Shiny Wax 0-27084-71737-2

And then endth of the Pit Row Race Off/Pit Race Off “launchers” as they look now.

In 2009 … WHEELERS …

The launchers were always awkwardly named - “Pit Row Race Off” and then “Pit Race Off,” but now they are neither … they are being discontinued for a new launcher-like item now called “Wheelers.”

No pictures yet but apparently instead of a rectangular launcher doohickey, it’s some sort of tire like motif setup that launches CARS … my guess is it’s something more for kids … however, the CARS are definitely the 1:55 Piston Cup Racers - so just to be clear:

… same CARS

… same scale

… different launching device.

No, I don’t have CASE configurations yet … they might be available in late spring 2009.

Er, COLLECT THEM ALL!

« Mater’s Tall Tales: Tokyo Drifting - Bolted to BOLTMattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS: The Piston Cup Racers Check List Checklist »

55 Comments »

  1. … but will they come to Canada? THAT is the question.

    [Reply]

    PirateDad Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    Sure they will..they will cost $4 more and will take 4 months longer, and break 4 times faster!!

    [Reply]

    buckland-blowouts Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 11:34 pm

    And have 4 time the languages on the back - With a recipe for sausage stewed in a tire…

    [Reply]

    //Edge
    1 December 2008 at 4:49 pm

  2. This is all giving me a headache. Wasn’t this supposed to be fun?

    [Reply]

    Twiggy Reply:
    December 5th, 2008 at 6:51 pm

    I have to agree…It is getting way crazy…but yet I can’t stop buying! lol

    [Reply]

    //EM
    1 December 2008 at 4:50 pm

  3. Yessss more cars

    [Reply]

    Lenin Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 4:52 pm

    I was so bummed I didn’t get the MSOS but now it looks like I’ll have most of the CARS soon. Come on apple buy and iPod get a iCar i would totally go for that even though I have more iPod than I can count. I’ll even buy an iMac get an iCar just give us the iCar!!!!!!!!!!

    [Reply]

    //Lenin
    1 December 2008 at 4:50 pm

  4. What a scam!! I’m about done with this. YOU HEAR THAT MATTEL, YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE 1 CUSTOMER!! Can you afford it, I’m not so sure!

    [Reply]

    Lenin Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 5:06 pm

    Now Slicepie will you still sell them if you don’t collect them? Otherwise make sure to pass on your contacts to the rest of us before you say your farewells :)

    [Reply]

    slicepie Reply:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 am

    What I’m upset about is the fact that the main reason we were collecting the launchers was the idealization that in the end there would be 36 launchers set up side by side.

    Not only can the original launcher set be completed, but it’s already been established that the “Wheelies” set cannot be completed wither because some of the Pit (Row) Race Offs will not be released as Wheelies.

    I’m starting to wonder if there is anyone at Mattel who even comprehends the definition of the word “collect”, or any of its derivations. And no, I’m not referring to a phone call.

    Nobody starts a collection to get a couple hear and a couple there. They either know they only want certain ones or they want one of everything, in some form or another.

    I can say with absolute certainty that I will not be prostituted into buying these “Wheelies”, regardless of whether or not that is the only retail opportunity to find newer racers. I will take my business to eBay and buy SOTS cars first, and for 2 reasons:

    1) At least I know that the SOTS set is complete.
    2) Mattel already got paid on anything I buy on eBay. I stop condoning their greediness when the mindset becomes more about profit margins and less about the consumer.

    There, that’s my piece, all 1200 pounds of it, and I am now done.

    [Reply]

    PirateDad Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    What am I missing? Are you upset cuz you want every packaging Variant..that is not Mattel’s fault, that is your own anal compulsion…bring on the cars, what ever the package!

    [Reply]

    racerguyinsd Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    Right on PD! No matter what Mattel does, I will ALWAYS collect the 1:55 scale Disney/Pixar diecast line! I didn’t get the MSOS either, so this is great news.

    [Reply]

    kevin roche Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    keep the package, give me the car

    [Reply]

    kevin roche Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    sorry, the piston cup racers car, YEAH!!!! the others are for my son…

    [Reply]

    Twiggy Reply:
    December 5th, 2008 at 6:53 pm

    I wouldn’t even use the launchers anyway, I don’t even know where Trunk Fresh’s one is…I only bought it to get the car, I could car less for the Launcher’s line. You figure you are paying four dollars for the plastic launcher itself which seems to fall apart anyway. Why can’t they just sell the cars?

    [Reply]

    slicepie Reply:
    December 5th, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    I have to know how grown people seem break so many toys. My son is 2 years old and plays with his launchers nearly every day. We have had one rubber band break on a Chick Hicks launcher and that is the only problem we’ve had. I put a new rubber band on it (via the instructions included with the packaging) and voila, good as new again.

    [Reply]

    moea525 Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    I second that as it gets old seeing the same old package. They need to put some pizazz in this and make it harder to find!!!!

    [Reply]

    buckland-blowouts Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    ugh.

    [Reply]

    Chris Reply:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 am

    It’s not the change in packaging, it’s the change in the actual launcher. Ideally, collectors buying the launchers would like to be able to line them all up side by side. With the change, we won’t get the same look of the launchers with all the cars.

    [Reply]

    slicepie Reply:
    December 5th, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    PD,
    For the record I’m not a package variant collector. If it were about the packaging there wouldn’t be an issue. We collect 1 of each to open and I collect some car errors and variants for myself.

    But this post was not about the packaging, it was about the actual launchers themselves being completely redesigned and incompatible with the previous launcher models.

    [Reply]

    //slicepie
    1 December 2008 at 4:50 pm

  5. Seriously…. They keep adding to this line, but fail to follow-through with the release of the product… It is starting to get a little crazy, and I for one, might wrap up the collection with the end of movie one. If they do this now to a good line, and a good product, there is no telling how far they go with the second movie.. Collect Them All if they ever release them.

    Here’s to all my carsaholics, and our ever daily qwest for the holy grail and score dance in the aisles..

    [Reply]

    //Matt
    1 December 2008 at 4:51 pm

  6. AWESOME!!!!!

    [Reply]

    //Chiguy
    1 December 2008 at 4:51 pm

  7. and that’s why I am not a completist!!!!!

    [Reply]

    PirateDad Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    but you are the complete package…. :D

    [Reply]

    Micky Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    Right on!

    [Reply]

    buckland-blowouts Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    KEep it PG please…

    [Reply]

    PirateDad Reply:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Pixar Guidance?
    Permanent Glue?
    Perpetual Giddiness?

    [Reply]

    //Flik'sFriend
    1 December 2008 at 4:52 pm

  8. this makes sense Mattel- discontinue a line before you have even released them. i’m really close to being done with this line. i agree with everyone else’s complaints. this is again totally absurd, riduculous, stupid. MATTEL just make the toys, ship them to the stores and we will buy them. really, it’s not that hard, and i don’t think that you are making money hand over fist that you should ignore some of your most loyal customers.

    [Reply]

    //lou
    1 December 2008 at 5:03 pm

  9. so at this rate, we will finally have the last piston cup car just in time for the new movie (CARS 2) releases to hit the shelves and you know there will be a new line of piston cup racers, after all you have to replace king because he retired and chick cant be his only competor, who will be the new face of dinoco, thats my bet on the line, plus add four or five to the mix, dont forget the newer paint jobs on some of the more popular piston cup racers!!!!!!!!!!!!! great after the 36 old there will be 36 new

    face it people we are hooked and we will buy..nice job mattel!!!

    [Reply]

    //kevin roche
    1 December 2008 at 5:10 pm

  10. I just posted in the trading forum - one more Shifty Drug Launcher is available…..

    [Reply]

    //Samuel
    1 December 2008 at 5:16 pm

  11. Will we EVER see Tach-o-Mint?!?!?!?!?

    [Reply]

    //Shelby
    1 December 2008 at 5:48 pm

  12. I take back my last post, -even though it is most likely true-

    I think we all became spoiled after a good couple of months collecting.
    yes the TRU promo for sidewall was a ploy to get us to buy the peg warmers, but we had the chance for a car not out yet–kmart worked out very well for most of us with the 5 new racers without making us buy other cars with it unlike the revolting mess with the 3 stooges (nice box though) for 14.99 plus tax, and if you could find it-the new TRU promo for N2O cola, atleast we didnt have to get the peg warmers this time, actually my TRU had a nice assortment to choose from–now the bumper save with an extra mack but for 10 bucks it wasnt a bad deal..

    yes we were all teased by the faux wheel drive not for us in the U.S. and the new laucher deal that hasnt hit us yet but they soon will and we will be in dire straights for the next ones to come out, but after all WHAT’S THE FUN IN IT WITH OUT THE WAIT. Actually not to sure about you but my wallet could use a break..So in closing im ok with the wait, we will soon have all our toys to play with and we will all have a new collection to start be it the new cars movie or the next new cute thing we all like.

    ENJOY THE JOURNEY WHILE IT LASTS.

    [Reply]

    //kevin roche
    1 December 2008 at 5:50 pm

  13. I can’t wait to get my hands on another Dirt Track McQueen…..

    [Reply]

    //Re-Volting Rich
    1 December 2008 at 5:56 pm

  14. Honestly I don’t care about the package, I care about collecting every single car once, every single variant of LMQ, Ramone, etc. I am not a completist as some of the people on here. So to get upset cause Mattel wants to make more money with a different packaging is ridiculous. Thats called buisness if you can’t get that concept maybe you need to look at a different hobby.

    Just my opinon not trying to start a war here.

    Charles

    [Reply]

    megaheat2008 Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    HECK ,GO TO WAR, GO TO WAR,TAKE NO TIRES PRISONER ,LEAVE NO EXHAUST BEHIND IF YOU WANNA GO TO WAR HONK YOUR HORNS LOUD AND PROUD,”CHANGE IS GOOD” !!!!!!

    [Reply]

    Luciano24 Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    no i just state my opinon cause I think its more important to spend the money and play with your kids than B***h about Mattel wanting to make money. The Economy sucks and some of us understand them wanting to do “buisness”. Others look at it as a way to get us away from our hard earned money. I look at it like this, and thats my two cents, or 3.94!

    [Reply]

    gervart Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    ur lucky, its £3 for a single here in uk…..thats over $6 !

    [Reply]

    Luciano24 Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    wow thats Ebay prices!!! LOL

    [Reply]

    buckland-blowouts Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 11:42 pm

    Yeah but you UK-ers make £6 an hour for base wage and that’s $15 Here we make $7 if we are lucky! That’s £2!!!!!!!

    It is all relative Dude!

    And you Luciano-Dude! …Should be countin’ yourself lucky that you are not a complainist… URRR I mean completist!

    [Reply]

    racerguyinsd Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Perfectly said. Hey you people out there that complain every time a change is announced, GET OVER IT!!!! If you can’t handle it, and all you can do is threaten to stop collecting, then do!

    [Reply]

    PirateDad Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    We whine cuz cuz we care!! HAHA

    [Reply]

    //Luciano24
    1 December 2008 at 6:09 pm

  15. I don’t care as long as they continue to make the race cars available and don’t discontinue those. We just collect one, so whatever. It would be nice and cheaper if they were just singles, but we will take the cars any way we can get them. My son doesn’t care, just that he has the car.

    [Reply]

    //Mara
    1 December 2008 at 6:35 pm

  16. unreal already scored all case c at my target but i never thought i would see the day and yes the green pallet dropped today at my local wm after having no cars for a month and a half i went there just to buy some food and spotted it and what do ya know case b which i got at target 2 weeks ago. full of launchers (no not new ones )and just 3 oversized blimps on the shelf not sure i want 1 but my son does i refuse to buy all the oversize but blimp does look nicer oversized.

    [Reply]

    Luciano24 Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    Nice score Scott!

    [Reply]

    //scott
    1 December 2008 at 7:31 pm

  17. Mattel is changing the packaging for the gift packs too so I’m not surprised that the launchers are changing as well. And how many cardback designs have we gone thru? What’s unfortunate is that people who have a lot of the launchers already probably won’t be able to hook them together with these new ones.

    While I’m not a completist (just want one to open, one to save) I can understand why some are mad about yet another change. More to buy!

    [Reply]

    //collectormom
    1 December 2008 at 9:05 pm

  18. Wow, some of you guys are losing sight of the fact that these Cars are TOYS!!! The Cars are intended to be marketed to CHILDREN! The number of units sold to collectors is insignificant to the total produced. Yes, the “cube” is wiped out as soon as it hits the floor because demand exceeds supply for the new castings (or any casting other than McQueen or Ramone). If Mattel produces every Car from the SOS set, YES, your investment in the SOS will diminish- kind of like my stock which has gone down 60%. Please do not forget kids are born; kids venture to Disney parks; watch Cars cartoons; read Cars books. They act like, well, KIDS. If you collect packaging based on the return shown on vintage 1970’s Star Wars toys, it ain’t gonna happen!

    Star Wars ran until 1983, when the toy property lost interest with little boys, e.g. my son, who ran to G.I Joe. Star Wars was resurrected in 1995 and is still being collected or played with by a new generation of little kids. The hardcore collectors still buy. With the end of the last films another venue had to be produced to keep the toy property viable- cartoons and comics. It may not remain as healthy as it was, but, the resurrection has been going on since 1995- that’s 13 Christmas seasons. That’s good marketing.

    Will Cars survive as long? Yes, if the kids are still exposed to the line. It is only logical Mattel will change the packaging, change the casting to reflect different scenes in the movie. Of course, most kids will outgrown Cars at an early age, so the freshness of the line will be scene by the babes born today. If you do not like the repackaging and minor changes to the Car, don’t buy it.

    The rabid collector will view it as a challenge to obtain all the variations. The casual collector may be happy with an open MINT example of each casting, so s/he will have more $$$ to buy other things in life, like milk, bread and the kids college education.

    Again, anybody want to buy over 500 different MINT IN PACKAGE Star Wars action figures for a fair price?

    [Reply]

    collectormom Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    Steve your stock is always up with me ;)

    [Reply]

    buckland-blowouts Reply:
    December 1st, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    Me too Steve!

    Love it however you wanna… Cars Rock!

    [Reply]

    PirateDad Reply:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 10:01 am

    Great Perspective,,,one to open is all we are collecting now!!

    [Reply]

    //Steve AKA: Poppa
    1 December 2008 at 9:33 pm

  19. So that leaves us with Tach O Mint, Gask Its, and Apple iCar for the remaining 3 Piston CUp Racers.

    [Reply]

    racerguyinsd Reply:
    December 5th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Seriously Mattel, hurry up with the Tach and Apple!

    [Reply]

    //Brandon @ The Drive In Gallery
    2 December 2008 at 9:29 am

  20. slicepie,

    no worries as you will be able to purchase all the launchers with every racer we’ve ever tooled ( other than the Apple car, not sure about that one ) to complete your Launcher collection.

    You will be able to put them all together, side by side, if, you chose to take them out of the package:)

    The Launcher assortment will be finalized, just be patient.

    Pit Row wasn’t built in a day.

    [Reply]

    PirateDad Reply:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    You mean Pit Rome, right? Good one! Great news about the launchers tho, since they are soooo cool all lined up…but first you must release them from their plastic prisons!!

    [Reply]

    slicepie Reply:
    December 5th, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    I am very happy to hear that. So I can sit on the “Wheelies” and wait for the remaining launchers to arrive. Sweet!

    [Reply]

    //acuransx
    2 December 2008 at 8:22 pm

  21. Where are the new launchers being found? I know about the drug store in the Dakotas, but where else? A gas station maybe–or a second hand kids resale shop–or everybody’s favorite grocery store? As always, good luck to all.

    [Reply]

    //jason
    3 December 2008 at 2:21 pm

Have your say!

Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS.

Be nice. Keep it clean. Stay on topic. No spam.

You can use these tags:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>