The Vintage Taxi (40532) was a gift-with-purchase (GWP) launched on January 28, 2022. It came with purchases over $255 at the LEGO® Store as well as online. Interestingly, the promotion ceased before its planned deadline of February 13. As a popular promotion, it simply ran out. However, I managed to score one with my online purchase from February 1. This week, we take a closer look at the set despite it not being available at the moment. However, if rumors are true, the set will return as a GWP later this year.
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VINTAGE TAXI (40532) SUMMARY
- NAME: Vintage Taxi
- SET #: 40532
- THEME: 18+
- COST: GWP – $18.99 Value
- BRICK COUNT: 163
- MINIFIGURES: 1
- RELEASE DATE: January 28, 2022
VINTAGE TAXI (40532) QUICK REVIEW
- VALUE: 100% (As a GWP, this set offers free bricks and build time.)
- BUILD: 90% (Nice set, my complaints are fairly minor.)
- MINIFIGURES: 87% (Good minifig, and a good fig count for a set this size.)
- ENTERTAINMENT: 90% (Nice period piece but doesn’t match many modern displays.)
- OVERALL SCORE: 92% (Very good GWP.)
VINTAGE TAXI (40532) REVIEW
VALUE: 100%
The Vintage Taxi is a GWP. Since I acquired it with a set I was going to get anyway, it was free. However, my receipt from the LEGO® Store indicates that set has a value of $18.99 in Canada. Consequently, if I had paid for the Vintage Taxi, the cost-per-brick works out to $0.117. By comparison, the True North Bricks average cost-per-brick is $0.138 at present. Therefore, based on its value, the cost-per-brick for Vintage Taxi is quite good, earning 87%. However, since it was free, I will rate it at 100%. You can’t beat free bricks!
The Vintage Taxi took me 26 minutes to assemble. At $18.99, each minute of build time costs $0.73. Comparatively, the True North Bricks average cost-per-minute is around $0.85. Once again, based on its value, that is good. Vintage Taxi provides a good amount of build time, earning 86%. However, similar to before, the build time was free for me. Consequently, I give this set 100% again.
BUILD: 90%
This is a nice, visually appealing set. The design employs bricks in fun ways to achieve nice curves. The design is nicer than your average City theme car, as it should be. The set is labeled as an 18+ build, after all. The interior fits two Minifigures, one driver and a passenger, but not side-by-side. Additionally, the car does not have doors. You access the interior by removing the roof. I like cars with doors myself. Also, I was not crazy about the steering wheel tucking under the windshield. These complaints are fairly minor though. I rate this build at 90%.
MINIFIGURES: 87%
The Vintage Taxi includes one Minifigure. He has all the standard parts, but no double-sided face nor leg printing. With that said, he has a briefcase, two printed donuts, and a trash can as accessories. The number of accessories makes up for the lack of printing. I rate this character’s design at 93%. Additionally, the brick-to-fig ratio is good. On average, a LEGO® set provides around 170 bricks/fig in my experience. This kit offers 163 bricks/fig. I rate that 81%. Averaging these two scores gives Vintage Taxi 87%.
ENTERTAINMENT: 90%
This is the second year running that the LEGO® Group offered us vintage car GWPs. 2021 saw the Ideas Vintage Car (40448). However, the two cars are not from the same era. Getting two cars that go together could be neat. With that said, as a GWP, I like the Vintage Taxi. However, I would not be inclined to buy it as a set. I have no shortage of LEGO® cars from other sets. Therefore, unless I really love a car design, I am unlikely to buy anymore. Additionally, the design does not go well with my more modern LEGO® city display. I suspect many others are in the same boat. Does it really matter that much? Probably not. In all likelihood, the Vintage Taxi will end up in my non-vintage city anyway. All the same, I rate the entertainment at 90%.
OVERALL SCORE: 92%
As a GWP, Vintage Taxi is a very good set. You can’t beat free bricks, and you acquire a nicely designed vintage car. As a purchase, I would pass on this set though. The value is good, as is the minifig. But it is not markedly better that the plethora of cars I’ve acquired in other sets. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below or reach out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
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