Review - LEGO Technic 42125 – Ferrari 488 GTE “AF Corse #51”

Big Disappointment

When LEGO first announced the Ferrari 488 GTE, I was excited. A big red Ferrari, covered in racing decals, based on a real endurance racing car? It sounded like a must-have Technic set. Unfortunately, after building it and living with it on the shelf, I have to say it turned out to be one of the bigger disappointments in my Technic collection.

What’s Good

Let’s start with the positives.

• Size & presence – This thing is huge. It’s one of those sets that dominates the shelf and will definitely get comments from anyone walking past. From across the room it looks impressive, especially with the bright red bodywork.

• Display factor – On display, with all the stickers in place, it does look like the race car it’s supposed to be. From the right angles, it can really capture that Ferrari look.

• Price (in my case) – I managed to pick mine up second hand for under $100, which made it feel like decent value. If I’d paid full retail, I’d probably be even more critical.

• Colour scheme – I can’t deny that the Ferrari red looks great. Combined with the black wheels, it nails that motorsport vibe.

What’s Not So Good

Now for the let-downs… and there are quite a few.

• Sticker overload – I don’t mind the occasional sticker, but this set goes way overboard. The car relies almost entirely on stickers for its identity. Without them, it looks plain and unfinished, and even with them, it feels like a cheap way to create detail.

• Ugly gaps – There’s a massive gap running down the centre of the car that makes it look unfinished. For such a large model, I expected a tighter, more complete bodywork design.

• Basic functions – For a set of this size and price range, the features are very underwhelming. You get:

  • front and rear suspension,

  • opening doors,

  • a V8 engine with moving pistons,

  • steering via the steering wheel.
    And that’s it. No hand-of-god steering, which makes it a pain to actually steer while on display or on a table. Play value is almost non-existent.

• Fragile build – This was one of the most frustrating aspects. Even as an AFOL who is careful with models, I constantly find bits falling off when I move it. It feels flimsy, and that’s not what I expect from a Technic supercar.

Final Thoughts

The Ferrari 488 GTE should have been a standout Technic set. It has the licence, the look, and the prestige of Ferrari behind it. But instead, it feels like style over substance. Yes, it’s a nice display piece, but it lacks the clever engineering, functions, and sturdiness that make Technic fun.

For me, it’s a set that looks far better on the box than it feels in person. Unless you’re a hardcore Ferrari fan, there are far better Technic sets out there for both building and playing.

For my collection? I’m glad I only paid second-hand prices, because at retail this one would have been a big disappointment.