The Sonic F1 is a little red plastic car (approximately 2 x 4 inches) that is powered by a solar cell. It sells for $15.95. You have to put the car together. It snaps together like an easy-level model car.

After the car is assembled, you put it under a 100-watt light bulb or direct sunlight to activate the solar cell. The solar cell starts the car’s motor to move the car forward. The exposure to the light turns the motor on. Shade (or taking the car indoors) turns it off.

Pros:
It moves forward and was simple to assemble.
It is lightweight and small.

Cons:
It was very hard to get the car going.
The solar motor doesn't always work, even when aimed at direct sunlight.
We regularly had to pull the wheels out of the axle so the front wheels could move.

I am sorry to say that this Sonic Car F1 gave us disappointment after disappointment. We would set it in the sunlight, and it would slowly move 5 to 10 inches and then die. The wheels kept getting stuck. It constantly needed to rest. Although we were excited to try this out, we found that we could not recommend this product.

Product review by Carissa Ruiz, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, May 2008