What makes a "Great Vehicle" set?

[jFox]

I just recently started looking at City sets, and a few times now I've seen the label of "Great Vehicle" in lists or discussions. Is this an official distinction by Lego, or just something that has come up informally by fans? Either way, what makes a vehicle a "Great Vehicle" instead of just a great set? I've seen camper vans and smaller race cars both called that, so I'm curious as to common attributes they may have.

[lightningtiger]

Personally I feel the title "Great Vehicles" is just a simple sub-theme title.....originally it appeared to cover just vehicles we see in everyday life......but now monster trucks and racing cars ?

[sin]

From what I understand all of the 'Great Vehicles' are 6 studs wide and all are in the City theme. I don't think the racing car or monster truck are considered to be part of this, examples of part of this subset would be things like the various tow trucks over the last few years, cement mixer, fire truck, camper-van, tipper truck, flatbed tow truck etc.

I would also note that, as far as I know, every single set in the 'Great Vehicles" line has had an msrp between $19.99 and $29.99 USD and come with only the vehicle, not as part of a larger set.

[SeanM]

The great vehicles line started in 2012 with the ambulance 4431. These vehicles usually have a $20 US price point and average about 190 to 220 pieces.

This year's sets would be considered:

60056 Tow Truck

60057 Camper Van

60058 SUV with Watercraft

60059 Logging Truck

I don't think the $30 sets are included with the line.

Edited January 16, 2014 by SeanM

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Actually many of those listed as "not part of the Great Vehicle" line up, are considered "Great Vehicles". From the Race Car ($9.99) to the Airport Fire Truck ($29.99). I don't care to much for the 'Great' part of it. I think 'Vehicles' is better. Generally, it seems they do not come with structures. As for the Airport Fire Truck making it in, is probably because it doesn't exactly fit in with the regular fire theme

[Doom2099]

I think clever marketing makes them great vehicles, as its got us all talking about it, and creates a nice catch-all grouping to the single vehicle sets. Now we've got Fire, Police, and Great Vehicles.

[Galaxy Explorer]

I generally go by what they show at the end of the instruction booklets. The 2013 Fire Truck is shown alongside all the other fire sets, so I don't consider it part of the Great Vehicles. Certainly some GV's will fit nicely into other sub-themes, like the Logging Truck- I have that one next to the Forest Police Station. I'm pretty sure that if LEGO had released an Airport theme this year, that Airport Fire Truck would be grouped into that theme instead of GV.

Great Vehicles reminds me of early Classic Town days where a multitude of useful cars and trucks were released every year without being directly connected to each other.

[Faefrost]

My impression of the "Great Vehicles" lines requirements

1. Wheels

2. $19.99 USD price point

3. DONE!

[lightningtiger]

Ah, but the price does change, we didn't only start at 20 bucks US......the recycling truck/depot set was considered a Great Vehicles set too.

Plus with last year's monster truck and F1 transporters.....well, they were not 20 bucks US ?

[sin]

I bought the monster truck transporter for my son when it came out, I'm fairly certain it was $29.99 USD retail...

[meyerc13]

To me, Great Vehicles includes any of the City vehicle sets that don't fit into that year's theme. This year the theme is police, so the airport fire truck and the monster truck would fall into Great Vehicles.

[LegoSjaak]

Great vehicles has been brought up for commercial reasons... Collect them all.... well..that does make sense.... !!