"I picked this set up on Shop.LEGO.com last minute using points and free shipping, and was not at all disappointed. This is another winner, in my opinion. Very straightforward construction, simple operation, and cool looks make this a favorite of mine. It has a lot of the detail you see in larger sets, and still at a price point that makes it easily obtainable. Use the steerable front wheels to arrive at the jobsite. Then, load the container with one simple motion, and back to work. Great job LEGO. Love it."
"This build was pretty straightforward from the beginning. In typical LEGO fashion, it was separated into 3 stages. The truck is pretty cool, and coupled with the trailer and containers, is a good size. The container loader is neat, and contains plenty of interactive features. The boom is extendable, and can be elevated and lowered. The realistic rear wheel steering keeps your loader on track to load the cargo containers. Overall, a great build, I think, and a wonderful addition to the LEGO Technic collection."
"I read the other reviews on this, and purchased the premium brand batteries that were recommended. Even then, it did not function. I had to do as many did, and shim the positive terminal with tin foil. Fortunately, it wasn't a huge issue for me. But if a child, or a parent with zero skills had this, it may not have worked out at all. That could be very disappointing for a child ready for a Power functions experience. It's a great product otherwise. Just be prepared to make some modifications to get it to actually work. Fix this please, LEGO."
"I love this set. It brings back memories of Classic Space with the minifigures, and is one of the coolest robots Lego has ever done. Tons of detail, fully poseable arms and legs, and the extras in the instruction book make this set a great gift; either for yourself or a child Lego fan. There is a great assortment of small pieces, as well as new element pieces. The green Classic Space figures are a nice touch, instead of having used traditional colors. It is a little fragile, which reduces the play value, but is still awesome. I would like to see Lego expand on this Idea and introduce some more sets with this theme."
"This is a great little set to build, and is easy enough for most builders to tackle. My 7 year old daughter enjoyed helping me, and seemed to do pretty well. The set is large enough to offer good play value, and sized to keep it in a good cost value range. I definitely recommend this to Technic collectors."
"This is a great set to build after having done the recent MKII mobile crane. Its my first set with remote control, and I love it. The build is fairly straightforward, with very little repetition. Plenty of elements of various type and size keeps it interesting, and contributed to the overall appearance and play value of the model. After completion, the loader is simple to control, and is a pretty commanding size sitting there. Definitely one of the best sets recently. My only complaint is that it is a little overpriced for the piece count. The MKII crane had 2606 pieces at $220.00, and this set has just 1636 pieces, and cost more. But, whatever, because it is still a great set."
"This is a very technical build, requiring great attention to detail. I made a few mistakes resulting in disassembly of some parts. It took at least 8 hours, probably closer to 10. It's hard to put away when you're making great progress, but it helps to only do a little at a time. The detail is awesome, and shows itself when the build is done. The functionality is awesome. Some of the gearing is kind of slow, but it's fine. I only wish the whole vehicle was motorized, and could drive. Maybe in Mk III."
"Bought the new excavator, which was great. Took it one step further with the motor set. Turned a great set into awesome. The motor takes away the hassle of manually rotating the gear shaft. It brings the excavator to life. I like the motor set so much, I may have to upgrade to the infrared controller. Just wish the battery box was a little smaller."
"This was a pretty simple build right out of the box, but very well thought out. With only one motion function, it gets old fast, but the action is very smooth. This is a great set to add to your (my) collection. I enjoyed it, and recommend it highly."