FP garage- to buy or not?

[pixelprincess]

I'd like to get DS a garage set with cars. He has the FP train with the LP and seems to like them well enough. I am not crazy about the size of these sets but not sure what else would be a good option.

There are also two FP garages- Ramps around garage and Fun Sounds. Most reviews are awful for Fun Sounds so am thinking of Ramps around.

Any other garage options besides FP? Does your DC like the FP set?

TIA

[Andrea S]

Andrew got the ramps around garage for his first birthday and he still plays with it. It is bright and plastic, but he enjoys it. It was a gift so I never really looked around to see what other options there were.

Andrea
mom to Andrew 8/14/02

[JenaW]

My son just got the Ramps Around garage for Christmas and he loves it. He is just starting to do imaginative play, and he likes pretending he is washing/fixing/fueling the car. My daughter has just figured out how to make some of the sounds, and it cna entertain her for several minutes.
Jera
Mom to Carter ~ 05.13.03 & Madigan ~ 09.28.04

[darby24]

a more expensive option; Melissa and Doug: parking garage
http://creativebrainsonline.com/medopaga.html

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/28379.jpg

No experience, but looks neat

[August Mom]

We have the Ramps Around Garage and I will say that DS likes it "okay." I was so excited about it because he loves cars and he just didn't get into it like I'd hoped. He does play with it, but it's not something he uses all the time. He has more fun with Matchbox cars, actually. He likes to race them down a ramp made of anything.

He does really like the FP School Bus, FWIW. He actually pushes it around while running behind it and seems fasicinated with Maggie in the wheelchair.

Another wooden option I've seen is at Constructive Playthings. I have no idea what it's like IRL, though. (Actually, there are 2 there, but a plastic one, I see).

http://tinyurl.com/8cdk7

http://tinyurl.com/9n5up

http://tinyurl.com/e42au

Edited to fix links.

[mommato2boys]

I have the older FP garage and it is fine, lots and lots of hours are played on it by DS#1 still and he is five, he likes to run his matchbox cars on it. The new one looks nice too, for the price, I don't think you can go wrong with anything FP Little people, I think between what DS#1 already has and what DS#2 will get for Christmas, I have the whole FP little people world!!!!;)

[tzipora]

DS just received the Ramps Around garage for his birthday, and he is having a great time with it. Until now, his only LP toy was the Noah's Ark, so I was also kind of stunned by the size of the garage. DS has been sending all his matchbox-type cars down the ramp, and uses the elevator for oil changes. I will confess, however, that we haven't put batteries into it. We got the schoolbus at the same time, and I just couldn't face the extra noise! (DS loves the schoolbus too.)

Hope that helps!