"This new lego technic crawler excavator looks amazingly realistic because of the new caterpillar treads and the new linear actuators designed to look like real pneumatic cylinders.
There are plenty of nice parts in this set which are very useful for building other models in the future, Including 60 tread links, a turntable, 2 linear actuators, a bucket scoop and 3 new sized universal joints!
Functionally however, this set is not good at all without the power functions motor set, as the linear actuators are very stiff to turn with low gearing due to the complex of cogs and universal joints creating friction which spoils the play experience.
On the other hand, this set is amazing with the power functions motor set added to it, and i have had buckets of fun scooping up cocopops, corn flakes, rice or lego bricks using this digger.
One downside is that it is not possible to make the arm raise/lower and extend/retract at the same time, due to a gear box clutch arrangement which allows one motor to peform two functions on the arm, but it is easy to replace this arrangement if you have a couple of cogs and axles and you buy another motor and put it in the left side of the digger's body behind the cab.
Overall, this is a good set for the parts on its own, and i would rate it 3,3,5 (overall, play experience, value of money).
If you purchase this and the motor set, I would rate the pair together as 5,5,4, as the play experience is way better, but the motor set is slightly expensive."