Would you buy a US release MP Hot Rod/imus without the trailer? Options

[Octavius Prime]

I know this rumor has circulated for about two weeks or so now, but it seems like the info on this toy keeps flowing, so he's sort of at the forefront of the TF part of my brain.

I don't really see Hasbro not getting this toy to US shelves somehow, unless they simply bring the costs way down. The only MP mold they haven't released was Megatron, and there's obvious reasons for that. Also, the Japanese releases of Grimlock were pretty expensive (about $150 or so, right?) and his TRU release is clearly much less than that.

However, should Hasbro decide that Rodimus' trailer is an unnecessary expense and release him stateside without it, would you still be interested in buying that release (especially if you aren't rich and buying multiples of the Japanese version...)? Obviously, the mold can function without the trailer just fine as just a MP Hot Rod toy, and Hasbro could either ignore the Rodimus robot mode or simply mention it as a bonus feature.

Anyway, I'd buy it. I'd love to have the trailer, but if we don't get it, that doesn't mean I'm going to track down the really expensive Takara release to get it. I'm much more excited about the car mode versus the truck mode anyway, since I have the Rodimus Prime TRU reissue, and the truck mode of the MP isn't drastically different from that one (not even the combat deck!), aside from its "pretender" cab shell. I don't, however, have any iteration of the G1 Hot Rod toy, so I don't have a toy with that particular alt mode, and the MP version looks even more awesome than the G1 original.

This post has been edited by Octavius Prime: Sep 20 2010, 09:35 AM

[Daytonus]

No trailer + significant differences in color is probably the only way I'd get it, really, since I'm getting the TakTom one.

[Powered Convoy]

I will get all versions no matter what. So I'll get it either way.

If I only had so much money to spend, and one was coming with the trailer and one was not, then I'd go for the one with the trailer for sure. If Hasbro also continues the trend of paint applications that look like stickers (like with Skywarp & Grimlock) I'd prefer a cartoon accurate Rodimus over a toy based one (unless the rumor that he has a Target Master is true, then that's a pretty fair trade, Target Master for Trailer that is).

Randy

[Axaday]

I would prefer no trailer on the Hasbro, personally. I'm getting Takara's MP Rodimus Prime and I'd gladly spend less on Hasbro's MP Hotrod.

Your poll asks the question one way in the thread title and the other way in the poll. I think that'll confuse some results.

[BB Shockwave]

I never really cared for Rodimus' alt mode. And the 1986 toy was ugly, even by that year's standards. So yeah, I am fine with a robot that transforms into Hot Rod car mode only.

But, I just don't see this happening. Why would Hasbro ditch this option, when the robot mode already has built-in features to represent Rodimus Prime? How would they explain that? "Hot Rod and his magically aging action feature!" ?

As for the Takara version... yeah that thing is aimed at rich, old collectors, but I am not in the first category. There is no way I'd pay 210$ + shipping for any new TF toy. That money is better spent on my Fort Max fund. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

This post has been edited by BB Shockwave: Sep 20 2010, 07:51 AM

[FortMax]

Plus, the rumor came from a retailer. You'd think there'd be an actual product description or something. This whole thing screams of HE TELL ME.

This post has been edited by FortMax: Sep 20 2010, 07:56 AM

[ZacWilliam1]

I'd prefer with trailer. I'd also prefer under $100.

If it can't do both, then I'd still happily buy it w/o trailer as long as the price were decent.

[Detour]

Since I can't afford the Takara version, yes. Trailer is a must on a western release.

[RYNO]

Getting the Takara Masterpiece Version, so i have no need for a gutted Hasbro version.

[Dake]

Being completely selfish, I would rather Hasbro released a much cheaper, trailer-less version Stateside b/c I'm buying the Takara version anyway.

That being said, if they can get the full package for something closer to 100 than 200, I'd be happy for folks over here though I don't know if I'd buy him.

So, no trailer and 60 bucks? I'd probably buy. Trailer and 130+ bucks? I probably won't buy... unless it has something else major going for it.

[Powered Convoy]

But, I just don't see this happening. Why would Hasbro ditch this option, when the robot mode already has built-in features to represent Rodimus Prime? How would they explain that? "Hot Rod and his magically aging action feature!" ?

Plus, the rumor came from a retailer. You'd think there'd be an actual product description or something. This whole thing screams of HE TELL ME.

I think the rumor stems from the fact that the Rodimus Robot on his own is slightly bigger than Grimlock, which pushes the envelope for big Transformer figures by Hasbro. Anything bigger (with the trailer he's double the size/mass and probably almost double the amount of parts) gets into the area of being too expensive for any stores to carry as well as too big a package to carry on store shelves. I imagine they'd want to display him in robot mode too, so the trailer would have to be some where along side him in the packaging. Takara can get around that as their packaging never has windows and he could be in truck mode inside the box (with just a long box).

It doesn't help he's not a live action film item either.

Randy

[BB Shockwave]

Who cares - just like MP Grimlock, he is a collector's item, and Hasbro knows that. They can make him into a BBTS exclusive, or have him sold from their own website, for all I care - all I want is a reduction of this ridiculous price. Hasbro Grimlock costs half the price Takara's did... and don't anyone tell me it's because of a cheaper box or lack of the cartoon accessories. Nope, Takara just wanted to earn more on that toy.

[Spark]

If the color and details are reasonably different (given Hasbro's current theme with Masterpiece figures, he'd gain paint apps that match his old stickers), I'd probably bite. It would become a definite if he came with a Targetmaster as rumored.

[Zyking]

Takara can get away with it because they know that there are more than enough people willing to buy it for that price.

Also, some people don't buy a lot of transfomers, perhaps only 1, 2 or 3 a year or so. MP/Alt/BT collectors for example.

I will most likely get the takara version, myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)


Also, I'm pretty sure that Fansproject/iGear/CracyDevyParts or similar will release a targetmaster component for MP Rodimus...along with a fishing rod and Daniel.

This post has been edited by Zyking: Sep 20 2010, 08:46 AM

[Powered Convoy]

Who cares - just like MP Grimlock, he is a collector's item, and Hasbro knows that. They can make him into a BBTS exclusive, or have him sold from their own website, for all I care - all I want is a reduction of this ridiculous price. Hasbro Grimlock costs half the price Takara's did... and don't anyone tell me it's because of a cheaper box or lack of the cartoon accessories. Nope, Takara just wanted to earn more on that toy.

I'm just saying. I wouldn't be surprised if they left it out.

Takara has a different market where they can charge $100 or more for an item like that. As there is a standard for high quality high detail robot collectibles in Japan (see anything released by Bandai or Yamato). Hasbro doesn't have that kind of niche market here in the US. It's very small. They don't market high end collectibles. Statues and busts exist for that market, but not fully robot collectibles like they have in Japan. That's what they have Sideshow, Hard Hero, and those other companies for.

BBTS likely took the Seacons on as an Exclusive because they haven't been released in G1 like colors since 1988. It's not the same for MP Rodimus. Which would be a huge financial burden on the likes of BBTS if they were the sole US distributor of the an item that big with a lot of costs to recoup for the production (as it's probably shared between Takara & Hasbro - where the Seacons as a redeco of an old toy likely has little development costs). As it's not like with the Seacons where Takara didn't release a G1 Seacons earlier like they will have for Rodimus.

See if Takara released the G1 Seacons last year, and then BBTS carried them a year later (now), there wouldn't be that much interest in them as there is now (with no relevant release in over 10 years besides the very limited and very different TCC release). It wouldn't be the same situation for Rodimus. And how much would they have to charge if they were the only people to have MP Rodimus? I imagine it would be very expensive.

A Rodimus without a trailer would be a lot cheaper than one with a trailer, and is still a fully functional figure too. Personal feelings of disappointment or not, it wouldn't be totally out of the question for Hasbro to do so. I definitely think one release (Hasbro or a TakaraTomy redeco) won't include the trailer for this reason (the fact you can have Hot Rod without the trailer).

Randy

[Spark]

Considering all the parts used in converting Hot Rod's car mode into flaming winnebago seem to be contained on the trailer, I don't think it has a chance in Hell of making it Stateside. I'd go so far as to say it was designed with that intention in mind.

[Shockwave 75]

I can't really cast a vote here with these options. The third option seems targeted more at people who are already getting the Tak/Tom version. I f someone isn't getting that one at all, what difference do any changes made to it's deco or accessories make?
The poll seems to assume that the voter is getting MP Rodimus one way or another.

I'm not getting the Tak/Tom version, but I don't really know if I'd get the Hasbro version either. I don't know that I'd be satisfied with simply a Masterpiece Hot Rod. I'd feel like I was only getting half a figure.

And I agree that I think the only reason Tak/Tom charges so much is because they can. I paid $180 Canadian for MP Grimlock, and I don't regret it at all, but I really don't believe that the bow tie, apron, drink tray, and transfer helmet make up the $100 difference.
I love those accessories (he looks awesome with the apron on!), and I really don't like the deco addtions Hasbro made to him. Not to mention all the reports I'm reading of loose knee joints and such.

I think if Hasbro can't affordably release him here properly as Rodimus Prime, then they shouldn't bother at all. It would just make my long list of cool Japanese figures that I can't afford to get.

This post has been edited by Shockwave 75: Sep 20 2010, 10:52 AM

[Powered Convoy]

Takara's figures are almost always more than Hasbro's, but a lot of it lately is the weak US dollar. Making something that would be $115 to $130 a few years ago now $155. But their increased cost can lead to more accessories or more detailed paint jobs, etc.

I'm also wondering if the people who are saying 'No' they won't buy the Hasbro one without a trailer, will any way if it does come without the trailer? Just because it's the only viable option for them (say paying $60 to $70 for the figure or importing the Takara one at $200 or so).

Randy

[Octavius Prime]

The poll seems to assume that the voter is getting MP Rodimus one way or another.

I'm also wondering if the people who are saying 'No' they won't buy the Hasbro one without a trailer, will any way if it does come without the trailer? Just because it's the only viable option for them (say paying $60 to $70 for the figure or importing the Takara one at $200 or so).

Shockwave - I don't really see that many of us, as Randy points out, passing on both the Japanese and US versions even if the US version is w/o trailer and essentially just a MP Hot Rod. I mean, that's clearly what some people are voting to say here (although I suppose one interpretation of the "no" vote is "I want both versions, but only if they both have trailers, with some "no" voters getting the Takara one anyway).

But, unless someone really just doesn't like Hot Rod/imus or expensive toys, I don't see why you'd pass on a perfectly good MP Hot Rod even if you couldn't get a MP Rodimus at (at least) twice the price. I mean, assuming he's close to Grimlock's price.

[▲ndrusi]

But, unless someone really just doesn't like Hot Rod/imus or expensive toys, I don't see why you'd pass on a perfectly good MP Hot Rod even if you couldn't get a MP Rodimus at (at least) twice the price. I mean, assuming he's close to Grimlock's price.

I don't see why I would. I don't have any of the other MPs. What would be my reason for starting now?