Since Sarge disappeared from the store shelves last summer, most eBay sellers have been content to sell the Desert Art 12 & 16-CARS back ones at a nice markup ($15-$25 dollars).

However, with the recent Mini & other releases, some less than ethical people are trying to take advantage of the situation by pawning off other Sarge’s as “the one.” (the 1:55 series one … sort of like the Frank the Combine situation by selling off 1-part from a $15 board game for $20-$30 dollars.

This is the Sarge from the MINI ADVENTURES series (aka: Mini’s):

So look carefully – note the expression, color, color of canopy and the overall detailing on the METAL diecast versus the all plastic mini. It is also incorrect to call all-plastic diecast so if you see any eBay auctions trying to pawn off the Mini’s without explaining that this loose Sarge is a Mini should either be reported to eBay or if the seller gets enough people hounds them, they might get wht people don’t appreciate being mislead … It is tempting as they are starting the opening auction price or setting a BUY-IT-NOW price under $10 dollars … but a Mini Sarge is not a 1:55 Sarge. Now, if you are okay with a Mini Sarge or want a loose Mini, of course, buy away but just be careful you are getting what you want (more Mini Sarge’s are being shipped as we speak so why pay three times as much for 1/2 of a Mini 2-pack for under $5?)

The regular Sarge is a hair over 2″ in length and the Mini Sarge is a hair over 1″ in length.

Of course, now with the Disney Store releases, there might be others they are trying to pawn off so here are some of the others (no Sarge pics as I’m not collecting any of them but you get the idea).

The two above are the ONLY Sarge’s from Mattel.

All these others are from the Disney store.

THE FIGURINES

They’ve been around since the beginning of the movie release – not sure if they were every re-stocked or they’re still selling what’s left over from 2006. For a diecast collector like them, they just look lumpy and to me, what’s the point of a car (any car) that is not metal and rolls with precision?

THE NEW 4″ LINE

Appearing last week, I finally went and took a look – and my review is me’h. They are somewhere in between a 1:32 and 1:43 scale so that’s a huge strike – you have to pick a scale that already exists – but what’s worse – it varies within the line itself – the King is like 1:50 scale and McQueen is 1:43 so shabby continuity within the line is just bad plus, the sculpts aren’t even as nice as the Mattel 1:55 line. The SOLE REASON to make a larger scale is to add more detailing (okay, there’s the profit thing) so why would you pay extra for something larger that is not as nice as a smaller scale. They might’ve based the sculpts on the figurine line above – notice that McQueen, Sarge & the King’s proportions are just slightly off – you recognize them but clearly not like the first time you saw the Mattel 1:55 CARS and thought – wow, must have … with the figurines and the new 4″ line – me’h. They are $5.50 each. Not horrible – just non-enticing. I think most people will look at them and go – me’h. Fans of Ramone might like the Purple Ramone, that seems the best of the lot and Sarge doesn’t look bad from the photos – none left in the Disney Store I went to though so be warned of massive eBay misleading auctions.

Though the one good thing with the release of this oddball Sarge, perhaps that means regular 1:55 Sarge is now safe to return – all lead free and all.

These also come in a look-alike twin-pack version (in terms of size) but apparently not the same as the twin packs CARS have sound and other features?

THE PULL-BACK 6″ LINE

The Disney store also has a larger 6″ line that has a pullback feature. They are $12.50 or 2 for $20. Again, not horrible but you think a giant 1:43ish scale would produce some killer detailing or better sculpts? Nope … and from what I could touch and the weight, all plastic. Again, none are horrible but even compared to the small 1:55 scale – a collective me’h. Sculpting is a subtle thing – just look at the MINI Fillmore – it’s much tinier at around 1″ long – yet it they managed to pack personality into it – the MINI’s for the most part are so gosh darn cute, who could resist? This thing is just a lump of plastic that vaguely resembles Fillmore – not enticing, cool or interesting enough. It’s just blah.

There is another line from Japan – but since most prices for those start at $15+, it’s unlikely anyone ill try to pass those off as Mattel 1:55 ones.

So, if you’re trying to pick up a Sarge on eBay, make sure you get a photo or the packaging and it does NOT HURT TO ASK if you do NOT see the words 1:55 or Mattel.

Good luck!