LEGO Reviews Technic42123

McLaren Senna GTR

Name: LEGO McLaren Senna GTR 42123
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 42123
Rating: 4.79 (10181 reviews)

71 · RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: BBB2021830 pcsHigh agreement · 94%

Expert reviews

4analyzed

Owner ratings

10.2K+

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"A BrickScore of 70.8 backed by a 4.79 owner average from over 10,000 buyers confirms the McLaren Senna GTR as one of the most satisfying mid-size Technic cars ever released: the combination of working pistons, butterfly doors, and a $50 price point made it a near-instant classic in the lineup."

The McLaren Senna GTR (42123) is a mid-tier Technic car that reviewers and owners agree punches well above its $49.99 price point, delivering a visually striking supercar body with functional moving pistons and dihedral butterfly doors. With a BrickScore of 70.8 (Recommended) and an owner average of 4.79 across more than 10,000 ratings spanning Amazon, Walmart, and LEGO.com, the set has proven one of the most broadly appealing Technic cars at this scale. Both critics and buyers are aligned: the price-to-features ratio is the headline story here.

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LOVED (6)

01Functional V8 piston movement driven by the rear wheels, consistently described as the highlight of the build
02Dihedral butterfly doors that open upward in authentic McLaren fashion
03Visually accurate and aggressive supercar proportions for a mid-scale Technic set
04Excellent price-to-piece ratio at $0.06 per piece and $49.99 MSRP for 830 pieces
05Engaging build experience accessible to first-time Technic builders while still satisfying veterans
06Steering knob on the roof connects to front wheels for playable functionality after completion

CRITICIZED (5)

01Sticker application is extensive; several reviewers found it tedious, though the finished result was generally considered worth the effort
02Simplified engine block compared to larger Technic cars, which disappointed reviewers who prioritize internal mechanical detail
03Only one rear wheel is mechanically linked to the piston mechanism; the other is decorative, a compromise some experienced builders noticed
04Headlights are barely visible in the finished model
05Instructions for the piston-to-chassis connection step were unclear for some builders, requiring disassembly to correct

What reviewers are saying

"it has that functional working pistons in the engine which is amazing one of my favorite things out of Technic"

DG Bricks

"I seemed to have complained about it quite a lot but actually I do like it."

Brickset Reviews

"The car isn't instantly recognizable from this particular angle, so, were it not for the branding and logos, I doubt I would have recognized the car."

The Brothers Brick

"better than I expected"

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"Overall, I enjoyed the build. It felt better than the 42122-1 Jeep Wrangler I built previous for a review."

Rebrickable Reviews

Ecosystem

42125 Ferrari 488 GTE 'AF Corse #51' — The Ferrari is over 3 times the price but only double the number of pieces, making the Senna a much more compact and affordable option. The Senna's smaller scale is preferable for display collections.

42093 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 — The McLaren Senna shows 'amazing improvement' over the Corvette ZR1. The reviewer initially criticized the Senna's single-driven rear wheel (vs. the Corvette's differential), but later conceded the simpler design made sense for exterior detailing. The Senna also features an angled steering wheel, which the reviewer notes even the larger Ferrari 488 GTE lacks.

42125 Ferrari 488 GTE — The McLaren Senna's box design is less informative than the Ferrari's (which includes two pictures of the real car vs. one small rear view for the Senna). The Ferrari has more detailed building instructions with bonus content about the car and team. However, the Senna features an angled steering wheel whereas the Ferrari's has no angle. Regarding headlights, the reviewer defends the Senna's print design as a reasonable alternative to brick-built elements, contrasting with reader complaints about the Ferrari's printed headlights.

Corvette ZR1 — The Senna GTR has a better drivetrain setup with the engine positioned more appropriately and pistons less obtrusive compared to the ZR1, where pistons stuck out from the side of the hood.

TechnicTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 5

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

DG Bricks

Expert Video Source

BUY

"it has that functional working pistons in the engine which is amazing one of my favorite things out of Technic"

Key Pros

✓Functional working pistons in engine
✓Premium aesthetic appearance
✓Strong aftermarket demand with buyers willing to pay premium prices

Key Cons

✕Three-year shelf life makes it prone to retirement
✕Was heavily discounted at Walmart Black Friday 2023 (50% off to $25)

JUMP TO REVIEW

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"I seemed to have complained about it quite a lot but actually I do like it."

Key Pros

✓Small, compact size fits in most display spaces
✓Good rendition of the car given Technic constraints and scale
✓Working V8 engine with pistons and front-wheel steering

Key Cons

✕Too many stickers, particularly front wheel arch printed details making them mandatory
✕Model appears too narrow compared to real car proportions (scale is 1:16 length, 1:18 width)

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The Brothers Brick

Expert Video Source

BUY

"The car isn't instantly recognizable from this particular angle, so, were it not for the branding and logos, I doubt I would have recognized the car."

Key Pros

✓Excellent exterior design and detailing level, with exquisite panel shapes
✓Signature massive rear wing with detailed shape and stickers on every side
✓Impressive headlight design using transparent System pieces (brick-built approach)

Key Cons

✕Box photography fails to showcase the car's distinctive rear anti-wing; car doesn't look instantly recognizable from the chosen angle
✕Building instructions lack extra content (minimal facts about the car, design, or heritage) unlike the Ferrari 488 GTE's comprehensive guide

JUMP TO REVIEW

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

"better than I expected"

Key Pros

✓Good physical design and body work execution
✓Enjoyable build process with appropriate piece usage
✓Reasonable visual compromise for a Technic set

Key Cons

✕Limited Technic functions (could have more complexity)
✕No connection between steering wheel and tires (hand-of-God steering only)

JUMP TO REVIEW

Rebrickable Reviews

Editorial Source

MIXED

"Overall, I enjoyed the build. It felt better than the 42122-1 Jeep Wrangler I built previous for a review."

Key Pros

✓Excellent aesthetic design that accurately represents the real car
✓Enjoyable build experience across three stages
✓Good-looking final result, especially with stickers applied

Key Cons

✕Limited Technic functionality for 830 parts (only steering, fake engine, opening doors)
✕Heavy reliance on stickers for visual appeal; looks plain without them

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Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Investment score 75

Buy now (2)Wait for sale (1)

Exclusivity

DG Bricks: Wide retail

Brickset Reviews: Licensed McLaren set, first in Technic theme

Resale

DG Bricks: Buyers consistently willing to pay $55-$75 on secondary market, well above $50 MSRP

Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Functional working pistons
Operating engine mechanism; one of the reviewer's favorite Technic features
Front wheel arch printed panels with silver hexagonal pattern
Printed details depicting Richard Mille luxury watch brand sponsorship; prevents viable option of skipping stickers
1×3 panel in blue
New mold; previously seen in yellow in 42122 Jeep Wrangler and in red and black in 42125 Ferrari 488 GTE.
Flexible axles in blue
Described as 'a nice surprise' and used in combination with angle connectors to form the distinctive shapes above the rear wheels and around the back of the vehicle.
Narrow 43.2 x 14 tires (front wheels)
Different pair from the regular tires on rear axles; as of the review date, found in eight other sets total.
Transparent System pieces for headlights
Brick-built headlights rather than prints; sit deep under panels but are visible from the front; reviewer praises this design choice.

What Owners Say

Owners overwhelmingly love the McLaren Senna GTR as a sharp-looking, rewarding Technic build at an excellent price point, though a vocal minority report frustrating issues with missing pieces and jamming engine pistons.

COMMON PRAISE

+Striking, accurate appearance that closely resembles the real McLaren Senna GTR
+Engaging build experience praised by first-time Technic builders and veterans alike
+Moving engine pistons connected to the rear wheel are a standout mechanical feature
+Excellent value for roughly 830 pieces at a ~$50 price

COMMON COMPLAINTS

−Multiple owners report missing pieces that halt the build mid-progress
−Engine pistons can jam and block rear wheels from turning, requiring disassembly to fix
−Smaller scale than many hoped; owners wanted a 1:8 build rather than 1:16
−High sticker count (46) and one awkward axle that is nearly impossible to remove once inserted

accurate stylingengaging buildmoving pistonsmissing partsgreat value

Buyer Ratings

Amazon4.8

9,263 reviews

89%