Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 review: "The ultimate piece of fan-service"

The Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 set is the stuff dreams are made of. Besides recreating one of the most iconic vehicles in movie history with painstaking detail, it has a few tricks up its sleeve that makes it truly delightful to show off as well as display. 

Yes, it costs a small fortune. And yes, it takes up lots of space. But Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 is the ultimate piece of fan service. Actually, scratch that - it's one of the best Lego sets by a wide, wide margin. Although this version is a beat-up old scrapheap that's seen better days (it's based on the Cadillac's appearance in 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife), the model is anything but slapdash; it's a complex, intricate figure with numerous moving parts and plenty of hidden details.

Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 - features

How easy is it to build?

• Takes around 10 hours
• Quite complex
• Lots of moving pieces to connect 

It took Finn Wolfhard's character a while to put the real deal back together in Afterlife, so it's only right that building the Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 is a complicated process. This is one of the more difficult sets I've made, and the likes of Lego Optimus Prime seem like child's play by comparison.

To be precise, completing this kit took roughly 10 hours over the course of multiple evenings. And despite the instructions being easy to follow for the most part (they split the build into bite-size chunks with separate, numbered bags as per usual), it often uses a single image to show where multiple bricks are going… but the green outlines it uses to identify those bricks are a bit too discreet. I'd frequently miss them and spend longer than I'd care to admit wondering what I was supposed to do next.

Still, at least the pictures are clear with easily identifiable pieces; you won't end up grabbing the wrong part by mistake because its color in the book is different. That's a blessing because it can be difficult to fix something you got wrong earlier in the build without taking whole chunks apart (particularly when the roof is added).

Fortunately, the journey is an enjoyable one even if that does happen. Lego delights in adding unnecessary but endearing flourishes to its models (be it details you'll never see again after it's finished or sticker panels that aren't visible most of the time), and the ECTO-1 is no different.

The instruction booklet itself is more like a coffee table read, too. Besides descriptions of what to do, it's of a surprisingly high quality and is crammed with details about the car from Afterlife.

Design

• So much intricate detail
• Cleverly-hidden interactive parts
• Picture-perfect recreation

When it's finally done, the Lego ECTO-1 looks incredible. It's really cool even mid-way through the process. Whether it's discovering that the steering wheel actually works or the doors can be opened, there's something satisfyingly tactile and interactive about this set. None of this is 'necessary', but that's why it's special. A lot of care has gone into this ode to the Ghostbusters, and it's evident in every brick. Even seeing that iconic white chassis take shape panel by panel is a delight.

As you'd expect, that makes it a superb display piece. There's so much to see here, and no space is wasted; peek through the window and you'll find a proton pack along with a containment unit in the back, while popping the hood reveals a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor engine. Multiple rust-effect stickers give it a detailed but not overly-busy appearance, too. You could spend quite a while happily drinking it all in.

However, putting it on a pedestal and leaving it there would be a shame. The Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 is surprisingly interactive, and that's where it goes from 'good' to 'great'. Yes, the doors all open and the wheels move. But the real party tricks will make you feel like a kid again, playing with their new toy on Christmas morning.

To start with, pressing a hidden button on the side pops the 'gunner' seat out of the car via metallic 'pistons', ready to bust some ghosts. Its reveal was one of the coolest moments in Afterlife, and that makes seeing it replicated here so seamlessly a tick in the win column.

Secondly, you can pull a tab at the back that lowers a ramp where the boot should be. This releases a mini Ghost Trap on wheels, and even though the handle for doing so is a bit finicky, the mechanism as a whole works remarkably well.

Last but certainly not least, rolling the ECTO-1 along will cause the instruments on the roof to spin just like they do in the movie. The circular siren light at the front also has a secret function; twisting it will turn the wheels.

Seeing an unsuspecting visitor's reaction to all this is really wonderful. You'd never be able to tell it can do all that at a glance, making it a fun conversation starter as well as a display piece.

Just proceed with caution: as with all Lego kits, the ECTO-1 can be a little fragile.

Should you buy Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1?

If someone asked me whether it was worth picking up this Lego set, I wouldn't hesitate. This is by far one of the coolest kits on shelves right now, and if you're a fan of the franchise, you need the Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 in your life. Much like the Ultimate Collector Series Millennium Falcon or the Lego Home Alone house, it does this slice of nerd royalty justice.

Sure, it's a fair bit pricier than Lego's Back to the Future DeLorean or the more recent Batmobile. But it's also more interactive. In fact, it rivals some of the more expensive Technic kits in terms of complexity - and size.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1

I put together the Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 over the course of many evenings with my wife, and it took around 10 hours in total. We then proceeded to drive it around making 'nee-naw' noises like idiots, but we had to do due diligence. I was also sure to test how sturdy the various mechanisms were in use after the build was completed.

For more information on our process, take a look at how we test products.

Want some recommendations? Don't miss these essential Lego Star Wars sets, not to mention the top Lego Super Mario sets. Meanwhile, you can save money via our dedicated page of Lego deals.