Look-alikes to tempt tots

Wouldn't you love to wake up on Christmas morning and find a new BMW or Mercedes-Benz SL convertible with your name on it under the tree?

Yes, so would I. Sadly, if you're old enough to be reading this, you've got no hope of that happening unless you've got a very big tree and somebody who loves you very much has an equally large bank balance.

But Santa could be bringing that car if you're lucky enough to still be a kid (and no, lads, I mean a real, under-age-type tot).

Welcome to the world of pedal-powered prestige motoring. For about $560, your little darling can be zooming around the house in the SL. This desirable vehicle comes complete with side mirrors to keep an eye on whether the family pet is gaining on you, a handbrake to help execute those quick stops before you hit the kitchen wall; and perhaps for a couple of tight handbrake turns around the lounge; and a horn to let everybody in the house know you're coming.

Smart parents will locate the wiring that works the horn and disconnect it on Christmas Eve.

If the SL's price tag is a tad hefty, there are some more affordable versions around. Well affordable compared with the PlayStation3 they've been nagging you for. BMW has a gorgeous version of the latest 3 Series convertible for $399, with adjustable seats and pedals so they can still fit into it as they grow from three to five years old. BMW says the car comes with hard-wearing rubber wheels that are “kind on parquet floors and also minimise driving noise.” No mention of how they sound running over uneven old floorboards. But thankfully no mention of a horn on the accessories list either.

For about the same price, you can get Volvo's C70 - recommended for three-year-olds and up; it comes with wing mirrors, lights and alloy wheels, or the $100 Volvo C30 with steering wheel and horn.

For younger learner drivers (one to three), there is the $189 BMW-Sauber F1 Racer and the 150 Mini Baby Racer, both of which are designed for the L-plater to sit on and scoot around. These offer features like a nappy-friendly large plush seat, soft-covered steering wheel and non-skid-marking plastic tyres. And a horn.

The imaginatively named Australian Pedal Car Company also does a nice line of quality powder-coated vehicles with a retro theme and snazzy paint jobs, ranging from $179 to $399. There are racers, hot rods and even a fire truck, some of which are big enough to take a nine-year-old. This model line-up has a well-stacked equipment list, including side steps, low-profile tyres, spare wheel, glass headlamps, pretend crank handle and chrome steering wheel and grille. They have a claxton horn.

For a truly retro gift, you can occasionally find a vintage pedal car, like the early Holdens or the Ford Mustang that appeared with the original in 1965, in antique shops or at auctions.

And we're talking Sotheby's auctions, not the local trash-fest. These cars in good condition can fetch as much as you'd pay for the adult-sized one.

How does this expensive toy compare to the toy (cars) you had as a child?