After all this years it looks futuristic. And great colors used.

Green!

This set was weird and had weak Technic features, but for some reason I really enjoyed it. Still do!

Studs!

Aside from 8257 Cyber Strikers (which wasn't a single build) this was my first larger Technic Set :)

I kinda liked the way the 2 alternate models (tractor-like loader and uhm... a snowplough?) were not shown complete instructions and you had to puzzle them complete like the old system B-models on the back of the box only more complex!

Sure there are more impressive Technic sets out there, but it still was quite fun to build. A special oddity in the 'Design' sub-theme that this belongs to (together with 8444, 8445 and the large 8448) were the 'damper-springs' (part 76320) that would very slowly raise a door or similar when triggered., creating a somewhat 'futuristic-dramatic' effect meant to emphasize the new designs I guess.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Never leave the dampers in place, when keeping the sets assembled! Their inner structures break quite easily when put under the spring's pressure for too long.

Obviously LEGO became aware of this, but seamingly to late. When one of mine broke I called LEGO for a replacement. A week later I got a letter containing a total of 5 of them :D Surely they knew of this quite well and it was better to send so many than risking further requests. (Many thanks to Customer Service btw! Many ways better than a specific other toy company :P)

Strangely though the element survived through the 'great parts purge' around 2004. I wonder if the newer versions from 2008 (when they were eventually discontinued) were improved upon?