This is generally a small set, most likely cost £10(or $10-15 in the USA) which in my opinion is purely awesome.
If your collection mostly consists of the newer star wars sets, you will probably critizise this magnificent little set that it isnt 'sleek', too blocky and the tan parts they put to help it hold together.
Whilst i too agree that this set could instead have been constructed with clear pieces for the stands instead as they may match the sands of tatooine, they most certainly dont match my carpet!

This set lacks of what is now known as 'playability' but im instead grateful that there was a time without those stupid technic mechanisms or flick fires to make a set look like preschool toys!
The flaps can move and that is all i would expect from a marvellous model like this so you could change the way it looks.(a pro for people who display sets)

The figures are generally OK for the time and nowadays they tend to look ancient to a modern collector.(they definetly needed more detail)
Padme specificly looks unique in every way but to be honest, dosent resemble her very well and im still confused as to why they have not re-made her. Even a clone wars version would please me, heck, she's one of the main characters and has appeared in the tv series twice as much as other characters who were made into figs!
Obviously there is something preventing LEGO from creating that fig again.
Anakin is typical(a little dumb in my opinion) and has general torso printing depicting his slave robes, nothing special.
The pit droid is too chunky and does not resemble a pit droid at all, he's also got no tools and i dont even know why he's even there! To stand around and watch maybe?

Now some of the bad points about this.

Lego were clearly to lazy to produce a purple energy beam so they left us with common trans orange instead, which i think makes the podracer seem alittle dumb but i guess trans orange is better than normal orange or whatever.
The little flag is generally a pointless addition to this set and has no use apart from ending up somewhere in the bottom of your brick bucket!

Well, now to sum up my review!
If you find this for a decent price, ide say get it but dont go too overboard as LEGO will be producing a new anakin's podracer which will most certainly feature a better designed and sleeker podracer but this is always going to be a legend in my eyes!

I'd buy this, its detailed and comes with Padm'e, but I still think Padm'e's going to come in a star wars the clone wars set and she'll look better, if your going to buy this for Padm'e, well dont, I got a feelin theres a set coming with a better looking Padm'e soon.

Compared with the other podracer's from Watto's Junk Shop set, this is a classic. It actually stays together, and comes with 2 figures, Padme and Anakin. This was I think the only set that Padme came in, and a really smart-looking pit droid (as far as pit droids go-not far). Probably the best part of the podracer itself is that the flaps on the front can open and close. A great set, the podracer cannot be improved upon. Congratulations Lego, another solid, swooshable job well done!

Update: I wrote this review 1 year ago, but I had to replace some pictures because they were not accurate.

Pod racing... I loved it! The video game too! It was a very good idea to combine the style of ancient chariot racing with futurism. Circus Maximus on the planet Tatooine. Excellent!

So I had to buy a set like this. Even the first version did pretty well, despite being quite angular. The only thing that’s not my favorite is the big special engine piece, the same one that was used with the Naboo fighter. But that was the only way to keep the price of the set low.

Minifigs

The mechanic droid was a good decision, funny. In addition to Anakin, Padmé also performs well in this set. It's true that their faces are still yellow, but I think it's special and the printing is good for its age.

Overall

Anyway, it was cheap set ready in 1999, I think it's a good buy even today. It would have been better if the "energy field" or "force field" between the two engines was transparent purple than in the movie, but that should be the least of a problem. I recommend!

My mode

I took the vehicle off the tan coloured rack-base, because I had to put it on the shelf, not to play. I preferred to place a 2x2 transparent clear brick underneath.

I put a little detail on the engine, a light gray technic gear. That's how it looks better.

This set is good for building a podrace, I used it for a podrace, I even made a stadium. This is the only set I own (from 1999) that is not broken, but its lego, it is a building toy, its sometimes supposed to break. Even without the handle, it does not fall apart,the solution is using 2 Technic pins (with friction slots), you connect 4 lasers with them. The minifigs are good,but they are remaking the Mos Espa podrace, in 2011, I predict that there will be better minifigs.

Pros

-Minifigs

-Racer

Cons

-The flag pole fall down a lot.

-The podracer is fine without the handle.

-The pit droid should look like the one in Lego Star Wars:The Complete Saga.

Overall, this set is good for podracing, I predict better minifigs in 2011.