What Modular Should I Buy?

[Boettner Builds]

I would get the grand emporium first. It just retired a little bit ago and it's double MSRP. Get it before it gets to that really crazy price, the when your LEGO budget allows, get the pet shop.

Town Hall and Fire brigade are pretty spendy now :(

[JaHawk2009]

Went to the Lego store yesterday evening, and they were out of Pet Shop, with staff unsure when it would be coming back in. I picked up Brick Bank, cause I wanted something to build on my days off, going to order Pet Shop with my next paycheque. Thanks for the advice, it's cool hearing what everyone thinks - I was planning on getting them in this order; Brick Bank, Pet Shop, Detective Office, Parisian Restaurant, Palace Cinema - would that make sense, or are there certain ones I should pick up first?

[Agent 86]

You should probably get them in the reverse order of release (i.e. oldest first). So, Pet Shop, Palace Cinema, Parisian Restaurant and then Detective's Office.

But, your build order may be different. For example, I would build the Detective's Office because I considered it to be the "worst" build.

[JaHawk2009]

You should probably get them in the reverse order of release (i.e. oldest first). So, Pet Shop, Palace Cinema, Parisian Restaurant and then Detective's Office.

But, your build order may be different. For example, I would build the Detective's Office because I considered it to be the "worst" build.

Really? That's interesting, I'd heard a lot of good things about the DO. To be honest, the Pet Shop is the most lukewarm release for me, with all the others looking beautiful in their official pics, the Pet Shop doesn't have the same wow factor, but I suppose thats somewhat intentional to make it versatile.

[Withacee]

You should probably get them in the reverse order of release (i.e. oldest first). So, Pet Shop, Palace Cinema, Parisian Restaurant and then Detective's Office.

I agree. Most people I know who did not do this wish they had after the modular bug got to them, and they found out one or more modulars were retired in the mean time.

About the DO: personally, I liked building that. It's not my favourite building, but I still like it a lot.

Green Grocer, Pet shop and Parisian Restaurant are my favourites.

Pet Shop looks very nice, and can also be split into two separate buildings, which is great for variation.

[pirzyk]

Really? That's interesting, I'd heard a lot of good things about the DO. To be honest, the Pet Shop is the most lukewarm release for me, with all the others looking beautiful in their official pics, the Pet Shop doesn't have the same wow factor, but I suppose thats somewhat intentional to make it versatile.

It is the oldest of the current Modulars and all the newer ones have more details spent on the interiors. You may want to compare the PS to its contemporaries, like the Fire Brigade, Town Hall and Grand Emporium.

[Herky]

Agree with everyone, if you want to collect the modular, start with older first that you can afford, that is up to your checkbook, but they will only go up in price. My favorite, mostly cause it was my first one was the fire brigade if you can afford it. Seems that as soon as one retires, it doubles in price.

[VintageLegoEra]

Best has a lot of meaning. Example:

-Best in price.

-Best in size, look and design.

-Best in numbers of minifigures.

:)

[goldengraham09]

im attempting to build the town hall from bricklink atm.

only spent about £120 atm as i had some parts and then i ordered some other parts for other things also.

But i bought the pet shop first as i believe that will go off the shelf soon.

then it will be Palace Cinema, Parisian Restaurant, Detectives Office, Brick Bank. all hopefully over the next 5 months (one every month).

then carry on either briclinking all the other modulars i missed out on or just saving for the set.

[Boettner Builds]

The grand emporium will be next to impossible to bricklink. All of those dark green windows will be a problem. I'm pretty sure buying a compete one, even at double MSRP will be cheaper...

[ironhammers]

I am looking at getting a modular building tomorrow.

Which do you think is the best out of Detectives Office and Parisian Restaurant and why?

Thank you.

(I don't have Palace Cinema or Pet Shop because I find they lack quality compared to the rest)

[ezaida18]

Parisian Restaurant as it came out before DO. Better get it while you can. :) Both offer a lot of details and playability factors.

[ezaida18]

I agree. I'm trying to BL the GE and am deciding what color to change those windows. Has anyone built it in a different color scheme?

[BlockLogo]

Parisian Restaurant is the better one in my opinion, but it's close. The DO is a great build too, especially towards the end, an both have some really unique building techniques and elements.

Also, rather than creating a new topic for a question like this, maybe post in existing threads, like the "Which set should I buy" in the general discussion subforum or the main modular thread in the city forum.

Edited January 15, 2016 by BlockLogo

[-Noel-]

I would go with the Parisian restaurant. It's the only one of the two I own (putting a damper on my judgement), but the price-per-piece ratio is epic. Also, if you ever build a landscape, the amount of olive green will help a lot (A LOT).

[ironhammers]

Thanks for the opinions guys.

Parisian Restaurant is the better one in my opinion, but it's close. The DO is a great build too, especially towards the end, an both have some really unique building techniques and elements.

Also, rather than creating a new topic for a question like this, maybe post in existing threads, like the "Which set should I buy" in the general discussion subforum or the main modular thread in the city forum.

Noted. Thank you friend.

[Capn Frank]

Merged all "Which Modular? Topics into one. A new topic doesn't need to be started when asking what modular you'd like to buy. Just ask in this topic.

[Boettner Builds]

I agree. I'm trying to BL the GE and am deciding what color to change those windows. Has anyone built it in a different color scheme?

I haven't seen any other colour windows, but something tells me that black would probably look best.

[trav99ss]

I'm pretty surprised by all the unfavorable comments for the Palace Cinema. Having just come out of my dark ages, I went to the Lego store to pick up a Helicarrier and saw the PC built on display. It immediately rekindled my childhood interest in building a Lego city. Must say that I really enjoyed building it and think it looks pretty awesome when built. Building the GE now and they will be the first two cogs in my town... (got all the current modulars bought as well).

Pretty stoked too as I had an unexpected 10% off coupon from Paypal for any eBay purchase up to $1k. Caught a TH on there and got it for a pretty good price. Still way more than I want to pay, but really wanted the Town Hall pretty badly. Unfortunately, I think the GG and CC are pretty much out of reach.

Edited January 18, 2016 by trav99ss

[DarthBley]

Have all the modulars except cc, and palace cinema is by far the worst build for me. Really enjoyed gg, ps, th, fb, but found ge and pc to be meh...

[MrCradock]

I have Grand Emporium, Pet Shop (x2), Palace Cinema (x2), Parisian Restaurant, Detective Office og Brick Bank (x2). My favourite is the Parisian Restaurant. Both interior and exterior are full of details and lot of nice building techniques.

I will also recommend getting the Haunted House (although it isnt a modular, it just need small mods to fit the modular platform) and make a modular out of it. I had a lot of fun building that one. It fits a 32x32 nice. If you choose the keep the gate (I did) the pavement will be around five studs and that leaves you with a little tiny garden in the front and on both sides.

[eric87]

I also have all the modulars and would recommend getting Parisian restaurant.

[Celery]

Just ordered the FB off amazon, I like the older, larger style more than the newer, smaller and more detailed modulars we have gotten recently. I have all of them but the first three now which sadly, due to the prices, I will never get.

[Chubbs]

Just ordered the FB off amazon, I like the older, larger style more than the newer, smaller and more detailed modulars we have gotten recently. I have all of them but the first three now which sadly, due to the prices, I will never get.

What did you pay for it from Amazon?

[Celery]

What did you pay for it from Amazon?

A little under $400 with prime shipping, best price I have seen since I have been watching it recently. I found MISB ones on bricklink for around $325 plus shipping but the little extra on Amazon is worth the convenience.