Most of the build/value points have been covered in other reviews, but I'd just like to add a couple:

This truck adds a lot to recreating a scene of everyday life in a town, and complements the other subthemes as well. For instance, an errant lego driver could always take out a light pole and this would fit well with the fire, medic, and police units at the scene.

The design is simple but extremely functional and plays very well with the many included accessories. Good work LEGO!

I got this set for Christmas - I was 6 or 7 at the time. I remember just being awed by how much was going on and how much fun me and my brothers had putting all the minifigs to work. The terminal seems quaint by today's standards but was pretty typical of one at a medium sized airport at the time. I rebuilt this set a couple of years ago (minus the helicopter) and it is still every bit as cool as it used to be.

It's too bad the new airport sets don't include runway baseplates as it really detracts from the playability and overall feeling of being an actual airport.

This boat looks much better than the previous one, although having a propeller included would have been a nice bonus.

The boom on the stern adds to the playability but it can't be extended very far due to the new lift cylinder design. there is also no way to lower the raft into the water.

The wheel house is nicely done, as are the lower compartments. My only gripe is that there are areas of empty space towards the stern.

Overall, this is a great set for anyone to pick up!

I'll do the standard pros/ cons review:

Pros:
Vehicle design - the quick response vehicle is a nice complement to the ladder for smaller incidents. The ladder has a new (and pretty nifty) way to access the cab, and there are now two seats for the firefighters.

Garage area - this is very visually appealing and the picture doesn't really do it justice. the skylights are nice but will fall off as they don't attach to anything. Both bays are tall enough to house a large truck as well (why Lego couldn't afford to give us 2 more garage door pieces on the previous station is anyone's guess)

Cons:
The ladder is very short on the truck. One of the selling points of 7945 was the high reach of the booms.

The living area seems to be an afterthought and isn't integrated into the set very well.

The high price! 79.99 is an awful lot for what you get, especially since 7945 was $20 us cheaper, has better play value, and can still be found rather plentifully.

The verdict? Any kid would be happy have it (young or old :) ) - even better if you can find it on sale some day......