I like collecting coins as much as the next person, but what can I use them for in Mario Kart 7? Do I get a free life if I collect enough of them?
2 Answers
When you run over a coin, you get a short burst of extra speed. Each coin that you get in a race, up to 10, will increase your Kart's maximum speed.
Your cumulative total of coins collected will unlock options for your Kart - including alternate Kart bodies, wheels, and gliders.
Coins will not grant a free life.
Unlike in the first Mario Kart, where they acted as a buffer against other players crashing into you, coins appear to act as currency now for buying new kart components.
Coins are to be found along a race track, and can be underwater, on the road, or in the air. Collecting coins on different tracks will allow the player to unlock vehicle parts used for customization.
Source: Mario Wiki
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3In the first Mario Kart, their primary purpose was actually to increase your speed. Commented Feb 18, 2012 at 7:17