Best toys for 3 - 8yr boys - feedback for longlivity, fun, strength & therefore value

[bacon]

I would like to big up Bruder toys www.bruder.de/en/germany/range/range-and-series/professional-series/construction/ . IMO the best for strength and the amount of fun. These boys come out everyday and go everywhere with them.

Apart for these coloured pencils and lego are the only things they bother with the rest is dumped.

Wonder if anyone can add to this to give me inspiration.

Any of the Fisher Price Imaginext toys, DS (5) loves them!

Ours would have to be the Hoberman Sphere
Not really a toy as such - but my boys love it, and every child who comes to our house is fascinated by it.

Tower of Doom and figures from ELC has also been a great favourite with my two

Playmobil and Lego are ds's favourites (he's 3).

Wooden train track and stations/bridges/tunnels - the Thomas range is Ds' favourite, but Brio do less expensive bits, and BigJigs do cheaper bits still, which are good.

Orchard Toys puzzles - excellent quality.

Schleich (sp?) animals. Bloody pricey (but often a 3 for 2 deal in ELC/The Entertainer) but fantastic quality.

Any Duplo.