Can anyone help me decide between Playmobil and Sylvanian Families?

[NutellaPancakes]

Actually for a birthday present, but I thought this topic might have more people willing to talk about toys.

Dd wants a toy caravan, and I've seen that both Playmobil and SF do caravans and cars to pull them, and also camper vans.

I can't decide which to go for. We have both playmobil and SF at home, and both get played with a lot, but we only really have SF figures, so don't know if vehicles would be any good, whereas I know playmobil would be good quality.

Does anyone have any of the camper or caravans, and would you recommend? SF ones look like they open up a bit wider so younger sister could play too.

Also can't decide whether a camper van or caravan+car would be better - just a camper would be cheaper, but two items looks more impressive

The sylvanian camper van is really good. DD loves it. Quite a lot for your money compared to some sylvanian sets too.

We have both, DD plays with SF one mostly.

I think I am leaning towards the sf camper van. It seems such a pleasingly retro design and pretty colour. Though I do think it's a bit mean it doesn't include any figures.

I was always a bit sceptical about Sylvanian Families - I don't know why - they always seemed a bit dear but last year I picked up the campervan (the roof and side come off) and a car in the sales. Hands down they have been the best buy of all toys I've bought. I have 3 kids - 9,6 and 3 and all have played with them and the campervan in particular has withstood a lot of crashes.

The kids use all kinds of figures - Playmobil, Peppa Pig, Lego, Happyland in them. I don't actually think we have any SF figures.

The Playmobil pirate ship was also a big success.

I was going to say the playmobil one my dd got one for last Christmas (she is 8yo) and it has been played with almost daily!! You get loads of extra bit and pieces and imo is better value for money. SF is seriously over priced.

Mind you playmobil, SF and lego all gets played with interchangeably here.

I would go for Playmobil. DD1 got the SF camper last Christmas, and DD2 got the Playmobil one. The difference in quality is quite astounding IMO.

We have both and mine prefer the playmobil. However from my experiences playmobil people fit easily into sylvanian cars, houses, campers etc whereas sylvanians dont fir properly into playmobil.

or fit - that too!

We have the SF caravan, it's quite delicate and although the accessories are nice they are tiny. It doesn't get played with much now but the play mobile stuff does.

Aargh, and I had almost made my mind up in favour of the Sylvanian one!

That is a good point though about Sylvanians not fitting in Playmobil.

When you say the caravan is "delicate" do you mean it falls apart all the time ? My DC are quite careful and gentle, but if I am going to have to constantly be reattaching doors and mending windows then I will go mad.

I know the Playmobil is almost certainly better value, but I think DD might love the SF more. (Or maybe I am just projecting - I remember really really wanting the SF windmill more than anything - my best friend had it. I never got it ). But I am very against buying plastic tat, definitely don't want to buy something that will break and not get played with.

We have sylvanians families caravan and in my opinion the hinges are quite fragile. DS is incredibly careful with his toys but because he folded a flap slightly wrongly when closing it up it's now permanently broken.

Wish we had gone for playmobil

Having had both...
Playmobil is tougher and for some reason the bits are less likely to get lost. It also gets played with over a longer time span - from the time a toddler can steal choking-sized bits from an older sibling until said toddler is about 11. They also take it apart and put it back together endlessly.

On the other hand, soppy children who like cutey animals adore SFs, which I think are cute but ludicrously expensive.

That was why we had both. The SFs have gone to younger cousins but the Playmobil is being kept for future grandchildren

Playmobil