If you could choose only one...

[Cat]

Me answering this is akin to having to play a game for Jigsaw in 'Saw'.

I can't decide.

Every toy I have is more than that. They tell a story. From the ones I had as a kid (I used to take Bumblebee to church, apparently), to the ones I always wanted as a kid (eg original Prowl), to ones that were given to me by people who were happy they were going to a good home where they'd be appreciated and well kept (eg G1 Jetfire).

I just can't decide.

[Starscream77]

Was looking at my collection and was thinking if I could only keep just one, which would it be? Thought it could make an interesting discussion and to see some of the thoughts on which ONE transformer you would keep if you could only have one?

[Trent]

G1 Ultra Magnus. Fav from childhood.

[Yukitora]

If i glued them altogether to combine into a super cool bot, would that still be classed as one? :P That brick sand 'mountain base'... when wet... encases every bot n part chosen to defend the base! I'd have to take the entire dune!

[jazzcomp]

G1 Jetfire or G1 Hot Rod

[RageOnTheRoads]

Hmmm, collector purgatory.

My gut reaction would be my original g1 Menasor, even in the roughed-up condition he is in. I am ridiculously sentimental, and 21 years of ownership makes it just too darn hard to let go.

[KalEl]

AAAggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! how do i pick!?

[tron07]

I love my galaxy force OP... maybe that will be it. combined with the plane + tiger and still consider 1?

[liegeprime]

okay, after looking at all my figures.... my original 1984 G1 Soundwave (with Buzzsaw). Still complete and playable sans the box ( that was long gone a few years after due to frequent floods in Phils).

He was my first official TF toy given to me back in 1985. For a few years following that, I haven't had any other TF other than a Microman Microx (Reflector) which is also as well still with me. That toy is my very first one, the one that started it all for me, my prime TF toy so to speak. So if ever, it is the one I'd choose.

Plus it fits all the criteria posed by Tets in the first post

Playability - yep still ok to play with ( I ain't rough with my toys thank goodness, I have my Papercraft Tfs for that back then hehehe) and that open to eject gimmick gets anyone all the time! Eject FTW!
Impressiveness - heck yeah - it's Soundwave ! He is superior plus (g1 boys and gals) admit it or not when TF MTMTE first came out and you saw it, Soundwave was a scene stealer! A robot which can store other bots - what a great one man army concept is that! and that synthesized voice! The toy gimmick of press the button to "eject" the tapes was/is awesome IMO. It is also a very poseable toy considering it is from that era compared to all the others.
Nostalgia - oh yeah he fits that bill for me as well - He's my FIRST EVER official TF toy. The character catched my eye watching the betamax tapes of the toons at my neighbors house and I was immediately hooked in the Cartoons and then the toys. Having received him from my aunt I was very very content. I wrote her a letter when I was young asking for Tfs for Xmas. Of course I asked for a gazillion figures heheheh, but I guess I have described Soundwave far more better than the rest coz she said when she was at the shops, she was specifically looking for the cassette tape recorder - so even in my aunt's memory Soundwave makes a lasting impression.
Emotional Connection - yep This I can't describe, but yeah it connects me to that time and feeling of everything about TF lore was fresh, new and oh so bigger than life and yeah sooo feelgood being a "child" again feeling.

[Paul Agnew]

Galaxy Force Optimus Prime and/or Beast Wars Airazor.