I first learned of Playmobil when I was looking for toys without lead paint and other harmful chemicals, in short, toys not made in China.
I decided to start something small so if it didn't work out I am not out a lot of money.
The little race car at the hands of a very curious and rough 18 month old has survived very well, and it even still tracks straight. Unlike the made in China toy cars that go sideways from day one. Also, after some intense gnawing from that same 18 month old boy, the painted decorations are still intact, unlike some of the made in China toy car presents from our friends that have now ended up in some landfill somewhere because paint on those things came off on the first gnaw from my son.
The one big con of Playmobil toys, much like Lego's, is that you can very easily spend a few hundred dollars on Amazon because they are clearly marketed to parents who would have liked to have these when they were kids.