Realized I originally made this thread in the cartoon discussion board. I think it makes more sense here so starting over:

Who is your favorite member of any given subgroup?

G1 Seekers: Thundercracker

G1 Coneheads: Thrust

G1 Decepticon Targetmasters: Triggerhappy

G1 Autobot Headmasters: Brainstorm

G1 Turbomasters: Thunderclash

Animated Elite Guard: Safeguard

Animated Team Chaar: Blackout

*not a subgroup but it fits the spirit of the question*:

Favorite Camien: Windblade

 

Swindle, He's my favorite! A charmingly skeevy fella who can sell you almost anything purely through his manipulative wording.

 

Vortex, motherfucker. I love how he's written to be an unhinged, sadistic interrogator.

 

Aerialbots: Quickslinger - specifically his G2 color scheme, just fits with someone who's supposed to brag so damn much

Protectobots: Hot Spot - fearless, responsible, strong, the ideal leader for any team

Technobots: Nosecone - I dunno why but the idea of a meticulous drill tank who NEEDS to take their time doing tasks just sound funny to me ^^;

Throttlebots: Searchlight - incredibly gifted with all his unique scan & search abilities while also being very relatable with his being prone to anxiety & needing to be alone

Monsterbots: Grotusque - no matter the situation, he ALWAYS has to make a joke or have a laugh about something, can't help but appreciate that

 

I love Swindle and First Aid  

 

This. IMO, Swindle is the best non-leader subgroup member in the entire franchise. When he got his own time to shine in Animated, I didn't miss the other Combaticons at all.

 

Ark Crew: Jazz
Female Transformers: Windblade
Seekers: Starscream
Stunticons: All of them equally
Combaticons: Swindle
Targetmasters: Crosshairs(A) & Slugslinger(D)
Original Thirteen Primes: Solus Prime

 

I'll refrain from the Combaticons because I love almost all of them,so...

Season 1 Decepticon jets : Starscream, a major character with so much potential to his character.

Season 2 Decepticon jets : Ramjet, favorite deco out of the entire jets and I like how he solves his problems with ramming things.

Season 1 minibots : Cliffjumper, a gung-ho shrimp, what's not to like?

Season 2 minibots : Warpath, a literal walking tank that shouts a lot like a kid with a toy gun, very fun character.

Dinobots : Grimlock, because he has more exposure and I like the discrepancy between his robot mode face and his personality.

Insecticons : Bombshell, I like the insect mode and his mind controlling bugs. It makes him very dangerous.

Stunticons : Dead End, he's so pessimistic it's funny.

Aerialbot : Slingshot, enjoyed his turn from hating humans and fascinated with the Decepticon jets to hating them.

Protectobot : First Aid( Hot Spot comes close), because the episode The Ultimate Weapon.

Predacon : Headstrong, has quite the mouth in Call of the Primitives.

Terrorcon : Blot, nose monster.

Technobot : Afterburner, he's a fun hot head in that one episode.

Autobot Headmasters : Brainstorm, cool design and colors, The Rebirth manage to gave him a lot of impact in that screen time.

Decepticon Headmasters : Mindwipe, the different views between him and his partner is interesting and could be explored more.

 

Flash from the Turbomasters.
Love him to bits.

 

Ark Crew: Jazz, he's just so freaking cool. Easily one of my favorite characters of all time.

Minibots: Beachcomber. Love his "hippie" characterization, and his blue head, silver shades combo is amazing looking.

Seekers: Thundercracker. Blue is my favorite color, but I also like his characterization of being unsure about the Decepticon cause.

Coneheads: Dirge. This one's a toughie, I love each of the Coneheads almost equally. But Dirge's color scheme wins me over, plus he's got an awesome name.

Wreckers: Whirl. Again, probably one of my all time favorite Transformers. His sandy blue color is great and I just love his overall design, especially his head.

Autobot Headmasters: Highbrow. Yeah, admittedly he's the lamest of the bunch, but his simplicity just works for me.

Decepticon Headmasters: Weirdwolf. Color scheme wins me over again, Weirdwolf is just the perfect shade of yellow. Love his head design, and his tail-sword is awesome.

Autobot Targetmasters: Landfill and Quickmix. I really can't pick which one I like more, they're both just so cool to me. I really love Landfill's boring tan and brown colors, and Quickmix's unique alt mode is great. It's a crime we've only gotten Scoop in Generations.

Decepticon Targetmasters: Spinister. Purely based on his name and amazing Siege toy.

 

G1 Dinobots : Grimlock
G1 Aerialbots : Silverbolt
G1 Combaticons Brawl
TFA Elite Guard : Ultra Magnus
Original Thirteen Primes : Vector Prime
Guiding Hand : Mortilus

 

Constructicons: Scrapper
Stunticons: Deadend
Aerialbots: Slingshot
Dinobots: Grimlock
Terrorcons: Sinnertwin/Blot

 

I'm not well versed in most of the sub-groups fiction but really it's all about Wildrider. The raging lunatic. I'd almost consider him a beserker type. Loved him in Trans Europe Express where he rids himself of Bluestreak by plowing fullspeed into a mountain. Yep, he that crazy.

Notable mentions go to,

Ravage and Laserbeak tie for best cassette. Sorry.
Brawl, he's like the Combaticon's Wildrider.
Stakeout, the other Autobot police car.
Runabout, I like the black/red more than white/gold.
Sizzle, because the laser rods were cool and his feet design made for a very playable toy.

 

Seeker: Thundercracker
Combaticons: Onslaught
Axelorator: Windbreaker
Minibots: either g1 tailgate or cosmos
Baseformer: Trypticon
Dinobot: Snarl or Grimlock
Sharkticon: Sharkticon
Construction: Scrapper
Stunticon: Brakedown
Omnibot: the red one oh you know the thing
Cyberjet: Hooligan
Power Master G2: IRONFIST
um how many more sub groups can I think of...

Micromaster: Hyperdrive from siege looks cool
Sweep: Scourge?
Datsun: smokescreen
Lambo: sideswipe or deep cover
Honorary Bop Crew: Tracks
Headmaster: Nightbeat and Skullcruncher
Targetmaster: Spinister and Needlenose
Laser Optimus: Laser Optimus
Turbo Master: Scorch
Music autobot: Jazz
Gobot: zeemon
Knock off gobot: knight rider becames robert

 

Brestforce: Does Lyzack count? If so, Lyzack. If not, Hellbat.

Brainmasters: Star Saber. Duh.

 

Oh yeah the victory ones

Here I go again...

Leozack, Killbison, Jallguar are all cool

Multiforce: MachTackle
Road Salad: Laster, aka CW Sunstreaker but from G1
Dinoforce: Goryu
Scientist: Wheeljack
Brave Hero of the Univere: me

 

Ones that just occur off the top of my head.

Combaticons: Onslaught
Seekers: Skywarp or Slipstream
Dinbots: Grimlock
Female Autobots: Elita-1

 

Seekers: Starscream
Autobot Cars: Hotrod
Dinobots: Swoop
Insecticons: Shrapnel
Constructicons: Hook
Triple Ch: Blitzwing
Arialbots/Autobot Jets: Skyfire
Fembots: Elita One
stunticons/ decepticon cars: knockout
Combaticons: blastoff
Protectobots/medical: Ratchet
Predacons: Divebomb
Techno bots: strafe
Terrorcons: cutthroat

 

J4 from team bullet train.

 

I like Dead End because he reminds me of too many people I know IRL.