Yeah, if just "having toys" as a kid doesn't count, I was 24.

 

My brother got me "Grapple" off ebay for my birthday when I turned 21. I had no Transformers at that point. I was like "where did you get him!!??"  He showed me ebay and that was it. I spent like $1500 on Transformers within the month lol. It was good to be back.

 

I got Soundwave for my 6th birthday in 1984.

 

i just turned 17 when i started, i will be 18 by end of august

 

My dad and mom bought me Transformers from 84 on. First being Hound. My dad bought 2 of each and kept the doubles in his office at work to give to me when I was older. My mom still puts a transformer in my stocking for christmas...haha that's love!

I started buying for myself at 16 now I am 30...doubt this will end any time soon.

 

I'd say 7 or 8.

 

My answer exactly. Huffer, WHSmith Kettering.

Yes, yes it does. And when my girlfriend points out she's working with people who are legally adults, but never saw any of the Eighties. That's just wrong.

 

I was 8 in 1984.

 

I was 28 in early 1985 when I started collecting Transformers, Season 2 was on the air and I mangeged to find all the ones released in '84, with the exception of G1 Jazz. Jazz was a grail for a couple of years until I finally recieved one in box. I think that was '87. BTW, today I'm 52 and still happily collecting.  

 

I was 3 in 1995 (earliest date on any of my TFs from when I was a kid).

Seeing how Hasbro gets the rights the year before they release it... I'd say I was 4 when I started.

Seeing that my BW stuff from that time is still a part of my collection now (in good-great condition, no less)... I'd say that's when I started collecting.

 

My personal definition of adult means they must be old enough to remember watching "Star Fleet" on Saturday mornings. This applies to the UK only.

"Right yoo 'orrible shower! Twice more round the assault course, I haven't quite figured out Primal Prime's transformation yet!"

 

Not counting the original G1s I had when the show premiered, I say I started collecting in 1995. I found a lady who sold me a bunch of G1s at a local Flea Market for dirt cheap. I remeber get a complete Hound and Bluestreak for like $5 each and Optimus for $15. Then Beast Wars was around the same time so I collected many of those (which is same cause it took my focus away from finishing G1). SInce BW, I've prety much bought a little of series series with the exception of Beast Machines...I only own the Primal figures.

 

12 years old in 1984. Sold my whole collection at age 19 in 1991. Nine years later I started up again, at 28 in 2000.

 

That must make me still a kid, then, and I'm 31.   I don't recall watching Star Fleet (I may have done on occasion, but I don't remember anything about it). Terrahawks was brilliant, though.

 

So, one fateful day a couple of years ago BACKSCATTER!!! yeah Backscatter totally corrupted me and I bought my first TF at age 54! I find that TF's are like beads, once you touch them they have you hooked. Of course Puppylove's cuteness to both TF's and Shinkis only made it worse and now I have Shinki-itis as well. 

 

Started in 84 aged 5. then stopped 91-92. Started again 2003 with Alt Smokescreen

 

Let's see, I would have been about 9. Got Soundwave on a trip to Cambridge and later that year got Optimus for my birthday.

As for buying them on my own, I believe I was 12 or 13. I had bought some off my next door neighbor when I was 11, but nothing from a store until the next year. Of course, I still got some as presents in between.

 

Hmm... if the show first aired in September 1984, that would mean I turned 13 shortly before that. And my younger brother and I started collecting TFs within a month or two after the show debuted.

I stopped when Action Masters fizzled, and then Beast Wars got me collecting again. Then I lost interest again until 20th Anniversary Prime appeared, and I was hooked again. Haven't stopped since.

 

22 when I actively started collecting, I grew up with them as well, and still retain all those old G1 toys.

So if we count from 84, I've had a 24 year relationship with fictional transforming robots, which is the longest 'current' connection I have with fiction...

Sarah from Virtua Fighter gets 13 years and Lara Croft gets 12 years!