Don't buy figures just for the sake of buying them. Buy what you like. Personally, here are mine: Scouts: Scrapmetal (if you can find him) Deluxes: CD Hot Shot, but I've also heard very good things about Crosswise. If you haven't grabbed Sideways yet, make sure he's a priority.
Scapmetal or Lugnutz. I don't have either but had I the extra cash and intentions of spending them on basic sized TFs they're what I'd get.
i ended up going to Wally world and getting a 2 pack of the Cybertron Autobot minicon team (the one with Jolt) and Ransack (he's been warming these shelves for so long i took pity, and $6 for 2 basics cant be beat. Then i picked up Swindle (i think its incredibly gay that Cyberton is already relying so much on repaints, but since i didnt have the original of that mold, i got Swindle) He is a nice semi-homage to G1 Swindle. My only complaint is that they should have made his bio fit his charcater name/history better. Swindle is not a melee weapons fighter, he's the Decepticon equivalent of a crack dealer.
Then, finally i went to Target, which is usually my last stop in the TF hunt as their selection is shit. However, they had Downshift, who i think is one of the coolest deluxe TFs to come out in a looooooooooong time. Reminds me very much of an old school Dodge, back when Dodge made muscle cars. His color scheme is pimpin', and i love the fact that his guns can be hekd as guns in the traditional way OR used as shoulder cannons Very G1ish without the risk of losing the weapons. Also love the fact that minicons can be attached to his weapons, making him one heavily armored deluxe class TF. Even my girlfriend loves him, he's the only TF allowed on a shelf in the bedroom, the rest go in the spare room. She's really into classic cars, hence, loves this guy. My only complaint is a bot that cool should have been a Decepticon. A+, totally worth the 10 bucks
I wish I could suggest some newer figures for you, but I'm still swimming through a sea of rasack, thundercracker, crumplezone, and supremescream.
Scouts: Armorhide, Lugnuts Deluxe: Downshift, Crosswise, Hot Shot or Excellion ( not out yet, but cool Hot Rod homage ), Red Alert or his repaint. I recommend all these cause they are the first bots in a long time to recapture that G1 feel of being in disguise as other toys.
man, i love downshift...i SOOOO hope his repaint is a Dcon...im thinking paint him like armada wheeljack, greyish with blue highlights...but the way the alt wheeljack is done...white/blue lines...he'd look badass like that....
I was at one of the better Wal-Marts here in Lexington just a few minutes ago. They had at least 2 Downshifts that I saw. I was more worried about the duplicate Rollbar I found and the lack of wave 2 BW 10ths.......
