Wow Liz, you've had really bad luck with toys!
That's very disappointing. I can't believe your game didn't even have a gameboard!
We've had good stuff for the most part. We bought a used wooden peddle-less push tricycle when my son was a baby and it was fabulous - heavily used and well loved by my own two children, the children I was a nanny for, and countless neighborhood children. Eventually it was sold in our yard sale when we moved over. We bought a red Radio Flyer metal peddle tricycle that held up well also.
If you want trucks, can I recommend Duplo? We cornered the market on Duplo at one stage, including the push train and track set (some engines are battery powered), and everything has lasted perfectly and is conveniently interchangeable. We asked relatives to give us Duplo at Christmas and birthdays. Yes, the trucks can be taken apart and you end up being the one who has to put them back together again...but it's not too bad. Better than broken stuff. And good training for the advanced degree in Lego model building you'll need in a few years time.
In a moment of insanity I bought a $40 box of Duplo people which became beloved of all young kids who've ever played at our house and it made sharing much easier. The typical Duplo building sets come with only one or two figures and this is never enough.
