There's a few members posted about Saxton's mostly against them , but i think one or two members have purchased from them without any major hiccups.

If you click on the search button on the forum you will find what others have written about them ...

Thanks Mick, Just done a search, didn't find much...but did get the general idea.

I went to Saxtons last week for a look round. Here is my good and bad points...

Good. The salesman was very helpful, spent time with me looking around the cars and had the internet prices (often lower than screen prices) on his i-phone so he could advise me as we went. Also they have a wide selection of milages, ages and specs. I was close to buying but...

Bad. The 2007 Grey SE I looked at was in a terrible state. They have such a big stock that they prep it after you agree to buy and hand over a deposit, so the three year old one I was looking at needed a front screen (wipers had scratched it really bady),back screen (same reason) and all the black trim panels on both sides at window height had also been scratched to hell. Obviously the car was driver through a hedge on a regular basis. Some mud flaps had also fallen off, leaving holes in the lower wing panels and the interior was in worse condition that mine. (despite mine having twice the milage).

The FFRR would probably be OK when done (I hope), but it's very hard to feel positive about it and spend 40k when it's sitting there looking like it's been abused, so I walked away.

Others had flat tyres, missing trim etc...
They are local to me and the prices looked OK, but I just can't commit myself to spending a lot of money on a car that looks like s t when you go to see it prior to putting a deposit down.

Not knowing how well it'll be prepared before handing over a deposit kept the money in my pocket. How can you argue after you have agreed to pay?

If the car had already been prepared for sale I'd have been none the wiser to the previous damage and would probably have bought it.

Fox - Totally understand and appreciate where your coming from with regards your comments about Saxtons.

I have never dealt with them myself personally - but - might I suggest why the condition of their stock is like it is...

...the majority of these specialist independant dealers run their businesses relying heavily on stocking loans. These stocking loans (especially before the financial crisis) are usually managed on a 30, 60 or 90 day turnaround.

Judging by the amount of stock this particular company has at any one time - I would assume their stock is mostly end of contract vehicles supplied by finance houses and lease companies. The company concerned might take responsibility of these vehicles and let their forecourt be flooded with all manner of 4x4s, mainly Range Rovers, that haven't been prepped how we would like as they may only expect to sell a smaller percentage of what is there - the remaining vehicles that haven't been sold being shipped off to auction or traded elsewhere within the 60 days.

If a dealer has a couple of million ££££'s worth of high end stock they would probably need to provide who ever is lending them the money with approx. 50% of new lending business from their customers before they get clobbered with a higher rate for borrowing the cash to fund their stock and/or trade the stock on.

There is every possibility that they will honour the promises made to have whatever vehicle you choose to purchase being 100% upon delivery and I guess it all boils down finding the right car and agreeing what needs to be sorted before you do the deal and not accepting anything less.

I cannot really blame them for not spending £££'s prepping every vehicle to the max before displaying them for sale as these dealers do not have the same network support as the LR Dealers have and may not retail the cars themselves anyway - if they did bring every car up to our exacting standards then their sale prices would be that much more and not as competitive as you or I would like them to be.

In someways it might even be a better way to buy a used car as you are able to see just how a vehicle might have been treated before you or I buy it - Anything too bright and shiney may actually be hiding something you might not notice at first.

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.

Makes sense, but I still can't spend 40k on a car that looks abused. It's so difficult to guess how well the car would be prepared when handing over a deposit. They may do a very good job (and they probably do), but having seen the damage who is to say what is or isn't then good enough afterwards?

They must sell a lot to pay the overheads. Big garage and fair number of staff there. But my wallet is fighting to stay in the pocket when spending more on a car than I ever have before if it's not perfect.

Never hear any good news from Saxtons