Last weekend was amazing. The CarShop in Northampton hooked me up with a Ford Focus ST3 for three days, because I’m at the stage of needing a new car. After driving around in the SEAT Ibiza 2016 for two years, it was a nice feeling to hop in a different car, the latest model of the Ford Focus ST3 was an ideal fit for me.

The CarShop experience was fantastic, the team there were very friendly and helped narrow down a few cars suitable for what  I was looking to achieve. With such a smooth experience and process, no wonder they’ve won so many awards… Best Used Car Independent Retailer of the Year 2017 and Best Dealer Website 2017 just to name two of them!

With over 4,000 cars in stock to look at online, I had a brief idea of the car I was looking for. Something sturdy with speed to enjoy road trips and make the commute to work even more exciting. CarShop is pretty flexible when it comes to purchasing a car. You’ll have the option to buy it outright or finance it, of which an application can be started in less than a minute.

If you’re looking to get rid of your existing car, then trading it in is also an option to consider. You can even get an evaluation on the website!

Now it’s time for the full CarShop experience and the road trip that took place at the weekend!

My CarShop Experience

My experience with CarShop GB first began when pulling up to the Northampton site. (Easy to find and very spacious, with plenty of cars on the premises to look around. They even had a Tesla!) One of the CarShop salesmen directed me to one of two showrooms, of which I was then greeted by another member of staff, he was very friendly and made me feel welcomed.

I had a quick general chat whilst looking at cars before sitting down and the salesman collecting my information, evaluating what payment plan is suitable for myself and showing the options of cars available. In the end, picking the Ford Focus ST3 was a perfect choice, it was ideal for road trips and general day-to-day driving and commuting.

Next up was discussing the finance options with a business specialist. This didn’t take long at all. Before I knew it, it was time for the big reveal! I’ve never experienced anything like it before, so CarShop did an incredible job. They covered the Ford Focus ST3 with a cloth making purchasing a vehicle from CarShop an exciting memorable experience.

From the start of taking off the cloth to driving away, I had a huge smile on my face and was very excited to get behind the wheel of this beautiful blue Ford Focus ST3 which came equipped with all the tech, heated seats, top notch leather seats etc…it had everything!

The Road Trip

Prior to getting the car, I had some road trip locations in mind. It was either Cheddar Gorge, Black Mountain Pass or the Peak District. Cheddar Gorge was chosen and so the adventure began.

As it was getting a little late that day, I decided to go for a mini drive and get used to the car and its features.

The next day I set off on the road. Three hours away from Northampton and I reached the final destination – Cheddar Gorge. Wow! What an incredible road trip that was. Although it was a three-hour journey, it didn’t seem to take too long. Cruising along the motorway and the backroads with my iPhone connected to Apple CarPlay just made the journey even more exciting, listening to music, heated seats, brilliant audio system and many other features and gadgets making the whole journey comfortable.

Once I arrived at Cheddar Gorge, I was amazed at how beautiful the surroundings were. Driving through Cheddar Gorge was an experience itself, letting alone getting out and exploring!

I stopped a few times to snap a few pictures of the beast before getting back in and driving more. After having an exciting and incredible drive throughout Cheddar Gorge, I parked up and explored the area on foot taking in all the stunning views. It was an amazing weekend.

Overall, this was a very exciting and memorable experience. CarShop did an amazing job when it came to helping choose the right car. The whole process was smooth and an experience itself. If you’re looking for a new car, or want to see what’s out there on the market or even thinking of trading in your current car, then giving CarShop GB a try is highly recommend!