Anyone used the Toy box people?

[Hairy toes eagle]

Hi, Been looking at there cars on ebay, the pictures look great but I just wondered if anyone has bought off them? Before I make the journey up. 

 

Cheers

[CraigHew]

They've been around a good few years, their cars seem very good from what I've read but you do pay a premium buying from them....

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Yes, plenty of members have bought cars from them.

 

@Greenstreak-Andy D had his previous Duratec engined Westfield from ToyBox 

[Greenstreak-Andy D]

@Hairy toes eagle, have you owned a Westfield previously? If not, I would very much advise taking a friend who has. 
No two Westfields are the same, so in my case, I made a list of ‘must have’, ‘nice to have’ and ‘approx cost to bring it to what you want’. 
Be realistic and aware of costs. Recently the costs for parts seems to have risen, as does the cost for cars. With lockdown, that is likely to change imo. If I’m right, then waiting may get you better bang for your buck.

 

If the right car is in front of you then your heart will likely rule your head! 
 

My Duratec was a fantastic car, initially the ‘platform’ was great, but I enjoy the ‘improving’ in winter months as driving in summer. So it just kept getting better. It took me round the alps and to Le Man and back twice without a hiccup.

 

Good luck in your search 

Andy

[AndrewBClarke]

I bought mine from ToyBox. Didn’t know much about Westfields at the time so went to have a look around. Selection of different types, engines, etc. Andrew is knowledgable and helpful.

Tried a lot, learnt a lot and bought one. Went with a wish list and found one that had everything I wanted plus more.
You may pay a premium but where else can you see a variety all for sale and checked out?

Well worth the visit. 

[Onliest Smeg David]

2 hours ago, Greenstreak-Andy D said:

If the right car is in front of you then your heart will likely rule your head

It's a lottery if you follow your heart when Westfield hunting.

I did, and was lucky. But heard of others who weren't.

[Hairy toes eagle]

Thanks chaps, all good stuff and full of your thoughts. I do own a westie, a 2.1 pinto SE. 

I've got the hang of it and done many upgrades but she's an old girl and could really do with being striped down to the bones and put back together. I don't have the time or room to do this in an enjoyable way. Young kids fill my evenings. If I bought another a kept mine the wife would talk to me even less.

Toy box offered me a reasonable sum for part ex but as said perhaps waiting till lock down is over would be sensible price wise, not to mention having a new toy and not being able to take it out would drive me mental. 

[tolf]

When I was first looking at buying a Westfield, I contacted Toy Box and looked on their web page. I was very disappointed with the experience I’m afraid.
 

I was interested in 4 cars they had ‘in stock’- but strangely every model was ‘just sold’- really? I don't think so.

more like their web site was never updated and the cars shown were clickbait.

 

It’s a No from me

[Hairy toes eagle]

Interesting, are there any other dealers around? I haven't got 10s of thousands but I'm realistic about the costs. 

[Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator]

4 hours ago, Hairy toes eagle said:

If I bought another

 

Part-exing your current Westy for another via a trader could be your easiest/smoothest solution but could also be the more expensive option, also you may get a warranty from a trader but with something as unique as a westy knowing the history of the car could more valuable, I am on my third Westfield and know where I will be looking for my 4th 

[SootySport]

4 hours ago, Ian Tolfree (tolf) - WSCC AO Rep said:

When I was first looking at buying a Westfield, I contacted Toy Box and looked on their web page. I was very disappointed with the experience I’m afraid.
 

I was interested in 4 cars they had ‘in stock’- but strangely every model was ‘just sold’- really? I don't think so.

more like their web site was never updated and the cars shown were clickbait.

 

It’s a No from me

Same as I found out,  two cars I wanted to see but they were sold, about a year before I enquired.  He is a business so prices are inflated compared to private sales, that’s the nature of of any used car company.  Did you notice  all His cars have go faster stripes thesedays😀?

[TAFKARM]

I looked at one from him but didn’t buy it (a zetec speedsport I think?) seemed a decent chap, and had a few in. I’d buy from him.

[Nemesis]

My brother in law bought the ASBO from them, it was turned out in impressive condition, but that's the only positive thing he had to say about them, it was advertised with the distinctive number plate included, so he paid his deposit and got the receipt with the correct reg on it, when he rocked up to collect said motor it went like this..... "that's not the car I bought" says my brother in law, wrong reg number! The Toybox guy replied "oh I forgot to mention I was keeping the number"

There followed some discussion about the advert and the receipt but mr Toybox knew that the brother in law really wanted that car so he said and I quote "it's a take it or leave it deal mate" (he'd been searching for an age for the right V8 and was daft enough to let it show.

 

I suspect that mr Toybox saw a potential £850 in the number plate.

 

Nem.....

[Chris Broster - Bristol & Bath AO]

I bought mine from Andrew, and have been pleased with the car and the service.

 

Firstly, the website and facebook sites are clickbait - most if not all of the cars have gone BUT they do show the type of car he has on offer and he NEVER lists a price.

 

This leads onto second point - there is no PARKERS GUIDE to westfields - even stock factory come with options and hence difficult to price private sale v trader (A lot of these are part-ex against tin tops)?

 

Thirdly, as you have done, I gave Andrew a call, discussed the following:

1. My experience, I was a Westfield newbie but experience engineer
2. What was my wish list is? As you say, essential, desirable, luxury, safety...The list goes on and as it does so does the price!
3. What was I aiming to pay (yes he will always find something to boost that)

What Andrew was able to do was review his stock (apparently he has lots of cars in storage that he can call upon) and find something close to what I wanted....then it was negotiation time?

 

As a follow up, I have had great service from Andrew and Dale both from an aftersales perspective but also as a source of info on my car and bits of it I didn't understand (as i didn't build it) and also some really good 2nd hand parts at decent prices.

 

As to the stripes, I have them, slightly modified to my taste, and that is it - his 'signature along with the ToyBox stickers, personal taste and fully removable.

 

From what I know now - 18 months on....yes there are cheaper cars and higher spec cars but as a first time buyer I am happy with what I got (Car and service).  I always recommend others to join WSCC and ask the questions and visit an area meet to see other cars before buying. I've changed many a thing on mine so far and likely to do more, so wonder what it will be worth if I sell it in the future (more or less)?

 

 

 

[Rob Hunter - Club Secretary]

I bought my current car from Toybox in February, a low mileage Mega S2000.

 

I'd had intentions of "just looking" and had a budget I was "sticking to".... That went out the window quite quickly 😂😂

 

Andrew and Dale are lovely guys and genuine Westfield enthusiasts but they are a business, hence want to make some cash from you. I lost a couple of grand at trade-in on my 96 SEIW but I knew I was going to have to throw a lot of cash at her to get her to the standard I wanted. I loved that car, but know they'll return her to her former glory. 

 

Go on their facebook page, you'll see they sell the cars quite quickly. They are beautifully prepared and they put lots of time and effort in. 

 

I was lucky enough to see them working on the blue st170 engined car they have for sale currently. They completely refurbed it, body off, engine stripped, suspension off etc.