Welcome to Webwatch, a regular series in which we rate places on the web to buy used trucks. This time it's the turn of DAF Trucks dealer Ford & Slater.
Company: Ford & Slater DAF Leicester
Address: www.fordandslater.co.uk
Homepage
Privately owned dealership group Ford & Slater has a franchise agreement with DAF Trucks, so it should come as no great surprise that www.fordandslater.co.uk shares its layout and design with DAF's own website. As such, it is professional, clear, and full of information.
There is a search box on the homepage that allows you to hunt across the whole site for a keyword of your choice.
However, don't use it to search for a used truck - it won't work for that purpose. Instead, select 'Used' from the horizontal navigation menu at the top of the homepage and then click 'Trucks' (or 'Vans', if that's your preference).
Product search
Within the used trucks listing, you can refine your search by specifying a manufacturer or a price bracket... or both. The option to choose a manufacturer is perhaps a little superfluous, seeing as Ford & Slater is firmly in the DAF camp. However, it is worth noting the website contains a good mix of rigids and tractors that date from 2001 to 2008.
Once you are happy with your search criteria, click 'Search' and all the trucks meeting your demands will be listed on the page (as shown below). To see them all, just scroll down.
For each vehicle, the site displays a thumbnail picture, brief details (namely mileage, GVW, transmission and chassis type), and a price. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version of that picture, further details, a full spec and three additional photographs. If we had one criticism, it would be that even the larger pictures are not particularly big or high quality, but they are good enough to do the job.
Should a particular truck attract your interest, contact Ford & Slater using the details given after the vehicle spec, or complete the online 'Request more information' form.
The 'used vans' section of the site (shown below) works much the same as the 'used trucks' section, except without the option to refine your search. Ford & Slater is an LDV distributor, so this might be a good place to start if you are after a Maxus.
Incidentally, the vans part of the website also has its own URL: www.leicesterldv.com
Other pages
The Ford & Slater website contains a wealth of other information - almost too much to list in Webwatch. But we'll try.
Use the horizontal menu at the top of any page to find out about everything DAF-related, such as buying a new DAF, parts for DAFs, DAFaid roadside assistance, DAF MultiSupport operator services (including service contracts), and DAF Finance.
Use the vertical menu on the left of any page to find out about Ford & Slater. This includes current vacancies, contact details, a map to the Leicester site, and information on the other members of the group.
We like
- A professional-looking, DAF-branded website
- Comprehensive vehicle details
- Prices listed for all used trucks
We're not sure
- Vehicle pictures are a little on the small size
- No function to search stock by keyword
- An overwhelming amount of information!
Conclusion
Everything a franchised dealer's website should be. It's slick, professional, informative and packed full of used stock.
Web rating
Appearance: 9/10
Information: 8/10
Navigation: 7/10
Check out our other recent Webwatches, including:
If you would like your used truck website to be considered for a future Webwatch and appear on this blog as well as in Commercial Motor magazine, please email james.clark@rbi.co.uk