Buying a car in these days of massive dealer groups, internet sales sites and car supermarkets couldn't be easier, but impersonal sales support and poor follow-up service can soon sour the pleasure of new car ownership.

Not, though, if you drive away in a Lotus, SAAB or Subaru from Bell & Colvill in West Horsley, Surrey, where you'll deal with knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff who'll make every effort to build customer relationships and provide all the after sales back-up you'll require.

"We deal with people how we would want to be dealt with ourselves," says Bobby Bell, one half of the successful long-term partnership with Martin Colvill. "That means a more personal service from an extraordinarily loyal, long-standing workforce who really know the brands they work on. Our customers for all three brands tend to be enthusiasts and expect to be dealt with by people on that same level."

Teams of sales and service staff are dedicated to each brand to ensure specialised knowledge and continuity of customer care.

Bell & Colvill's approach has put them right at the top of the customer satisfaction index and led to exceptionally strong relationships with the three manufacturers they represent.

Bobby and Martin have sold cars together from their West Horsley premises for 35 years. Successful amateur racing drivers, they met through a mutual passion for motorsport and the legendary British Lotus marque, then at the height of Formula 1 success.

Their careers were a perfect combination for developing a motor dealership together. Bobby, son of eminent local physician Heward Bell, had trained originally as a mechanic with the famous Coombs of Guildford, working on the firm's successful racing Jaguars as well as Jaguar road cars. He'd successfully raced a Lotus Seven from 1960 to 1965. Lotus Elite-owning Martin, son of an insurance broker, was a qualified accountant who'd set up his own Lotus dealership in 1966.

Their mechanical and business acumen, enthusiasm and a youthful dose of entrepreneurial spirit came together in 1970 when they heard of a garage in West Horsley for rent at £50 a week. They took the plunge and opened for business selling Lotus. By the late 1970s, Bell & Colvill was an enthusiasts' Mecca, with franchises for several sporting brands.

By then, the two partners were front runners in historic motor racing and remain active today, Bobby with a Lister-Chevrolet sports racing car and ex-Rodriguez, Grand Prix-winning BRM P153/02, Martin with his ex-Gulf Racing Ford GT40, sister car to the GT40 that took consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours wins in 1968/'69. You won't find too many dealer principals with this level of dedication to cars.

Their enthusiasm for interesting cars has been fundamental to Bell & Colvill's car sales development. "We've only taken on franchises for individualistic cars that we truly believe in," says Bobby.

In 1995 they took on Japanese brand Subaru, a pioneer of sporting all-wheel drive cars that was building its reputation in International and British National rallying. This was perfect timing for Bell & Colvill: the recently launched Impreza would quickly develop into a multiple World Rally Championship winner to establish the model as an icon among enthusiasts.

"Subarus are extraordinarily capable vehicles," says Martin Colvill. "They offer fabulous performance, handling and fantastic value for money. You can choose from the staggering performance of the Impreza Turbo range, the versatile Forester or the extremely comfortable, well-equipped, load-carrying Legacy estates. And they all have the traction and security of four-wheel drive and that rally-winning 'boxer' engine design."

Bell & Colvill's Lotus experience and knowledge is second to none: as the UK's longest established dealer they've sold more of the legendary British sports cars than any other outlet - and raced them successfully, too.

Exciting developments on the horizon from the Hethel factory are the new Lotus Circuit Car and Lotus Europa. Designed for Track Days and Club Racing, the 600kg Circuit Car can accelerate from 0-100mph in just 9 seconds. The Europa recalls the first mid-engined Lotus road car from the late 1960s. Like every Lotus, including the current Elise and Exige ranges that currently fill the West Horsley showrooms, they're pure drivers' cars, following fluently the "performance through light weight" philosophy of Lotus founder and innovative engineer Colin Chapman.

Over in the SAAB section, Bell & Colvill are benefiting from the Swedish manufacturer's establishment as a major player in the thriving premium sector of the UK car market. SAAB's widest ever choice of models includes one of the UK's best selling Convertibles and the exciting new 9-3 SportWagen. All share SAAB's unique blend of quality, safety, performance, cutting edge technology and stylish Scandinavian individuality.

"SAAB's current range is brilliant," enthuses Bobby Bell. "All highly fuel-efficient, including state of the art diesels and very high performance yet economical turbocharged petrol models. SAAB pioneered turbos on passenger cars and that experience has kept them ahead of the game."

The motor trade has never been more competitive, or so impersonal, which makes Bell & Colvill's personal service so refreshing. With three distinctive, sporting brands sold by knowledgeable staff from spacious, separately themed showrooms with full servicing, repairs and parts supply facilities they're confident about the future.

"People have almost begun to expect indifferent service today, so when they find somewhere that offers integrity, quality, knowledge and enthusiasm and that will go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction it's a winning formula," says Martin.

Bell & Colvill PLC
Epsom Road - West Horsley - Near Leatherhead - Surrey - KT24 6DG - UK
Tel +44 (0)1483 281000 Fax +44(0)1483 281999 Registered in England and Wales No. 974790