slj Hackett
 

I am considering buying my first bristol from SLJ Hackett, I would like to get the forum's advice on the dealer plus also what is should be looking for / asking from the dealer ?

I bought a 406 through SLJH last year and was very happy with the experience.
They have very detailed knowledge of the cars and the tie in to the SLJ workshop makes it easy to get issues sorted prior to sale.
I believe they have a good reputation earned over several years. Inevitably this has a financial cost. You are paying for a service. If you are new to Bristol cars it is important to drive a few before you buy as examples can vary enormously and be very expensive to fix up. SLJH must surely have the best access to a selection of cars to try out.

Which model(s) interest you? The list of questions to ask will be much smaller if we know.

considering a 603 s2

but i agree i need to try a few models

I'm afraid I don't have personal experience of the 603. With any luck Geoff Kingston will chip in.
They offer very good value and a decent range of creature comforts. Because the styling is not to everyone's taste they are likely to offer more bang for your buck than a 411. The small block engine in the 603 would also be an advantage if you later wanted to convert to an overdrive transmission.

My suggestion was to try as many examples of the same model as you can once you have narrowed down your search. Two seemingly identical cars can drive quite differently if the suspension and steering have been neglected.