I've just bought a Honda CRV (2012 petrol manual) from a dealer member of the Inchcape group. I got a mate local to the dealership to view the car, I spoke to the dealer about the history of the car (one owner 40k miles FSH). New tyres fitted as part of the deal and my mate then drove the car to me (130 miles) when I saw it for the first time.

The dealer had jet washed the car but done no interior valet, the engine bay was a mess with dead leaves everywhere, years of detritus under the seats when I folded them out. The door shuts and boot ledges were full of dirt as if the car had stood in a muddy field for a year. On full lock in 1st or reverse, the diff groans (common CRV 4WD mechanism fault according to interweb) and the clutch only bites near the top of the pedal.

I had only asked my friend to do condition inspection and quick test drive to ensure everything worked as I assumed Inchcape wouldn't put a dog on it's forecourt. They posted me the service book after the sale (saying they had to stamp it for their own service work) so it wasn't viewed pre purchase.

Now I've got the book, it had two Honda services from new. One year in at 10k miles and two years in at 15k. Then nothing. The car now has 40k and no service since 2014 so none of the timed stuff appears to have been done. They carried out a service prior to putting it on their forecourt but there is no supporting documentation and neither Inchcape nor Honda ever entered the items attended to in the service book "maintenance completed" pages so apart from 3 stamps, there is no evidence of any work.

I've spoken to the dealer but they want me to process the check/repairs through the Inchcape warranty I purchased rather than any other method.

I like the car, run out model spec, colour and 1 owner, low mileage but the receipt for BCA transport from Blackbushe makes me think this was something an Inchcape buyer picked up cheap and shipped up to the Midlands (the original owner was SW London). It certainly doesn't look like the "one owner, local person trading in, fsh car" that I was led to believe.

On the phone the dealer says they don't usually advertise cars with "fsh" and did I have a screen shot or name of person who told me that.

Should I reject the car or let them put everything right so it has some history from now on?

I'm pretty experienced buying, selling and owning all sorts of cars but wonder on the best and most sensible course of action. I'm certainly not happy that letting a warranty policy cover point of sale issues is the right way to proceed.