West End garage

But, in addition to the mileage condition, which for a driver covering 400 miles per week is only five years, there's a more insidious part to the small print.

The warranty is available only to the first owner.

So, those who purchase a pre-registered car (a trick used by manufacturers to boost their sales figures by having dealers formally purchase cars at a discount, then selling the cars as technically used even though they may have been driven for only a dozen miles or so) the warranty does not apply. Nor does it apply to anyone who buys a car from a leasing company at the end of an agreement even though many leased vehicles have very low use.

And, of course, it does not cover any second or subsequent buyer who purchases a car from a dealer who has taken it in part exchange or from a private seller.

It's a great marketing gimmick but of no use in the second hand car market. Making your car harder to sell if the Kia alternative has ballance of warranty for the 2nd owner.

That, of itself, does not matter to Vauxhall - but it does matter to their dealers who, in a few months time, are going to have to start telling customers interested in a trade in that the advertised benefits are not available to them. And annoyed customers might just go somewhere else.