We were debating the true value of Vauxhall's lifetime warranty, given the exclusion of wear and tear. From experience I remember being told a leaking water pump at 25,000 miles might be considered wear and tear, and "we'd have to see what the mechanic thought, and agree in advance to pay for the repair if he decided it was normal wear and tear". Again, my wife's clutch was juddering badly at 13,000 miles, and we were told the same. Faced with a £500 bill, we decided just to put up with it, even though it practically shook the car to bits on take-off. By contrast, our current used Ford Fusion came with a three-year Ford Protect warranty that specifically covers wear and tear.

We do applaud Vauxhall's move here, but wonder if buyers will reach 30,000 to 40,000 miles and then have to shell out for major items, and whether the small print just isn't definitive enough to provide confidence. Can you advise please?