News in brief

Daihatsus given warranty boost
They're known for their attractive new prices, but Daihatsu models could now be even more desirable on the used market – because the company is offering its Terios SUV and Sirion supermini with a five-year warranty.

The unlimited mileage package will mean added peace of mind for customers buying from second-hand forecourts – even on three-year-old high-milers. Daihatsu has made the move to compete with rival brands such as Hyundai.

Green Yaris heads buyers’ wishlists
Used buyers are finally catching the green bug. The number of vehicle searches for eco-friendly models on the fish4cars website rocketed at the end of 2007.

According to its figures, 74 per cent of searches carried out during the last quarter of the year were for green vehicles – that figure equates to more than five million. Top of the list was the Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVTi, with a huge 46,841 searches. It emits 127g/km of CO2. “Our statistics show British drivers are embracing the new greener models that are now available,” said fish4cars boss Joe Slavin.

Vectra, Signum face brake recall
A fault affecting 250,000 vehicles has been found by Vauxhall. The Luton brand is contacting owners of Vectras and Signums after numerous drivers complained of cars rolling away when parked. The problem has been traced to the handbrake mechanism, and owners of post-2002 manual cars will be able to get a free fix carried out.

Following tests, the firm found that if the handbrake was applied by depressing the release button, the device could be left partially released. Worried owners should contact the company’s customer service hotline on 0845 090 2044.