VAUXHALL has taken the unusual step of supporting sales of 900 nearly-new Vectras through the Network Q chain with a low interest finance deal. The move should prevent large numbers of Vectras hitting the auctions at the same time and potentially driving down residuals by offering Vauxhall dealers an attractive incentive to retail the cars themselves.

The Vectras are all ex-daily rental cars with mileages in the region of 12,000 to 15,000 which Vauxhall supplied on a buy-back basis. Fleet marketing and strategy manager Steve Higgs added: 'All our daily rental stock is supplied on a buy-back basis because it allows us more control in protecting residual values by keeping the cars within our own dealer network.'