THE current 'several hundred pounds' residual value premium enjoyed by the Vauxhall Vectra over the Ford Mondeo will be eroded with the launch next month of the new Mondeo, Glass's Guide claimed this week.

The October editorial of Glass's Guide Car Values says: 'New entries and model year enhancements in the upper medium sector will mean that this hotly contested part of the market will become even more of a battleground than it is at present!

'Criticisms at launch of Vectra's driving position have been addressed with changes to seats and the addition of steering wheel adjustment added to other improvements for '97 model year cars. Far reaching changes to Mondeo's exterior styling are more obvious and give the car more presence. This will lead to an erosion of the used value premium that Vectra currently enjoys over Mondeo.'