Number of newly-licensed vehicles grows

s.bugeja

Oct 24th 2008, 20:30

This is just another crisis staring us in the face and all we can do is boast that the maltese are buying more cars. we are already almost grid locked as it is. in a few years' time we will not be able to drive around. but as usual the problem will only start to be tackled when it's too late. then the wrong solutions will be employed.

Karl Abela

Oct 24th 2008, 18:39

I would blame the increase of cars in Malta on the following reasons:

1. Us Maltese suffer from the 'mine is better than my neigbour' syndrome. Have you ever noticed that every new car on the market quickly appear in substantial numbers on the street? And I dont mean just the cheap cars here. Convertibles, sports cars, etc.

2. Arrogant bus drivers dont do any favours to public transport.

3. Mega rich taxi drivers owning Lm40,000 BMW's & Merc's charge astronomical rates and drive like maniacs.

4. Lets face it. Its not just the small cars that we see on our roads. Abundant above average cars on the road says much about our spending power, whatever people say.

Phil Press

Oct 24th 2008, 17:14

Does it not tell you?, that people are not not putting their money, into the banks. Rather they concider a vehicle a safer bet.

J Cachia

Oct 24th 2008, 16:35

@ E Gatt

Well, a Eur 3000 discount on a car costing Eur 16000, is quite a sum...it's 20%!..And please remember that this is a small car, which for a family of 4 might be too small.

However, the Eur 16,000 is already high in the first place. Consider the Yaris 1.3 T3 3dr.
In the UK, this model costs around STG 10,800, ie approx. Eur 13,400. Locally, this costs around EUR 17,500!

Consider another car...the Fiat 500. The starting price in the Uk (POP 1.2 including A/C, to compare like with like, as the rest of the specs are identical to the local model) is STG 8,600, ie EUR 10,700.

Locally, the starting price for this car is EUR 17450!!!!!!.. and then they blame it on the registration costs!!!!

U Hallina!

Edward Gatt

Oct 24th 2008, 15:41

@ J Cachia

"Mux bil-fors...consider that a Totota Yaris imported from Japan sells for around Eur 13,000. The local importer sells the car for around Eur 16,000..."

If the prices you quoted are correct, I wouldn't buy a 2nd hand car for only Eur 3,000 less. I would expcet that a 2nd hand car would be much cheaper than that!!!!

M. Grech

Oct 24th 2008, 14:02

Have a look at commercial adverts on foreign TV stations. The price for a NEW car is ridiculously low compared to the same car sold in Malta.

Do some research on second hand cars sold in EU. You can get a good car within the range of 7,000 to 10,000 euros. Due to registration taxes on such cars, it is non-feasible to import one.

For the majority of Maltese, it is a big deal to buy a brand new or second hand cars. For other EU countries changing cars is a norm.

@Ivan Galea 100% agree.

Well maybe Malta will appear on another hit list - "The most" or "The least".....

lee zammit

Oct 24th 2008, 13:47

Having that many cars in Malta is definetely not progress or being better off. Although a car sometimes is necessary, especially in foreigh countries, in a country like Malta, that many cars are not needed. Some parts of the towns and villages in Malta should be permanently blocked, and people should be encouraged to walk or cycle'. People will be healtier, more friendly to each other, because while walking or cycling to work or for pleasure we will see and appreciate the beauty of the enviroment and live a healthy lifestyle with little or no stress.

J Cachia

Oct 24th 2008, 13:21

...A 2006 BMW 320D, imported from the UK (with around 70,000 miles, that might have cost a dealer around STG. 6,500 to purchace in the UK!!) sells for around Eur 35,000 (including reg tax). The car sold new from the local agent, that looks identical, sells for around Eur 58,000.

The discounts that car importers seem to be donating to the "purchaser" (usually ranging from Eur 500 to around Eur 2,500) due to eco friendly cars or for whatever lame excuse the importers wish to have us believe, equates to the cash discount that all dealers have been giving to anyone who would haggle during the point of sale - no more, no less.

Ara ma noqodux nahsbux li nizla xi manna mis-sema, jew li qed johorgu b'xi telf!

J Cachia

Oct 24th 2008, 13:20

So much for a slow down in car sales! Had the market stalled, then there would have been far less than the 1,800 new car sales quoted.

The 'slowdown' attributed to the forthcoming registration tax was a fat lie! Joe Normal is well aware that the cost of car prices will remain unchanged after the budget, whatever the new registration tax the government will implement!

If importers experienced a slowdown, this may be due to the increased number of second hand cars being imported from Japan and Europe.

Mux bil-fors...consider that a Totota Yaris imported from Japan sells for around Eur 13,000. The local importer sells the car for around Eur 16,000...

Ivan Galea

Oct 24th 2008, 12:57

No wonder Malta has become a polluted mess!!!! Concrete buildings mushromming in every corner of the place and smoke billowing vehicles all over!!!! What a jungle

Darby Allen

Oct 24th 2008, 12:04

So what were the other 7.9 per cent?

C.Sapiano

Oct 24th 2008, 11:42

This is incredible ! And the world is entering a recession, And then there are people who say that Maltese are having it bad!