Motorists are being seduced by second-hand luxury cars, with imports growing by more than 300 per cent in the past decade.Figures compiled by Transport Malta revealed that, while the number of second-hand models of big names increased substantially, the number of newly purchased vehicles had remained fairly level and, in some cases, even dropped.

About 1,300 second-hand Audi, BMW and Mercedes cars were imported last year, making an average of four imports a day.

Porsche saw the largest growth in second-hand sales last year, with up to two of the iconic sport cars hitting Maltese roads every month.

Why own a new, middle-range car if you could have a thoroughbred?

Exotic car dealer Philip Caruana believes the second-hand market offers drivers the opportunity to snag an automotive bargain.

“Can you blame drivers? Why own a new, middle-range saloon when you could be driving a thoroughbred for the same money?” he asked.

A self-confessed “petrol head”, Mr Caruana said sales were at an all-time high: “I’ve sold five second-hand Porsches in the last two months. People love them.”

A factory-fresh model of the standard Porsche Cayman could set owners back €90,000 but market enquiries by this news­paper revealed that a three-year-old, second-hand model costs between €35,000 and €45,000.

‘What would you rather have?’

“With the same budget you could buy a brand-new, middle-range saloon, with all the trim-mings. But what would you rather have?” Mr Caruana asked.

Second-hand car sales first took an upward turn when the transport authority revamped its contentious vehicle registration system in 2009.

The previous, ad hoc system was based on the local authority’s estimation of the car’s value and had been the source of criticism from the European Commission.

The new system, based on engine power and carbon emissions, saw the registration costs of second-hand luxury cars drop by up to 40 per cent.

Registration tax on the three-year-old Cayman could still cost as much as €1,500.

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