Preliminary figures from the Land Transport Authority and Motor Traders Association indicate that the year will end with about 97,000 new cars put on the road - 9 per cent fewer than last year and 17 per cent down from 2006's record.

This year's sales are the lowest since 2004's 96,861 cars. But it could have been - some say should have been - lower.

Read Christopher Tan's story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.