Last February, then-mayor Peter Hemphill unleashed a storm after buying a Swedish-made Saab instead of a Toyota.

Residents accused him of "snubbing" the Altona manufacturer, which is the municipality's largest employer.

Cr Hemphill, at the time, said he chose the Saab because it used biofuel.

Cr Tehan is driving a used 'Beamer' that he bought for Christmas. He insisted his decision not to drive the mayoral car was based on practicality.

"The reason I chose a private vehicle over the mayoral car is that I've got nowhere to put my car," Cr Tehan said. "I bought it just before Christmas, and I love it.

"My problem is, if I take a mayoral car - and I had a very in-depth conversation with the CEO of the choices - it will end up on the street.

"Either the mayoral car will be on the street or my car will be on the street and I wasn't very happy about that.

"I've got a garage, but I've just moved in and the garage is full of furniture and my daughter's stuff's in there;

my son's stuff's in there as well.

"It's irrelevant whether it's a Saab, a Volkswagen, or anything. I've got nowhere to put the car, that's my concern."

Cr Tehan said he had no idea where the ratepayer-funded Saab had ended up.