Okay, but although the cars where from '47, doesn't mean nobody was driving them anymore in '48. I don't think people, even wealthier ones, feel the need to buy a new one every year.

My point is, Mike couldn't have returned earlier than 1948, due to Puzo states it's that year before Mike returned. And the novel is for the most part chronologic. So according to the novel these are the facts:

* Very shortly after Mike kills Sollozzo the five families war of 1946 begins, which implies Mike flees to Sicily in 1946.
* Mike was on a two-year exile.
* It was 1948 in a chapter before Mike returns.

And accoding to the movie script Mike returned in 1950, but that isn't consistent with the novel.

But then again, we are ofcourse all free to believe in our own findings. So I respect you're oppinion.