Not a good time for buying a used car at the moment from the looks of things.

I've noticed in the last few weeks that the stock level on the forecourt of our local Toyota dealership is looking remarkably spa***. Pre-covid it used to be packed with used cars for sale. So much so, that it was sometimes difficult to find a parking space. Today I would estimate there was only about a quarter of the number of vehicles. I've not been past any other dealers lately, but wonder if similar reductions in stock is happening elsewhere?

In my area there certainly is a LOT less used stock on offer, and at vastly inflated (silly) prices - I've seen some offered nearly new second hand at higher prices than the RRP new price, and not just for Porche Boxsters, but for very average cars.

How this may change when the inevtiable big recession (or more) hits as inflation really bites, especially with the consequences of the actions of the last 2.5 years comes to a head, I don't know.

Supply may still be way down, but demand may come down significantly when people start losing their jobs, inflation curtailing spending power far more than wages, etc, etc. Spending a Grand on repairs rather than £15k+ for a used car that normally would've cost them £12k seems like a more attractive option than it did 3 years ago.

Many people (as I am) will likely have to put up with keeping their ageing existing cars for a good while longer.

That's a ridiculous price, not that many years ago that figure would have got a two year old example. I am hoping my old 2007 Focus keeps going until all this pricing nonsense stabilises. Another couple of years maybe?