re: If you're in the market for a new/used car...WAIT.

I think I got lucky with timing. Bought a new car in March of 2020. First month of the shut-downs when everything was an "unknown" and before chip shortages. Got about $6k off MSRP.

Drove it for 2 years and decided last month I wanted something bigger.
Bought an SUV last week. They gave me $2k more than I paid for my car and I managed to get them to come about $1750 off MSRP on the new SUV and no mandatory upcharges on stupid stuff like etching, paint protection etc.

If I had waited another few months, I definitely wouldn't have made money on my trade in.

Now I'm just hoping to keep the new one going for the next 10 years.

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Most dealerships are still empty. That is not changing overnight. Inventory may increase, but that is more due to interest rates, like housing.

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Some of that may be a show too. I heard on one automotive podcast, emptiness is another sales gimmick just put a few cars out front and keep the lion share of vehicles in an auxiliary lot people can’t see. That way it increases the likelihood of you thinking that hey it’s the last one on the lot so I better buy now.

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Sales people will be let go in the first 6-9 months of the year. Consumers will not forget charging in excess of MSRP either. That is going to cost customers from returning. It was a short term successful strategy that is going to hurt them in the long run

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Unless you were a dealer who didn’t frick everyone over and kept it at MSRP or below for loyal customers, not every dealer was slamming everyone who walked in the door 6 feet under, they may be slim but they do exist.