December 3, 2024

Hawickroyalalbert

The ideal Automotive

Used car shortage means value, prices are going up

I’d never, ever call my 2004 Pacifica a clunker. But it has played one in print more than once when I’ve written about how old vehicles are bringing home some serious cash. 

Back in 2010, used vehicles  were in hot demand and short supply after a Great Recession strategy took many older models  off the road as a way to push new metal off the lot. 

Cash-for-clunkers, which ran in July and August 2009, took nearly 700,000 used vehicles out of circulation. The federal program offered up to $4,500 for a clunker. Yet program rules required that clunkers be crushed or shredded. 

So in late July 2010, I took my 2004 white Chrysler Pacifica out for a test. The vehicle had 77,000 miles on it. It had plenty of bells and whistles, including heated leather seats and backseat DVD player, something  I can’t imagine anyone would need today. It was the vehicle  I loved to drive to chauffer my son through most of grade school and, later, even the start of high school. 

Two dealers looked it over. One saw a dent in the back bumper, as well as a smaller ding on a front fender. One dealer said about 90,000 would be average for a 6-year-old vehicle, so the lower mileage on my vehicle was attractive.

What's your clunker worth? Even cars with more than 100,000 miles could command record high prices in June, according to car experts. Photo: 2004 Chrysler Pacifica.

One dealer offered $4,500 and another $6,800 in summer 2010.

And now 11 years later, what’s that Pacifica worth as we’re hearing about a surge in 2021 on prices for older cars? I suppose the real shocker is that I still own what is now a 17-year-old vehicle. But we’ll get to more on that later.

What’s driving a surge in used car prices? 

The hot summer car used to be a convertible but now, who knew, it’s the clunker.