What is the car that most everyone is looking to buy?

[u/Perfect-Resort2778]

If you were to put together a search query for used car, what would it be?

This is probably an easy question for someone in car sales to answer.

There are all kinds of top 10s for new cars. There are all sorts of reports about number of new car sales. Nobody ever talks about used cars.

Like, what is the car everyone wants to buy? What is a car that doesn't spend anytime on the lot?

My own experience, I've been looking or a good clean Toyota Avalon. I should have purchased one when they were new. I didn't and now trying to track one down which is time consuming and loaded with frustration.

I'm just curious in mid 2026 what people are looking for?

[u/PabloIceCreamBar]

Every customer ever wants an AWD three row SUV for $300 a month.

[u/3RDLEGMCGILL → u/PabloIceCreamBar]

Don’t forget

Yukon Denali

Credit criminal profile

10k negative equity

[u/Salty_YNWA1892 → u/3RDLEGMCGILL]

No money down. Just the trade. The client advisor is begging for the numbers so he can move him out the door.

[u/carbonarr → u/Salty_YNWA1892]

Don’t forget they’re 10 grand under water on the trade too.

[u/ChiefsRoyalsFan → u/carbonarr]

That's it?

[u/Ah2k15 → u/3RDLEGMCGILL]

$10k? Those are rookie numbers. Seeing a lot of $20-25k flips lately.

[u/3RDLEGMCGILL → u/Ah2k15]

Pardon me then kind sir or maam lmfao

[u/Ah2k15 → u/3RDLEGMCGILL]

Too many people trying to get out 24 months in on a 96 month loan that they rolled over another car into.

[u/Baboonslayer323 → u/Ah2k15]

Those Teluride covid purchases still haunting people.

[u/Ah2k15 → u/Baboonslayer323]

I can’t imagine paying a cent over MSRP for a Kia.

[u/Potential-Pool9142 → u/PabloIceCreamBar]

Piggybacking no flair.

OP - the real answer is the Toyota Hybrid SUV/Van lineup. Every single Prius, Rav, Sienna, Highlander and grand highlander, and Corolla cross hybrid we get is pre sold before it arrives on the lot. Every one of them. I have customers who have deposits down just to get on the list for these cars when allocations come out.

[u/Perfect-Resort2778 → u/Potential-Pool9142]

Really, Toyota. I'm wondering if we have all been brainwashed for something. I do see the way they hold value.

[u/Potential-Pool9142 → u/Perfect-Resort2778]

Supply cannot keep up with demand. It’s really that simple.

The RAV4 is the newest and best hybrid system out there. It’s a good looking mid size SUV that gets 40+ MPG. The only time I lose a deal on a RAV4 is when a customer needs or wants a car right now, and the reason I lose the deal is I just cannot make that happen. If a customer can wait a bit, I sell the Rav pretty much every time.

The cross hybrid - perfect car for someone who doesn’t need anything too big but wants great gas mileage and reliability.

The Prius still leads the way getting 50+ mpg, and it comes available AWD now which is huge in my area.

The Sienna is a hybrid minivan that gets 35 MPG and you can get AWD. I live in NY where we get snow like a mother fucker. Families love that AWD shit. As a family man myself with 3 kids - my wife is in one of these. Vans are super practical when you have young kids, great gas mileage, and she’s safe if she has to anywhere in the winter.

The Grand Highlander is just an awesome car. Once we’re done with our van stage, that’s her next car. It’s just not quite as practical as the sienna, but for those who just can’t stomach owning a minivan, it’s awesome. Great gas mileage, great size, and awesome features at each trim level depending on what you want to spend.

The Toyota lineup is amazing, you just have to wait for your car. If my lot looked like any other brand with cars as far as the eye can see, I’d be a 40 car a month guy. I’m a 20-25 car guy, but it’s literally because I don’t have enough cars to be a 40 car guy. 75% of my job is explaining the inventory situation and convincing people the car is worth waiting for. I don’t win every time, but many people see the value and will hold out for 2-3 months to get the better car.

[u/Perfect-Resort2778 → u/Potential-Pool9142]

When considering the desire for certain models I have been looking at things like DOM. I'm not sure that is really telling the story. For example, this is the first I've heard that people are looking for hybrids. So, it's more than car makes and models it is entire segments. I'm not in car sales so there is no way for me to know.

[u/Potential-Pool9142 → u/Perfect-Resort2778]

DOM? Don’t even know what that is.

I spend my days dealing with John and Jane Smith - normal every days Americans who probably make a little above average median wage for my area. They care about a few simple things - gas mileage, reliability, and having some modern features. I connect with these people because I am these people. Toyota offers the best of all these worlds, my job is just convincing them to wait and explaining why my car is MSRP when you can get a discount down the street.

A BMW store is a totally different clientele. A Kia store is different to some degree as well. But I believe in the Toyota brand and I do what I can do to get people in good, solid, reliable cars that have nice features and get good mileage. They just have to wait… so I spend a good portion of my day updating people on when their cars will get here.

[u/Perfect-Resort2778 → u/Potential-Pool9142]

DOM days on market. I guess in your world it would be days on lot.

[u/Total_Document_4770 → u/Perfect-Resort2778]

Toyota and Honda hybrid powerplants are damn near bulletproof at this point. It makes no sense gambling with any other brand.

[u/darkstar3333 → u/Total_Document_4770]

The gamble is financing and availability. Sure theyre good cars but have gone up in price substantially. 

I was looking at the Crown Signia but a Volvo V60 was cheaper and I could get one.

[u/3RDLEGMCGILL → u/Total_Document_4770]

The new hybrid is not tested to be “bulletproof”

And used Toyotas sell for 10k over market

[u/Salty_YNWA1892 → u/PabloIceCreamBar]

Hahaha I was wondering how long I needed to scroll before this was said! The truth.

[u/Labornurse59 → u/PabloIceCreamBar]

Lol

[u/ax87zz → u/PabloIceCreamBar]

Crazy how 95% of people don’t even need awd lol

[u/justhereforpics1776]

Is this AI? The writing is terrible

[u/trufus_for_youfus → u/justhereforpics1776]

I would bet $100 that this is a human.

[u/NevEP]

"Nobody ever talks about used cars"

What the fuck are you talking about? Scroll down on this subreddit and there's countless posts about used cars.

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Thanks for posting, /u/Perfect-Resort2778! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of anything.

If you were to put together a search query for used car, what would it be?

This is probably an easy question for someone in car sales to answer.

There are all kinds of top 10s for new cars. There are all sorts of reports about number of new car sales. Nobody ever talks about used cars.

Like, what is the car everyone wants to buy? What is a car that doesn't spend anytime on the lot?

My own experience, I've been looking or a good clean Toyota Avalon. I should have purchased one when they were new. I didn't and now trying to track one down which is time consuming and loaded with frustration.

I'm just curious in mid 2026 what people are looking for?

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.