With international borders open, fuel prices soaring, and interest rates set to rise, some experts now say they expect to those different factors to filter down into a reduced demand for 4WDs and caravans.
WA Motor Trade Association president Stephen Moir told the ABC that some newish owners may decide that it’s already time to sell
“They’ve actually purchased those cars and caravans … because they haven’t been spending their money on overseas travel,” he said. “Increases in interest rates will put financial pressure on people and they may need to start selling off those things they acquired during the pandemic.”
Unprecedented demand for new and used vehicles during the pandemic has led to a shortage, but that could change soon … especially with the cost of fuel.
“I watched somebody with a late model four-wheel drive put $209 worth of petrol into his car, they could cost you 20% more in fuel,” said Mr Moir. “I would expect that the second half of this year you will see an increase in the level of stock coming back into the marketplace.”
And WA Four-Wheel Driving Club member, Pat Jenkin, told the ABC that the reopening of borders would also see some people opting for overseas travel instead of Outback adventures.
“With the Covid pandemic and not being able to go anywhere overseas and interstate … it’s just meant everybody had to do something and they decided four-wheel driving and camping and caravanning was the way to go,” he said. “The second-hand market is where a lot of people go and I think there will just be an oversupply if everyone decides to go back to their pre-Covid life and holiday overseas rather than around Australia.”
I think it will be next year before we see people going back overseas in hordes. There are still some of the Asian countries where you still have to do a small hotel iso on arrival and also who wants to do PCR tests which cost money when arriving. It’s still easier to get around Aussie, rather than spending hours in a plane and airport with a mask on. No thanks.
I can only hope so , free camp sites are full these days , please all go to Bali 🙂
I hope the amount of people out drops as there been far to many newbie’s out there that don’t have a clue and making a lot of people upset.
I hope so. To watch these caravaners do their thing is a laugh.
They’ll probably drop off camping gradually. There’s more ”prestige” in telling everyone that ”We’re going overseas” LOL.
It might lower the number of caravan accidents when they do.
I certainly hope so, caravaning just hasn,t been the same. Parks are fuller longer and the quiet times at our favourite parks are now packed.The roads have a lot more vans to contend with and there are a lot more on the road that just shouldn,t be.People that have just brought a new cruiser and the biggest van they could get and hit the road, with no training bar taking their 6×4 trailer to the dump once every so often.You only have to watch when they arrive at a park a danger to themselves and every other road user.So yes please go back to Bali and your world trips.
Didn’t want to go to Bali pre covid let alone post covid. Our beaches are far superior.
Agree.