Guess I don't know what the best option is given the market.

I had a 39 month lease that I was well in the green on. Plan was to buy it out and wait for car prices to fall and then sell it as the family grew in a few years. Got it pre pandemic. Was due to buy it out in about 2 weeks and it got stolen a few days ago.

Now I'm looking at getting about 4k to 6k cash out of it which is nice but prices are insane. I saw 10 - 12 year old corollas, going for over 10,000$.

I don't see anyway to get a car and not be underwater once this market goes. Debating on just getting another lease at this point and staying on the hamster wheel.

Saw the Mavericks from Ford and thought price wise good deal to go new, but looking at a 9 month wait just to get one. If there is on a lot, they are pushing 6k over msrp. In the mean time I'd be wrapped up in a used car I assume I won't get my money back on.

Guess my whole plan got flipped on its head and I have no clue how to not get completely hosed in this market for a car. Just looking for some advice on what others are doing to try minimize expected cash loss to value swings that are probably coming at some point.