An improving economy and falling gas prices may be pushing interest for more expensive and perhaps less fuel-efficient models, making certain large sport utility vehicles and sporty cars hard for dealers to find.

According to AutoTrader.com’s latest installment of vehicle scarcity data provided to Auto Remarketing, popularity of these types of models in the used market “mirrors what is happening in the new market.”

And this popularity is cutting into used supply for models such as the certified pre-owned Toyota Land Cruiser, which moved up by seven spots on the national CPO scarcity report in September.

The model jumped from No. 8 to No. 1 nationally from August to this past September, taking the spot of hardest-to-find CPO vehicle in the country.

The CPO Lexus LX, which shares its underpinnings with the Toyota Land Cruiser, moved up to No. 5 from No. 9 nationally in terms of scarcity, according to AutoTrader.

The analysis also pointed out that large SUVs, both used and new, have been gaining popularity, too, as the economy ramps up and gives households a bit more extra cash for these more expensive vehicles.

Falling gas prices are also pushing interest in less fuel-efficient models. The national average now sits at $3.12 per gallon as of Monday, which is below last year’s low point of $3.19 during the week ending Nov. 11.

"It’s quite a reversal of fortunes. In the months leading up to the great recession, car buyers turned away from large SUVs and luxury vehicles and steered clear of sports cars as their discretionary income declined. In the new market, the sports car market was the last to be revived as the economy improved,” said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at AutoTrader.com. 

“In addition, newly introduced entry-level cars from German automakers are in short supply, as younger, affluent buyers aspire to buying luxury cars but on a budget,” Krebs added.

Some of the sporty cars that made the top 10 list of scarcest late-model vehicles were the Porsche Cayman, Volkswagen Golf R, Chevrolet Corvette, BMW M3 and Jaguar XK.

According to AutoTrader surveys, young, affluent buyers aspire to these brands. These entry-level models, which are selling well on the new side, are even more accessible as used cars, causing shortages, the company’s analysts explained.

The designated market areas AutoTrader tracks showed similar trends, particularly among the sporty, sporty luxury, luxury car, and big SUV segments.

Here are a few of the models that dealers might have had trouble finding last month, according to AutoTrader.com:

•  The Chevrolet Corvette was the No. 1 scarcest CPO vehicle in Chicago, moving up from No. 8. It was also No. 2 in Houston and No. 3 in Dallas-Fort Worth. This model recently went through a redesign last year, launching a new wave of popularity for the vehicle, both new and used.
   
• Audi has been a major up-and-comer on the luxury scene. The supply of new Audi models has not kept up with demand, and the same seems to be true of used Audi models, AutoTrader analysts said.  The CPO Audi S4 and CPO S5 appeared on the scarcity lists in a majority of the DMAs.
   
• On that same note, the rather new entry-level models of luxury brands Mercedes-Benz (CLA), BMW (2 Series) and Audi (A3) are scarce on the used market, as well, AutoTrader pointed out.