GAINESVILLE, Ga. -

As overall wholesale prices softened again last week, Black Book’s Ricky Beggs cautioned dealers who are watching the lanes and their laptops that exceptions still remain.

Beggs explained these exceptions are particularly noticeable even as 2012 models begin to arrive on dealer lots.

“Even though the overall changes represent a market that continues to ease down to make room for another model year of vehicles, we continue to see the exception to softening values when the really nice, low mileage, right equipment and right color vehicle shows up,” Beggs shared during the latest installment of his weekly video series, “Beggs on the Used Car Market.”

“The demand is still strong for that special vehicle, both wholesale and retail,” he added.

As Beggs referenced, Black Book discovered the actual adjustments this past week brought an overall decline of more than $80. That level was less than the previous week when the change was a downward push of $105 and more in line with what Beggs saw three to four weeks ago.

Still, Beggs also pointed out 20 percent of the adjustments sent a vehicle’s price $147 higher in a trend that was “similar to the increases of April and May when the market was really aggressive.”

Looking at specific segments, Black Book determined cars dipped $25 overall last week. While premium sporty cars actually ticked $3 higher, upper midsize cars (down $57) and entry midsize cars (down $42) declined the most for the week.

“The dealer feedback continues to indicate that the 4-cylinder version vehicles gather the most interest,” Beggs shared.

Moving over to trucks, Black Book indicated the overall decline came in at $55, the largest single-week dip since Nov. 5.

Three truck segments sunk by almost double the segment average or more. That contingent included midsize crossovers (down $135), full-size crossovers (down $110) and luxury SUVs (down $101).

Compact trucks also dropped more than the segment average, falling $61.

Black Book spotted two truck segments that didn’t drop as much as the average. This cluster included cargo and passenger minivans, which slipped $18 and $27, respectively.

“Other segments doing better than the group average were the full-size vans for both cargo and passenger versions and the compact SUVs,” Beggs pointed out.

Beyond tracking wholesale prices, Beggs also touched on another popular subject nowadays — the weather.

“The editors hit the road this past week looking for every bit of hands-on information they could capture. From Washington State, into the Carolinas, and of course, the auctions in Atlanta, where in most cases the hottest thing we encountered was the temperature,” Beggs emphasized.

Beggs noticed when he got into his truck to leave a South Carolina auction, the temperature was 103 degrees. Beggs also shared a story about another recent trip with Bret Swanson, Black Book’s light and medium duty truck editor, who was “climbing around the big rigs on the lot.”

Beggs acknowledged that when Swanson got back to the office “he was seriously drained."

“From seeing some of the action of the dealers, I think the extreme heat and humidity slows down their aggressiveness some,” Beggs surmised. “I have said for years that an auction can be the coldest place in the winter months and the hottest place during the summer.

“That was truly evident this week except for our guys who visited DAA Northwest and were in 60-degree weather,” he added. “At least the activity was rockin’ and rollin’.”

The event in Spokane, Wash., also prompted Beggs to touch on another subject that auction managers and dealers readily see.

“Auctions all across the country provide more than just a venue for dealers to buy and sell used vehicles. They take time to support many non-profits and community needs with tremendous donations throughout the year. They also take the time to thank their customers with special events and prizes,” Beggs emphasized.

This past week, Tom Cross, president of Black Book, and Tim West, vice president and North American auction director, attended the 16th annual DAA Northwest Rock and Roll sale.

“Our thanks go out to Bob McConkey and Greg McHugh and their team for once again having Black Book as part of this tremendous event held to show their appreciation to the dealers and their business at DAA Northwest,” Beggs stressed.

The Black Book managing editor went on to reiterate that “July is almost in the history books, and in the record books for temperature and heat index levels at the auctions.

“August looks extremely busy for the editors projecting residuals on the 2012 models, attending auctions every week, participating at the 10th anniversary summer roundtable of the IARA (International Automotive Remarketing Alliance), seeing all of the new products at the Great American Truck Show in Dallas and visiting at the headquarters of a heavy duty truck manufacturer,” Beggs continued.

“All of these efforts support our market study and the resulting daily used vehicle value updates. We are looking ahead to a great month and as always we hope to see you on the auction lanes,” he concluded.

Beggs’ videos can be viewed here.