The Daily Vroom

Good morning Vroomers!

We’ve talked a lot about the gap in the U.S. market for a true third player in the online auction space. But it got me thinking—just how close (or not) are the two dominant platforms, Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids?

So, I crunched the numbers for 2025 so far (keep in mind, the Feb 10th week isn’t over yet, so those numbers will shift).

• BaT has racked up nearly $140 million in vehicle sales this year. They started slow, built up steam, had a small dip, and now look set for a strong week based on projected sales. Their weekly average sale price hovers between $40K–$50K.

  

• Cars & Bids—the clear #2 —plays in a completely different space. They’ve moved just over $13 million in auction sales, with an average sale price of $27K.

While C&B has purposely staked its claim on the modern enthusiast market (for now), BaT will take your 2023 M3 and your 1972 E9 CSL. Different strategies, same end goal—just with BaT casting a much wider net.

And right now, that broader approach is paying off big time in the numbers. 🚗💨

YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES

The 2019 McLaren Senna that RNM’d at €825K a few weeks ago on SBX has now sold for €1.05M. Not an auction, but a strong result—maybe the boost their platform needs?

Want to dive deeper into any of these listings? Just click on the car to take you directly to the listing.

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon: A Case of Market Timing?

The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is one of those cars that will always have a following. It’s raw, absurdly overpowered, and limited to just 3,300 units—the kind of machine that should hold its value well. But the latest sale of this 459-mile example tells a different story.

Sold for $118,000 in May 2024, it just changed hands again for $96,500—a drop of over $20K in less than a year. The car itself hasn’t changed. Still factory fresh, still an 808-hp monster (840 hp on race gas), still finished in White Knuckle with the Demon Crate included. So what happened?

It’s a reminder that not everything in the market is down—just certain models at certain times. Muscle cars, particularly those without a clear future (thanks ridiculous EV mandates), are in a weird spot. There’s demand, but not at the peak pricing we saw a year or two ago.

Would this car have done better if it sat for another year or two? Maybe. The Demon will always be collectible, but timing matters. If the new owner treats it like a garage queen, they might see the value bounce back. If they drive it as Dodge intended, well, that’s the way I’d go.

Your Feedback

Yesterday we asked you ‘With more ‘winning offer’ and ‘sold after auction’ sales popping up, how do you prefer to buy or sell?’

The results were close, as you can see from the table below. Underneath that are a selection of your comments.

Auctions To Keep An Eye On

Some cars were built to last, and the W124 Mercedes-Benz E300D is proof. With its 3.0L OM606 diesel, this sedan wasn’t designed for speed—it was made to outlive everything around it.

This Malachite Green Metallic example stands out with 17-inch Mercedes wheels, Bilstein shocks, and Eibach lowering springs. It’s got just enough presence without losing what makes these cars great.

With ‘just’ 157,000 miles, a clean CA title, and a well-documented service history, this one’s been cared for. And with no reserve, someone’s getting a legendary diesel that’s still got plenty left in the tank.

The 1995 Audi RS2 Avant is the car that proved wagons could be outrageous. Built in collaboration with Porsche and assembled in Zuffenhausen, it wasn’t just another fast estate—it was a statement.

With a 315-hp turbocharged inline-five, a six-speed manual, and Porsche-tuned brakes and suspension, it rewrote the rules for what a practical car could be. This Polar Silver example, originally delivered to Spain, has had just three owners, has ~83,000 miles, and wears a set of 17-inch split-rim Porsche wheels.

The RS2 is raw, analog, and built in an era before modern RS models got too refined for their own good. It’s the one that started it all, the blueprint for every fast Audi that followed, and one of the last truly special wagons ever made.

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