The Daily Vroom

Good morning, Vroomers!

Last week was a whirlwind with all the buzz around the Cars & Bids layoffs and what it means for their future. If you missed our deep dive, you can catch up on both posts here and here.

Meanwhile, the auctions kept rolling. Nearly $32 million in sales went through across all online platforms. Here’s a look at how those sales stacked up by price point.

Cars & Bids Fee Increase

After last week’s deep dive into Cars & Bids layoff’s, I figured they deserved a little breathing room to do what they do best—list and sell cars. And to their credit, they do that very well.

That said, they’re keeping themselves in the news with a first ever fee increase. As of tomorrow, the buyer’s fee jumps to 5% (matching Bring a Trailer), with a new max of $7,500. To be fair, this is their first increase since launching, and for most users, it won’t make a difference. The new cap only affects cars over $100k, and even then, it’s still a bargain compared to live auction houses.

Hopefully the news cycle for them will now end, and we can just concentrate on their listings.

Auctions To Keep An Eye On

If you've been reading The Daily Vroom for a while, you’ll know I have a soft spot for RUF. And this RCT Evo, it’s exactly why.

Take a clean '91 Carrera, send it to RUF Canada, and let them work their magic. The result, a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive, 425-hp missile wrapped in Linden Green perfection. It’s got the looks, the numbers, and the badge that separates the real thing from the pretenders.

Sure, there’s a Carfax blemish in its past, but when RUF signs off on a build, that’s as good as a factory reset. If you want a 964 that delivers modern performance without diluting its raw character, this is it.

Nine days left. No reserve. And climbing past $350k.

TV personality and Wheeler Dealers host Ant Anstead clearly knew what he was doing when he spec’d this Defender—steel wheels, cloth seats, and a no-frills setup that stays true to the model’s rugged roots. No flashy mods, just a clean, well-used example that’s actually been driven, not parked as a status symbol.

California-owned from new with a clean Carfax, it’s a practical, adventure-ready truck with Land Rover Trophy plaques as a nice little flex. At no reserve and still under $30k with two days to go, this could be a smart buy for someone who wants a Defender that’s ready to go—no gimmicks, no nonsense.ppen. Few cars can make you smile just by looking at them. This is one of those cars.

This is the W126 for AMG purists. A proper pre-merger Affalterbach build, loaded with period-correct AMG touches and an obsessive level of documentation.

The Anthracite Gray Metallic paint, AMG body kit, and matching five-spoke wheels make it look every bit as sinister as an ‘80s autobahn stormer should. Under the hood, the AMG-modified 5.4L V8—rebuilt with forged internals—delivers a mix of brute force and high-revving aggression that few sedans of its era could match.

Add in Recaro seats, a Clarion G-80 stereo, and a driving experience that feels more Hammer than stately S-Class, and you’ve got a Q-ship that’s as cool as it is rare. With an impeccable ownership trail and a history at Legends of the Autobahn, this is one of the most well-documented pre-merger AMGs to hit the market.

Bidding’s already over $100k with three days left. No surprises there.