The Daily Vroom

Good morning, Vroomers!

Today (Thursday) brought some unexpected twists. First, I saw the breaking news about MotorTrend, and I couldn’t resist sharing my perspective on what it means for the online platforms. Then, I stumbled upon a car so painfully ugly yet irresistibly priced, I just had to write about it. And let’s not forget that jaw-dropping $1M+ Porsche sale…

Plenty to dive into below—enjoy!

Have a great weekend, and see you Monday,
Sam

MARKET LEADERBOARD

💰 The figures shared below don’t count any other sales such as car seats, memorabilia etc… All online auction sites are analyzed to put this leaderboard together.

I only include websites that have sold 5+ vehicles in the chart below.

You’d expect a $1m+ sale to push total sales well above the daily average. While the average selling price did rise to $54k compared to the usual $42k, total sales still came in at $6.75m—far below a typical Thursday's average.

YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES

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

What Hearst Buying MotorTrend Really Means (Especially for Online Car Sales)

Look, we don't typically dive into automotive industry news here at The Daily Vroom - it's not really our thing. But Hearst just bought MotorTrend, and since this could shake up the online auction world in a big way, I wanted to share my thoughts.

Let's cut through all the noise first. Everyone's freaking out about Hearst now owning MotorTrend alongside Car and Driver and Road & Track. The internet's ablaze with worried chatter about monopolies and journalistic integrity. But here's the thing - many of these journalists are genuinely excellent at what they do. I've seen their work over the years, and they've earned their reputations through solid, honest reporting, so to me that’s not a real concern

That said, I'll admit there's a legitimate concern here. When one company owns pretty much every major automotive publication, it creates an interesting dynamic with advertisers. If an automaker gets ticked off, they're not just pulling ads from one magazine - they could potentially bail on the whole Hearst automotive portfolio. That's some serious leverage.

For Hearst, this is honestly a pretty smart play. They've basically cornered the market on premium automotive content. But - and this is where it gets interesting - traditional automotive media isn't even where the real action is anymore.

Not to toot our own horn here at The Daily Vroom, but independent voices like ours and YouTubers are increasingly where people (especially younger folks) go for their car content. Why? Because we can actually say what we think without worrying about keeping advertisers happy. No filters, no corporate oversight - just straight talk about cars.

The BaT Effect: Why This Deal Really Matters for Online Auctions

Now, let's get to what I really want to talk about - how this affects the online auction world. Because this is where things get seriously interesting.

Remember when everyone thought Hearst would mess up Bring a Trailer after buying it? Well, not only did that not happen, but BaT has gotten dramatically better. And this MotorTrend deal is about to pour nitrous on BaT's already screaming engine.

Here's why this is such a big deal for the online auction space:

First, think about the exposure BaT is about to get. They're not just going to be casually mentioned in MotorTrend articles - they're going to be everywhere across the Hearst automotive empire. Every significant car that shows up on BaT could potentially get coverage across MotorTrend properties as well as the exposure they already get from Car and Driver, and Road & Track. That's massive visibility that doesn't cost BaT a dime in marketing. It's like getting free Super Bowl ads all year round.

But it goes deeper than just exposure. This creates a whole ecosystem that's incredibly hard to compete with. Think about it - if you're running another auction platform, how do you get your noteworthy listings featured in any major automotive publication now? They're all under the Hearst umbrella, and Hearst owns BaT. It would be like expecting Coke to advertise Pepsi.

The network effect here is massive. More visibility means more sellers will choose BaT for their significant cars. More great cars mean more buyers. More buyers mean higher prices. Higher prices attract even more stellar cars. It's a self-reinforcing cycle that's about to get supercharged.

For newer auction platforms trying to gain traction, this creates an almost impossible hill to climb. They're not just competing against BaT's established community and track record anymore - they're competing against an integrated media and auction powerhouse. The barrier to entry just got a lot higher.

Even for established competitors, this is a tough pill to swallow. They'll need to find new ways to attract sellers and buyers without relying on traditional automotive media coverage. This might actually accelerate the shift toward social media and influencer marketing in the collector car space.

The truth is, this acquisition isn't just about Hearst buying another car magazine. It's about reinforcing their dominance in the digital automotive marketplace. While everyone's distracted by discussions about journalistic integrity, Hearst is quietly building an ecosystem that could control both how we consume automotive content and how we buy and sell enthusiast cars.

For BaT, this is another massive win. For everyone else in the online auction space? The game just got a lot harder.

Hideous Bargain or Hidden Gem?

Is it possible to hate a car design, think Chrysler absolutely missed the boat with this one, and still see bargain potential? With this Crossfire, the answer is yes.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Chrysler Crossfire’s design is polarizing, to put it mildly. To me, it’s a car that looks like Chrysler took the concept of “retro-futuristic” and pushed it into “puke-a-little-in-your-mouth” territory. But sometimes, ugly ducklings have a way of stealing the spotlight, especially when they offer incredible value for what they are.

This 2007 Chrysler Crossfire Coupe is a case in point. At its core, it’s a cheap Mercedes-Benz SLK in a Chrysler suit. Built during the Daimler-Chrysler union and assembled by Karmann in Germany, the Crossfire borrows heavily from the SLK’s bones, meaning it drives reasonably well and has a reputation for reliability. Sure, it might look like a rejected concept car from a forgotten 2000s sci-fi movie, but under that divisive shell lies a solid 3.2L V6 and a 6-speed manual transmission—a combination that guarantees driving engagement and longevity.

Now, let’s talk numbers. With only ~42,500 miles and a no reserve auction, the current bid is criminally low for a car that, let’s face it, will likely run forever if maintained. The manual transmission is a rarity, and this one remains unmodified—an anomaly in a market filled with questionable aftermarket choices. And while the Carfax notes some history of moderate damage and a repaint, the reported mechanical upkeep, including new tires and brakes, makes it a solid prospect.

The Bottom Line:
I’ll admit it—I hate the Crossfire’s design. But sometimes, love and hate can coexist.

This is a car that’s hard to look at but impossible to ignore, especially at this price point. If you’re hunting for a cheap, reliable, manual coupe with decent driving dynamics and a quirky edge, this might just be your diamond in the rough. Just don’t park it where you’ll see it every day.

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