The Daily Vroom

Good morning, Vroomers!

Today, we’re taking it back to our roots with a deep(ish) dive into the last couple of months of trading on Cars & Bids. And, as a bonus, we’re spotlighting the wildest twin-engine Mini you’ll ever lay eyes on—it’s up for auction now!

As always, none of this would be possible without you. Thank you for your continued encouragement and support—it means the world to us.

Have an amazing weekend, and we’ll see you on 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.

Yesterday was definitely a slow day, with just $5.8m worth of vehicles sold across all auction platforms. BaT and Cars & Bids were running light on inventory—probably still feeling the ripple effects from Thanksgiving. But honestly, it wasn’t just them—most of the market barely moved anything. Could it be a post-holiday hangover hitting the middle segment? Maybe people went big on Thanksgiving and are now saving up to go big again for Christmas. Feels like a bit of a pause.

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.

One small note, it’s always great to see new bidders come along bid once and win their first car. And that’s exactly what happened with the Lamborghini below.

Cars & Bids Deep Dive

It’s been a while since we last took a deep dive into platform data, so today we’re rolling up our sleeves to explore the numbers behind Cars & Bids. Let’s take a closer look at the sales trends, revenue insights, and standout stats from October and November.

In October, Cars & Bids achieved a total of 565 sales, but November saw a noticeable decline, with only 439 sales recorded. This represents a 22.3% drop in sales month-over-month, highlighting a significant shift in activity as the auction landscape cooled heading into the end of the year. Now of course there was one less trading day because of Thanksgiving, but that still shouldn’t have made such a large difference. Lets delve a little further.

Here’s where the numbers really tell the story in both cents and dollars. Total sales in October reached $14.9 million, while November saw a significant drop to $9.6 million, marking a 35.6% decrease. Additionally, the average transaction sale price fell by over $4,000, highlighting a notable shift in buyer behavior and market dynamics between the two months.

Now let’s take a look at what people were buying and at what prices.

Looking at the most popular makes, the trend becomes clear: nearly every make commanded higher prices in October compared to November. Average transaction prices followed suit, with October consistently outperforming November across the board.

Let’s go one step deeper…

Here’s a look at how the top 5 models performed in October and November, comparing their average prices. Take the 3 Series, for instance—its average price in October was $20k, while in November, it dropped to just below $16k. This decline in prices is a consistent theme across most models.

Now, let’s dive into the timing of sales and explore whether the day they occurred had any significant impact on the final sale price.

So let me explain what we’re showing above.

We took a closer look at the sales data for some of the most popular models—like the BMW 3 Series, Corvette, and Porsche 911—and uncovered some fascinating trends about how auction day impacts the final price.

The chart shows the average sale price for each model on days of the week where there were at least 5 sales. This threshold ensures we’re not relying on just one or two outliers to draw conclusions. Here’s what stood out:

• The Porsche 911 achieves its highest prices on Wednesdays, with an impressive average sale price of over $106,000. Other days, like Monday and Tuesday, didn’t make the chart because they didn’t hit the 5-sale minimum—highlighting that Wednesdays might also be the most popular day for 911 auctions.

• The BMW 3 Series stands out on Tuesdays, where it fetched an average price of just over $20,700. Interestingly, Monday and Wednesday prices for the 3 Series were significantly lower, suggesting that Tuesdays might be an optimal day for sellers to list.

• For the Corvette, Tuesdays also lead the pack, with an average sale price of $37,333. This trend might hint at Tuesday buyers being willing to spend more or a stronger pool of listings on that day.

This analysis underscores the importance of timing in auctions. If you’re thinking about selling, choosing the right day can have a noticeable impact on your results. For ‘luxury’ models like the 911, a midweek listing might be your best bet, while others, like the 3 Series or Corvette, see more consistent strength earlier in the week.

Of course, this analysis reflects just two months of data, and a deeper dive into the full year of 2024 will provide more definitive insights. However, these trends from the past two months are grounded in the numbers and offer valuable, factual takeaways for anyone looking to buy or sell or perhaps just wonder!

Finally I wanted to look at what affect all these sales had on their bottom line revenue. (It’s one of the most frequented questions I get, how much does this and that platform make!)

The total revenue from buyer's fees in October was $531k while in November it was $395k. This represents a difference of $136k, with October generating significantly more revenue than November, which is a significant decrease that I’m sure they felt.

There’s only so much I can pack into a 5-minute read, but hopefully, you’ll find this data both insightful and useful. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or just a car enthusiast, these trends can help you navigate the auction world with a slightly sharper edge.

That brings me to an important point. At The Daily Vroom, we’ve deliberately avoided offering direct advice—whether it’s about the best investments, top 10 cars to buy, or which models are appreciating or depreciating. However, we have access to a treasure trove of valuable information that could provide deeper insights.

You’ve likely seen those “Top 10 Cars to Watch in 2024” articles floating around, often little more than clickbait with no real data to back them up. Similarly, in auction comment sections, you’ll often find people declaring that a car is a “great investment” or that its value will “only go up.” While I’m sometimes tempted to chime in—either to validate or challenge those opinions—it’s ultimately not the right forum, as opinions are just that: personal takes.

But with the data we have, we can go beyond opinions—delivering hard facts that tell the real story. The question is: would you be interested in seeing that type of data, presented in a more detailed and actionable way? Let us know in the poll below.

Craziest Auction Of The Week

This twin-engine 1990 Rover Mini is the kind of auction that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. It’s completely outrageous and undeniably impressive. Built by Z-Cars in 2003, this one-of-a-kind creation features two Yamaha R1 engines stuffed into a Mini, delivering 340 horsepower with a power-to-weight ratio that rivals a Ferrari Enzo. This car isn’t just fast—it’s an adrenaline machine.

The build details are pure gearhead heaven. Custom Z-Cars subframes, a roll cage, carbon fiber and fiberglass body panels, and dual six-speed sequential gearboxes sending power to the rear wheels via a Quaife limited-slip differential. It’s designed to be driven on one engine or both, making it a masterpiece of mechanical ingenuity.

The interior is all business, featuring Cobra bucket seats, dual gear levers, and a Curley carbon fiber dashboard with a MoTeC digital cluster. Everything about it screams raw and analog. No odometer, no frills, just a lightweight rocket that’s ready to tear up the road.

This Mini has been featured on two magazine covers, and for good reason. The attention to detail and creativity behind this build make it a standout. With a current bid of $14,250, this is a rare opportunity to own a piece of automotive insanity!! It’s not just a car—it’s a rolling testament to pushing boundaries. Whoever wins this auction is taking home something unforgettable.

Enjoying The Daily Vroom?

Pay it forward by sharing this newsletter with an automotive aficionado in your circles. Your endorsement allows us to accelerate our growth.