The Daily Vroom

Hey Vroomers, it's Thursday!
Yesterday was nothing short of epic, smashing some records along the way.
Time to dive straight into the action and unveil the market leaderboard. Brace yourselves; it's quite the spectacle .

MARKET LEADERBOARD
The figures shared below don’t count any other sales such as car seats, memorabilia etc..
I only include websites that have sold 10+ cars in the chart below.

You're seeing that chart right! Bring A Trailer just crushed it, selling a whopping 114 vehicles in a day. Major props to them! They're nearly a hundred ahead of the next guy in line.
Is this their all-time high for a day? Well, as far as I've been tracking, it sure seems like it. And trust me, the list of cars sold is like the A-list of the auto world.
I remember chatting about them hitting the 100-cars-a-day milestone not too long ago. So, the big Q – can they keep this momentum going regularly? My bet's on yes.
If they pull that off, we're talking about a cool $2 billion in car sales annually. Wild, right?

TOP 5 SALES OF THE DAY
No shocker here, all these beauties found their new homes on Bring A Trailer! ✨ Go ahead and tap on each car to dive deep into the listings and feast your eyes on these stunning sales!

Sotheby's Motorsport: My Two Cents on Their Auction Scene Debut

I've been following Sotheby's Motorsport with keen interest as they ventured into the auction scene. The initial impressions, however, have left me with some reservations. Having ONLY sold No Reserve listings (except 1) and struggling to sell Reserve auctions, here’s my take on them:

-
Who's Selling? A glaring trend is the dominance of dealers in the selling space, probably stemming from old connections. This begs the question: where are the individual car aficionados with their unique treasures? An authentic auction platform thrives on its variety, and the stark absence of individual sellers is puzzling.
-
Listing Limits, Market Value, and Audience: The targeted value bracket of cars, set between $100k and $1m, seems restrictive. Adding to this is the recent chart above, highlighting failed auctions of cars that were listed significantly below their market value — some even a jaw-dropping $100k less. I understand that selling in this specific price range might be their marketing angle. They're steering clear of 'cheaper' cars, reserving the $1m+ range for their physical auctions. However, this strategy, while unique, narrows their audience considerably.
-
Fee Conundrum: The 2.5% seller's fee is something a seller might be willing to overlook, but the buyer's fee structure gives me pause. A 5% fee with a cap at $25,000 is significantly steeper compared to most platforms that usually cap around $5k. This means a buyer could potentially shell out an additional $20k in fees. Naturally, a buyer would factor this in, likely reducing their bid by a similar amount. So, as a seller, I'd be looking at potentially receiving about $20k less. This doesn't even take into account the platform's relative newness or the seller's fee.
-
Bidding Barriers: The expectation for bidders to present financial documents, reminiscent of traditional auctions, seems a tad intrusive and especially a pain in the butt for a short online auction. While I appreciate the conveniences Sotheby's offers, like handling payments, this requirement is just one more stumbling block that might deter many potential bidders.
Despite these concerns, I must commend the platform's design aesthetics and speed. Yet, the challenges I've pinpointed aren't just my musings; they resonate with many in the community. A few high-end car enthusiasts have hinted they might consider a purchase from Sotheby's Motorsport if the deal is right. But with the current dynamics, why would sellers settle for potentially lower returns here?
Given Sotheby's Motorsport's fee structure (2.5% seller's fee and higher buyer's fees) and the requirement to provide financial information:

The Perfect Burning Man Vehicle

If you've ever been to Burning Man and thought, "The only thing missing is a luxury camper on steroids to shield me from this mad desert weather," then BaT had just the thing for you yesterday. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Winnebago Revel 4×4 went under the hammer and got snagged for a sweet $181,500! Hailing from sunny Scottsdale, Arizona, this beastly van was listed by mclarenscottsdale and is now the pride and joy of the lucky Barbsloski.

Painted in an all-business gray, this German-engineered marvel boasts a 3.0-liter BlueTec turbodiesel V6 engine coupled with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Perfect for those quick getaways from dust storms. ️
Features? Oh, it's stacked:
-
Desert Luxury: Imagine cruising through the playa with swiveling front seats, a comfy bed, a fully-equipped kitchenette, a handy bathroom, and even a workspace for when inspiration strikes. ️
-
Ready for Anything: Power-operated awning? Check. Rooftop solar panels? Yup. Air conditioner to beat the desert heat? Absolutely. ❄️
-
Tough as Nails: This isn't just a pretty face. It's got a 2" suspension lift with Fox shocks, rugged 17" Method alloy wheels, a CAtuned front bumper, and enough LED lights to make even the darkest desert night look like midday.
-
Safety and Direction: The Warn winch ensures you're never stuck, and the DTE PedalBox gives it that extra oomph. And with the state-of-the-art touch-screen infotainment system, you won't miss your next art installation or rave. ️
With a mere 1,300 miles, this camper's more fresh than some of the festival's outfits. And given its features, it's no wonder it was a hit on BaT. So, if you've just returned from Burning Man, sunburned and dust-caked, thinking about the next time, consider leveling up your experience.


The BMW M3: A Legend in Motion

A Storied Legacy:
The BMW M3 is not just a car; it's an icon. Introduced in 1986 with the E30, the M3 has since graced the streets and tracks, standing as a testament to BMW's commitment to driving excellence.
Performance Beast:
From the high-revving inline-4 of the original 1986 E30 M3 to the powerful V8 of the 2007 E92 model and beyond, the M3 has always been about delivering exhilarating driving experiences.
Evolution of Design:
The M3's journey began with the boxy yet beloved design of the E30 in the 1980s. As the years rolled on, its silhouette transformed, embracing the sleek and modern aesthetics of recent generations, like the 2020 G20 model. Yet, throughout its evolution, the M3 has consistently maintained its aggressive and distinguished look.
Race Pedigree:
Born on the track, the M3, right from its 1986 debut, has a rich motorsport history. It has dominated many racing series, thereby cementing its reputation as a true driver's car.
Collector's Delight:
Today, early models, especially the 1986 E30 M3, are sought after by collectors. Meanwhile, newer models, like the 2020 G20 M3, continue to push the boundaries of what a sports sedan can be.
Diving Deeper:
With such a storied history and a passionate fanbase, tracking the sales trends of the BMW M3 is always an intriguing endeavor. Let’s delve into the insights and trends from M3 sales in August, shedding light on the market dynamics and what enthusiasts are currently valuing.


Overall Trends
The histogram above presents a distribution of the sale prices for BMW M3s in August 2023. Most M3s were sold in a price range of approximately $25,000 to $50,000.
However, there are a few instances where the M3s were sold at significantly higher prices, reaching upwards of $146,000.
This suggests that while the majority of M3s on auction platforms fall within a more "affordable" bracket, there are special or unique models that command a premium like this 1995 BMW M3 GT that sold for $125,000.


-
Bring A Trailer appears to be the dominant platform in terms of the number of BMW M3s sold, with an average price of approximately $42K.
-
Car & Classic and PCarMarket have the fewest number of sales, but there's a notable difference in their average prices.
-
Cars And Bids average price is around $25K with Collecting Cars being $10K more at $35K.

Generally speaking, the higher prices achieved in August come from M3’s that are are older cars.

Wrapping up our Daily Vroom deep dive, guess what? Thursday's the hot day for snagging an M3. So if you're itching to get one, mark your calendar and hop online this Thursday!







