Bring a Trailer (BaT) Auctions: Worth Listing Your Car or Not?

[maw1124]

Well, @maw1124, I still see plenty of "Fast and Furious" Hondas driving around with fart-can exhausts, and even the occasional "lowered mini-truck" from the 1980s !! Remember those?

I do, actually, remember those. I mean, the ricers and El Camino's I can understand. They're cool in a low budget, low-ish carbon footprint sort of way (provided said ricers aren't smoking oil like Marlboro's on a daily driver basis). I mean E85 and $100/barrel oil be damned, those work more or less. The suburban mom (or dad) driving around in a virtually empty 7 seater... Suburban (or Escalade), doing virtually... nothing... Well that I just can't intelligently rationalize without @cogsurp's tool. I guess that's why my SUV is a wagon... go figure.


maw

 

[Jlaa]

Well, @maw1124, I still see plenty of "Fast and Furious" Hondas driving around with fart-can exhausts, and even the occasional "lowered mini-truck" from the 1980s !! Remember those?

I haven't seen a FnF Honda or a lowrider minitruck (with hydraulically operated bed) in FOREVER!!!

However, I will note, it seems in my neck of the woods that stanced import mini trucks from the 70s-80s seem to be the next big thing. I saw a stanced late 70s Toyota pickup the other day --- it actually looked really cool. Here's an example of a stanced Mazda B2000. Difference between these modern day stanced mini trucks and the mini trucks from the 80s/90s are:

1) No hydraulic beds
2) Fat wheels/rubbers instead of Dayton Wires and Vogue Tires.

 

[gerryvz]

The only other issue that I see is that the sample size for E500Es is going to be fairly low, because not that many come on the market perhaps to be able to divine specific trends. But, I will be interested to see how all this evolves

 

[ace10]

Is this a record?

$799 garbage fee being charged by the dealer.

14k-Mile 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 6-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a 14k-Mile 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #31,271.

bringatrailer.com

It's wall-to-wall dealer auctions. I find myself checking BaT less and less each day.

I've read rumors in a couple of places that the company is for sale or may have already been sold. Truth or Fiction?

#BuckFaT

 

[maw1124]

I haven't seen a FnF Honda or a lowrider minitruck (with hydraulically operated bed) in FOREVER!!!

However, I will note, it seems in my neck of the woods that stanced import mini trucks from the 70s-80s seem to be the next big thing. I saw a stanced late 70s Toyota pickup the other day --- it actually looked really cool. Here's an example of a stanced Mazda B2000. Difference between these modern day stanced mini trucks and the mini trucks from the 80s/90s are:

1) No hydraulic beds
2) Fat wheels/rubbers instead of Dayton Wires and Vogue Tires.


View attachment 102618

I forgot all about these!! I used to love them!

maw

 

[LWB250]

Is this a record?

$799 garbage fee being charged by the dealer.

14k-Mile 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 6-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a 14k-Mile 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #31,271.

bringatrailer.com

It's wall-to-wall dealer auctions. I find myself checking BaT less and less each day.

I've read rumors in a couple of places that the company is for sale or may have already been sold. Truth or Fiction?

#BuckFaT

That's like the stupid "document fee" that dealers charge in Florida. There's a state law on the books saying they can legally charge up to something like $800 for this, and many do. I've goaded my local MB dealer guys about this, that they should just put "Extra $800 towards profit" on the invoice. They bare their teeth and growl at me when I say it.

I could see where BaT could be ripe for purchase. Might not be a bad time for the owners to cash out and bail.

Dan

 

[gerryvz]

BaT has very definitely had offers to get bought out in the past. I read an article some time back about how they developed, and the owner mentioned that they'd received offers, but he'd turned them down. Now that the BaT bloom is coming off the rose (and the fun and the $$$ easy money has dried up), I'm sure the owner will unload it, likely to one of the big auction houses like B-J, Bonham's, Russoo & Steele, or Sotheby's. Or maybe even a bottom-feeder US auction house like Silver Auctions. Who knows?

It will just become the on-line, "virtual" arm of an established big-name auction house.

It's pretty easy to see where all this is going. With all the flipper-dealer activity nowadays, BaT has jumped the shark, like eBay did eons ago. Perhaps GCFSB would be a better place to go.

I can remember when eBay was a super cool place to find some really esoteric Benz stuff, from eclectic sellers. Those days are long gone.

 

[LWB250]

BaT has very definitely had offers to get bought out in the past. I read an article some time back about how they developed, and the owner mentioned that they'd received offers, but he'd turned them down. Now that the BaT bloom is coming off the rose (and the fun and the $$$ easy money has dried up), I'm sure the owner will unload it, likely to one of the big auction houses like B-J, Bonham's, Russoo & Steele, or Sotheby's. Or maybe even a bottom-feeder US auction house like Silver Auctions. Who knows?

It will just become the on-line, "virtual" arm of an established big-name auction house.

It's pretty easy to see where all this is going. With all the flipper-dealer activity nowadays, BaT has jumped the shark, like eBay did eons ago. Perhaps GCFSB would be a better place to go.

While it might cut into their business somewhat, BaT should consider either eliminating dealers or have a separate site for dealer sales. Dealers obviously like using BaT for high value/interest cars, and in doing so, should be charged more for the service, I would think. Increased revenue for BaT and a means of "filtering" sellers as to the type.

Even with someone like the "g-d" Dean selling there, I've always been really reluctant to buy from a dealer. Maybe it's a silly concern, but I would prefer to buy a car from an enthusiast or engaged owner than a business that is just moving iron. It's a matter of confidence for me, as I feel like I can judge a seller pretty quickly by what they know, say, and how they present both themselves and the vehicle.

Just my $0.02.

Dan

 

[gerryvz]

IME there are three different categories of dealers.

1) Slimy Flipper-Dealers -- these are the real oily types. Like to mark their cars up 80-100% or more! Nuff said. 25% of the dealers you see in used Benzes.

2) Regular Flipper-Dealers -- these are the guys who are (mostly) trying to make a buck...or lots of them. Some of them may be moderate flippers, but they're not actively trying to prey on ignorant people, nor go to serious lengths to mis-represent cars. Some of they may be considered "deities" on certain web and auction sites, or have earned a reputation as a decent sort among less educated Benz hobbyists. Not major gougers, and not major liars. 65% of the dealers you see in used Benzes.

3) Scrupulous Dealers -- these are the real good guys who pay attention to details, know the cars they are selling (and their history) better than most all buyers, and are exceedingly honest in representing the cars to potential buyers. These guys may get top dollar for the cars they sell, but they generally deserve it, because they do their homework. Often if not USUALLY an "only Benz" specialist. Truly a pleasure to deal with. 10% of the dealers you see in used Benzes.

 

[Bogeyman]

The trouble with dealers is they lie about whether they are one.
I used to watch Craigslist and would always filter out the dealers - didn't work, they posted as not a dealer anyway.

 

[daantjie]

Speaking of the Christmas fund ***cough cough*** I mean "doc fee" these slimy dealers add, it is nothing but pure greed and a straight up gouge. I am surprised (but then again maybe not) that BAT has not banned this in their listings, even though the venom spewed against it by most of the commenters is pretty intense. I guess they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them

 

[gerryvz]

As long as BaT has auction volumes and gets its fees -- I think they probably care little about who is actually selling vehicles on their site.

I totally agree that BaT should create a separate "dealer" category, and list dealer-sold cars there. I will personally never ever fault anyone for trying to make a buck, after all this is America. But those who do it by preying on others -- particularly those who are ignorant, or dealers who use underhanded tactics (puffery, lying) to fleece others -- that's where I draw my personal line.

We have a separate dealer category on this site. If they don't self-identify as dealers, there are consequences that happen behind the scenes.

 

[LWB250]

3) Scrupulous Dealers -- these are the real good guys who pay attention to details, know the cars they are selling (and their history) better than most all buyers, and are exceedingly honest in representing the cars to potential buyers. These guys may get top dollar for the cars they sell, but they generally deserve it, because they do their homework. Often if not USUALLY an "only Benz" specialist. Truly a pleasure to deal with. 10% of the dealers you see in used Benzes.

There are a few of these guys around, but as they usually command premium prices because of their reputation they're probably best patronized by the ignorant (and I don't mean that in a derogatory way.) If you want a particular car and a very good example but know little about them, there's no doubt that a Dean is probably one of the better choices for a purchase to avoid getting shellacked. I don't hold this against them - they serve a valuable purpose in the food chain of used car buying/selling.

The CL thing with dealers selling as private sellers really frosted me. I always asked a seller if they were a dealer, and if they said "Yes" but the ad didn't disclose this, I ended the call. It might have been a nice car or a really good deal, but I figure that someone who is going to lie right out of the gate doesn't have a level of integrity that I care to deal with.

Dan

 

[ace10]

Funny that CL & dealers came up...

I've been shopping for a 100 Series Land Cruiser for more than a year. Just a winter beater and dog hauler.

This one came up locally this week.

2000 Toyota Land Cruiser, Recent timing belt, major service, battery...

We are a dealer. Thanks for asking. We are selling a rock solid 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser. The...

washingtondc.craigslist.org

Check out the first line of the Ad:

"We are a dealer. Thanks for asking. "

This place deals only in used Porsches. They have a good-to-mixed reputation.

 

[ace10]

18 of the 22 most recently-listed vehicles on BaT are from Dealers.

 

[Harv]

$799 garbage fee being charged by the dealer.

BaT has always told dealers that doc fees will hurt their listings. Some waive it, some won't. You can even see when they've sold stuff from their own collection they won't charge it. It says "We think that charging buyers the allowable $85 documentation fee is lame, so we won’t be doing that."

 

[ace10]

BaT has always told dealers that doc fees will hurt their listings. Some waive it, some won't. You can even see when they've sold stuff from their own collection they won't charge it. It says "We think that charging buyers the allowable $85 documentation fee is lame, so we won’t be doing that."

The listing in question is from a Nissan dealer down in Richmond. I couln't find any disclosure of a $799 junk fee on their website, though it is a common practice for Virginia dealers. The last time I bought a car from a VA dealer was coming up on twenty years ago.

The seller hasn't chimed in with a single comment. They're new to BaT.

 

[gsxr]

BaT has always told dealers that doc fees will hurt their listings. Some waive it, some won't. You can even see when they've sold stuff from their own collection they won't charge it. It says "We think that charging buyers the allowable $85 documentation fee is lame, so we won’t be doing that."

Any dealer selling on BaT that charges *any* fees, doc or otherwise, consider the venue... is come combination of fool or ignoranimus. Or just flat greedy.

 

[ace10]

Here's another Land Cruiser that popped up a couple days ago. The cool thing (to me) is that it's a 90-95% comp for one of mine that is also on the market.

1995 Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80

Bid for the chance to own a 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #31,231.

bringatrailer.com

There are a couple of minor question marks on this one, but it's the first low-mile, "clean" 80 Series that BaT has listed.

I dropped the listing into @cogsurp 's predictor tool. Might be too early and not enough data points, I suspect. This one should be a real challenge for it.
80's can sell for $5K to 65K+. My butt dyno says $25-30K.

 

[msq]

check this out on BAT, popped up today:

Mercedes-Benz 500E Buyer's Guide

Learn more about Mercedes-Benz 500E Buyer’s Guide on Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.

bringatrailer.com

 

[gerryvz]

I wonder who wrote it ... @RBYCC or @deanlaumbach ?

Not much depth, and omits some key issues. Other stuff is sort of cliche'd.

 

[Ntrepid]

We should chime in here (unless your handle is gxsr who has already done so!). Peanut Gallery UNITE!!!

Mercedes-Benz 500E Buyer's Guide

Learn more about Mercedes-Benz 500E Buyer’s Guide on Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.

bringatrailer.com

Robert

 

[gerryvz]

QQ: Is it possible for @cogsurp to run an analysis on the value of this BaT E500E Buyer's Guide post?

 

[ace10]

Is this a record?

$799 garbage fee being charged by the dealer.

14k-Mile 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 6-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a 14k-Mile 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #31,271.

bringatrailer.com

It's wall-to-wall dealer auctions. I find myself checking BaT less and less each day.

I've read rumors in a couple of places that the company is for sale or may have already been sold. Truth or Fiction?

#BuckFaT

This guy got got roasted by the peanut gallery. BaT withdrew the listing. LOLLL

Here's another Land Cruiser that popped up a couple days ago. The cool thing (to me) is that it's a 90-95% comp for one of mine that is also on the market.

1995 Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80

Bid for the chance to own a 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #31,231.

bringatrailer.com

There are a couple of minor question marks on this one, but it's the first low-mile, "clean" 80 Series that BaT has listed.

I dropped the listing into @cogsurp 's predictor tool. Might be too early and not enough data points, I suspect. This one should be a real challenge for it.
80's can sell for $5K to 65K+. My butt dyno says $25-30K.

Sold for $30200 all in.

And BaT found a way to approve and publish every single fanboi/hype post that I submitted.

 

[LWB250]

This guy got got roasted by the peanut gallery. BaT withdrew the listing. LOLLL

I wonder if they learned anything from this experience? Maybe not allowing dealer fees? With the success of their platform I can't believe a dealer who wants to list on BaT would be discouraged by dropping their fees.

Dan

 

[maw1124]

There certainly seems to still be plenty of money sloshing around for the time being. I’ve not been able to detect much falloff in the used car market. Or real estate for that matter. Anyone else?

maw

 

[LWB250]

I can't speak to BaT as I try to avoid looking at their stuff because I have lust in my heart for many of the vehicles that are advertised there. I will say that the real estate market, having just exited it locally, seems to be slow. I see a lot of listings but I don't see a lot of sales. This is peak time around here, too.

We just closed on a refinance last Wednesday that was originally scheduled for May 25th. We were told in the first week of April when we got our approval that new home purchases got priority in the closing queue, so we would have to wait until late May to close. In the last two weeks they moved our closing up twice until it was the 5th. I presume that's because there must have been a lot of new home purchases that didn't close? A relator acquaintance told me a week or two ago that she was seeing a lot of deals fall apart before they closed, but she didn't elaborate.

Another thing that was really bizarre - we had to execute a "COVID-19 questionnaire" the day before we closed from our lender that went through a litany of questions about whether or not we would be, expected to be, or were currently affected by the COVID-19 thing relative to our jobs. Like, "Do you think your employment may be in jeopardy in the next 90 days?" or something to that effect. WOW.

Dan

 

[Harv]

Another thing that was really bizarre - we had to execute a "COVID-19 questionnaire" the day before we closed from our lender that went through a litany of questions about whether or not we would be, expected to be, or were currently affected by the COVID-19 thing relative to our jobs. Like, "Do you think your employment may be in jeopardy in the next 90 days?" or something to that effect. WOW.

In a way, I don't blame lenders. They are tired of jokers buying houses they can barely afford and subsequent defaults. JPMorgan Chase announced they are requiring 20% and a 700 credit score to write a loan. Probably good for the health of the industry, but if you live in a desirable part of California or NYC, forget it basically. Most don't have over six-figures just laying around unless you are a mature home buyer who has some equity in a previous property.

I've always believed home ownership should be a blessing, not a cruse, and those stretching by only putting 5% or less on a house because that's all they have are asking for it. A leaking roof or your HVAC goes out and your already tight budget is destroyed. Plus taxes usually go up every year. These "I can buy for the same monthly payment as my rent" people always make me shake my head. They are playing with fire.

 

[LWB250]

In a way, I don't blame lenders. They are tired of jokers buying houses they can barely afford and subsequent defaults. JPMorgan Chase announced they are requiring 20% and a 700 credit score to write a loan. Probably good for the health of the industry, but if you live in a desirable part of California or NYC, forget it basically. Most don't have over six-figures just laying around unless you are a mature home buyer who has some equity in a previous property.

I've always believed home ownership should be a blessing, not a cruse, and those stretching by only putting 5% or less on a house because that's all they have are asking for it. A leaking roof or your HVAC goes out and your already tight budget is destroyed. Plus taxes usually go up every year. These "I can buy for the same monthly payment as my rent" people always make me shake my head. They are playing with fire.

Better yet, how's about VA loans that allow 100% LTV? Our former house was purchased by the buyer on a VA loan with nothing down. I totally understand that there are often things like housing reimbursements that can more than cover a mortgage payment, but...

I completely understand the lender's position. We bought a house in August of 2008, just as the economy was tanking. The mortgage was written by a small Midwestern bank that held it's own paper. Talk about having your orifices lit up with a searchlight! Thank goodness I'm a maniac record keeper, as they were asking about details of transactions that were several years old.

@Harv - you work in the business in manner of speaking. Are you seeing any clear indications that the market is changing in any form? Fewer cars? Fewer buyers? Changes in the types of cars that are being offered?

Dan

 

[Harv]

@Harv - you work in the business in manner of speaking. Are you seeing any clear indications that the market is changing in any form? Fewer cars? Fewer buyers? Changes in the types of cars that are being offered?

I can probably write a short story on what I think is going on, but its just my opinion and what I see. In short, I don't believe the stock market is directly tied to the collector car market at all. Same goes with the general economy. Rich people are rich, and they usually stay rich. Its the slightly upper middle class guy who goes out and buys a Mustang or Corvette to fill the 3rd garage spot at his house in his planned community in the suburbs that gets hurt in times like these. Collector and enthusiast car buying/selling is still a very niche market and I think we sometimes forget that since all of us here live it daily with our own toys. If you are buying a 100k car, your income is probably $250,000 or more, and most of the time more. Those are your physicians, laywers, C-suite execs, real estate developers, etc. Chances are they are all very stable in their positions and haven't been hit at all, and even if they did, they are well protected. Now does a $12,000 Craigslist car in January become a $9,000 car in June? Maybe. But that has so many variables its tough to even rationalize and track. I think its business as usual for the majority of people in the collector car game, outside of those who buy at Pebble Beach or something like that.

Hannah Elliott did a nice dive into the topic that is worth a read. Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

 

[ace10]

I think early Hyundais are still trailing Hondas of that era by a substantial margin. lol

Pretty much anything 4X4 has been doing pretty well for the past year or two. I feel like it's almost time to create a "clean" BaT account in order to off sell a few of my Toyotas. If only there was something to rotate the proceeds into....



EDIT:
And it's not just 30-40 year old Toyotas. This one pulled a very good number earlier this week:

9k-Mile 2004 Toyota Tacoma 4x4

Bid for the chance to own a 9k-Mile 2004 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #30,678.

bringatrailer.com

And it had two significant strikes against it... regular cab and auto tranny.

I'd like to think that my 6000 mile '03 Tacoma (5speed, extracab, stepside) would lure in some bidders with more money than sense.

Hmm...Laura has a 2004 4Runner in really nice condition, the gold color, that she bought new. We've been wavering back and forth on selling it. I wonder what it could bring. She keeps her vehicles in pristine condition. I need to get the TPMS sensors replaced; that's the only issue with it.

This one made my head spin.

5k-Mile 1996 Toyota 4Runner SR5

Bid for the chance to own a 5k-Mile 1996 Toyota 4Runner SR5 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #31,485.

bringatrailer.com

Over $45K all-in. And it didn't have a 5speed or locking rear diff.

 

[RPB81]

I could not bring myself to succumb to all their rules. They were quick to accept my 996TT w/ low miles for a reserve set at $51k. I made the decision to list it on Cars.com for $57K and ended up selling for a few hundred less two weeks later after a PPI. I know I could of asked more for it.

I recommend eBay or Cars.com from my experience. I feel like BAT get some type of gratification from making the seller jump hoops and the buyer having to pay extra fees. Their business model does not make sense to me.

 

[LWB250]

I could not bring myself to succumb to all their rules. They were quick to accept my 996TT w/ low miles for a reserve set at $51k. I made the decision to list it on Cars.com for $57K and ended up selling for a few hundred less two weeks later after a PPI.

I recommend eBay or Cars.com from my experience. I feel like they get some type of joy from making the seller jump hoops and the buyer having to pay extra fees.

I'm not familiar with Cars.com, but I would highly recommend against eBay, especially for a high line car. I say that because I have experienced as well as seen it with others where you list a car and the high bidder doesn't follow through. eBay doesn't care as they've gotten their fee, and enforcement of bids simply doesn't exist. I had a friend who had a family member list his 7 series BMW on eBay and it went through five auctions with every high bidder backing out on him. If you believed what these people said you would think that eBay accounts are getting hacked by the hundreds every minute! (Somebody hacked my account and made those bids!")

I tried selling a couple of cars there, one a really nice 2003 S-class, and I went through three auctions with high bidders that bailed before I pulled out. You'll also find other shady stuff, like bidders who purposely bid up the car to find out what the reserve is, then retract their bid. If you report these accounts eBay just sort of shrugs their shoulders and does nothing.

With all the shenanigans that go on there I'm amazed that anything actually sells. Never again.

Dan

 

[RPB81]

I'm not familiar with Cars.com, but I would highly recommend against eBay, especially for a high line car. I say that because I have experienced as well as seen it with others where you list a car and the high bidder doesn't follow through. eBay doesn't care as they've gotten their fee, and enforcement of bids simply doesn't exist. I had a friend who had a family member list his 7 series BMW on eBay and it went through five auctions with every high bidder backing out on him. If you believed what these people said you would think that eBay accounts are getting hacked by the hundreds every minute! (Somebody hacked my account and made those bids!")

I tried selling a couple of cars there, one a really nice 2003 S-class, and I went through three auctions with high bidders that bailed before I pulled out. You'll also find other shady stuff, like bidders who purposely bid up the car to find out what the reserve is, then retract their bid. If you report these accounts eBay just sort of shrugs their shoulders and does nothing.

With all the shenanigans that go on there I'm amazed that anything actually sells. Never again.

Dan

I sold two of my 500’s on eBay, and a pretty unique one on this site a while back. Don’t get me wrong Dan, I hear what your saying. I personally feel like it takes a bit of practice to figure out what works best. For a car like a 500e, I would set a buy it now option w/ a best offer. The chance of someone buying for the full price is slim to none if they know your open to negotiation. When they submit the best offer and the seller accepts they are obligated to put a deposit considering this option is selected when listing. Things tend to get a bit sticky when you setup a no reserve auction. eBay does offer some protection options under the user preferences section to avoid shady bidders. In addition they will always refund if the buyer does not follow through. I had a guy tell me he would continue to increase the price of my listing if I did not sell it to him outright. He followed through on his promise, I got refunded and relisted a week later. No doubt an inconvenience. It does seem to work out in the end though from my experience.

As far as BaT, I could not believe what they requested to list my 996TT. I simply do not have time like that to spare, I would much rather spend it with family and friends. I ended up cleaning the car prior to driving it to a good spot for taking pics and wrote up a description which took about 2 hrs total. I listed it on Cars.com with the Carfax report included. It sold less than two weeks later for $56.6k a few hundred less than my asking price. I could of only hoped the buyer knew how to drive manual.

BaT is flooded w/ Porsche’s considering the minimal amount of cars on their site at any given time. I could not be bothered with the hassle of listing it. They refused to set a reserve over $52k on my car which was the icing on the cake for me. I have no regrets. I’m almost positive people gravitate towards eBay for the rare ones which creates word of mouth. At the end of the day a good car will always sell regardless of where it’s listed under most circumstances. Just my two cents.

Cheers.

 

[LWB250]

I sold two of my 500’s on eBay, and a pretty unique one on this site a while back. Don’t get me wrong Dan, I hear what your saying. I personally feel like it takes a bit of practice to figure out what works best. For a car like a 500e, I would set a buy it now option w/ a best offer. The chance of someone buying for the full price is slim to none if they know your open to negotiation. When they submit the best offer and the seller accepts they are obligated to put a deposit considering this option is selected when listing. Things tend to get a bit sticky when you setup a no reserve auction. eBay does offer some protection options under the user preferences section to avoid shady bidders. In addition they will always refund if the buyer does not follow through. I had a guy tell me he would continue to increase the price of my listing if I did not sell it to him outright. He followed through on his promise, I got refunded and relisted a week later. No doubt an inconvenience. It does seem to work out in the end though from my experience.

As far as BaT, I could not believe what they requested to list my 996TT. I simply do not have time like that to spare, I would much rather spend it with family and friends. I ended up cleaning the car prior to driving it to a good spot for taking pics and wrote up a description which took about 2 hrs total. I listed it on Cars.com with the Carfax report included. It sold less than two weeks later for $56.6k a few hundred less than my asking price. I could of only hoped the buyer knew how to drive manual.

BaT is flooded w/ Porsche’s considering the minimal amount of cars on their site at any given time. I could not be bothered with the hassle of listing it. They refused to set a reserve over $52k on my car which was the icing on the cake for me. I have no regrets. I’m almost positive people gravitate towards eBay for the rare ones which creates word of mouth. At the end of the day a good car will always sell regardless of where it’s listed under most circumstances. Just my two cents.

Cheers.

Agreed. With a high line car like your Porsche I can definitely see that being the way to go on eBay. For the S430 I was selling not so much. However, that is a good approach and makes a lot of sense for a car that is less of a commodity like mine was.

I'm curious - what did BaT request you t do for your listing? I can understand their unwillingness to set a reserve they weren't comfortable with, since auctions that fail to meet reserve don't make them any money. You also make a good point about the significant number of Porsches there, too. It's a rare day when there isn't at least one 911 coming up for auction, or so it seems.

It's all in how the car is presented. I've sold privately just as I have elsewhere, like BaT and eBay, with very detailed descriptions, lots and lots of pictures, and addressing both the positives and negatives of the car so that the potential buyer can feel comfortable that the car is as described and has no surprises in the wings...

Dan

 

[msq]

1974 BMW 2002

Bid for the chance to own a 1974 BMW 2002 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #32,128.

bringatrailer.com

I like these 2002's when upgraded with say S14 engine or even better a BMW 6 cylinder that is tuned that can give more lower end torque. This one doesn't have the S14 it has just the regular 2L from '80's BMW.
In any case, car looks nice....but then look at picture #41.
I give the seller credit for being honest in putting stuff like that up there.

 

[ace10]

1974 BMW 2002

Bid for the chance to own a 1974 BMW 2002 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #32,128.

bringatrailer.com

I like these 2002's when upgraded with say S14 engine or even better a BMW 6 cylinder that is tuned that can give more lower end torque. This one doesn't have the S14 it has just the regular 2L from '80's BMW.
In any case, car looks nice....but then look at picture #41.
I give the seller credit for being honest in putting stuff like that up there.

Twenty footer. For sure.

-----------------------------------------------

This FJ62 has returned to BaT after a three year hiatus. I came close to buying it the last time after it went RNM.

32k-Mile 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62

Bid for the chance to own a 32k-Mile 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #31,962.

bringatrailer.com

It's little things like this that made me walk.




30K mile Toyota floor mats shouldn't look like that.
Seller is a consignment dealer and has been very transparent on the listing.

 

[msq]

Twenty footer. For sure.

100%

 

[ace10]

The early comments on this one certainly shine light on a curious situation:

No Reserve: 1992 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 1992 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #32,148.

bringatrailer.com

Please do note that the "banned" bidder "won" the seller's two previous No Reserve auctions.

toomany 233​

Question for BaT: Interesting that the previous buyer who failed to follow thru was banned from bidding on BaT but yet was high bidder on 3 more vehicles and placed around 18 more bids.
What does it mean to be banned from future participation on BaT?​

 

[a777fan]

How many other people open up BAT and then spend the next minute screaming directly at the inanimate monitor when they see auctions like this and what people bid the car to:

5,600-Mile 2000 Honda Civic Si

Bid for the chance to own a 5,600-Mile 2000 Honda Civic Si at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #32,346.

bringatrailer.com

@sgtiger nailed it.

 

[ace10]

How many other people open up BAT and then spend the next minute screaming directly at the inanimate monitor when they see auctions like this and what people bid the car to:

5,600-Mile 2000 Honda Civic Si

Bid for the chance to own a 5,600-Mile 2000 Honda Civic Si at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #32,346.

bringatrailer.com

@sgtiger nailed it.

High performance Honda/Acura models continue to do very well. That Civic is a pretty special example with such low miles. Not surprised by the bidding.

If an 89-90 Civic Si popped up with that Odo, I might have to consider doing something seriously stupid.

 

[Bogeyman]

Watch the rebuild shows on TV.
Why do people spend 6 figures rebuilding a car that will never be worth half that?
Because it means something personal to them that transfigures that vehicle.
Doesn't make sense to most people probably, but to a few it does and if there is more than one, that's why there are auctions.

 

[a777fan]

High performance Honda/Acura models continue to do very well. That Civic is a pretty special example with such low miles. Not surprised by the bidding.

If an 89-90 Civic Si popped up with that Odo, I might have to consider doing something seriously stupid.

lol. While I agree that the late 90s Si is special (Soooooo wanted one to replace my 1988 Integra LS) I still don’t fully understand the relevance/reverence some have for such low miles. It’s already been discussed here ad-nauseum, but what would you do with such a low mileage example after paying through the nose for it? My ocd would require it to be hermetically sealed in my living room. I’m much more comfortable with something that already has a nick or two. That way I can blame it on the other guy.

 

[Jlaa]

If an 89-90 Civic Si popped up with that Odo, I might have to consider doing something seriously stupid.

That one was my favorite Civic Si as well. At the time, I wanted one, but I couldn't afford it. :-(

 

[ace10]

That one was my favorite Civic Si as well. At the time, I wanted one, but I couldn't afford it. :-(
View attachment 104583

My first new car.
1989 in Rio red.
Power sunroof, but no a/c. Had a Sony slide in stereo installed right after delivery.

Loved that little car. Only had it two years, as the paint turned pink and Honda assisted me with trading into a 91 Prelude Si.
Honda had the world in the palm of its hand during that era. And then they slowly lost their way.

I don't particularly care for the Civic Si's which followed, but if I was ten years younger, I might feel the same lust for the BaT car as I do for the 4th gens.

 

[ace10]

lol. While I agree that the late 90s Si is special (Soooooo wanted one to replace my 1988 Integra LS) I still don’t fully understand the relevance/reverence some have for such low miles. It’s already been discussed here ad-nauseum, but what would you do with such a low mileage example after paying through the nose for it? My ocd would require it to be hermetically sealed in my living room. I’m much more comfortable with something that already has a nick or two. That way I can blame it on the other guy.

I'm fairly certain that the BaT Si will go into someone's storage building and not see the light of day for a long time.

Heck, I own an '03 Tacoma stepside 4X4 with 6K miles. It doesn't get driven. It lives on the top bunk at the back of a garage with a cover over it. Most people don't "get" that either.

 

[Jlaa]

My first new car.
1989 in Rio red.
Power sunroof, but no a/c. Had a Sony slide in stereo installed right after delivery.

For 30 years I have secretly despised that kid who worked at the sporting goods store colocated in the same strip mall as Kroger's. For 30 years I have allowed myself to be filled with all-consuming envy. For 30 years, my black-heart has never forgotten that kid with the brand new red Civic Si ... so carefree, so nonchalant, so blissfully ignorant of the incredible fortune that life bestowed upon him to drive such a fine automobile at 16 years of age.

My 30 years of suffering in silence can now be exposed - the target of my decades-long-wrath now has a name, and his name is @ace10!

 

[a777fan]

I'm fairly certain that the BaT Si will go into someone's storage building and not see the light of day for a long time.

Heck, I own an '03 Tacoma stepside 4X4 with 6K miles. It doesn't get driven. It lives on the top bunk at the back of a garage with a cover over it. Most people don't "get" that either.

Point taken! (As he he sips his coffee and looks off the back porch at his two 90s sedans and disassembled VW thats been sitting in the garage for a couple of years)

 

[ace10]

For 30 years I have secretly despised that kid who worked at the sporting goods store colocated in the same strip mall as Kroger's. For 30 years I have allowed myself to be filled with all-consuming envy. For 30 years, my black-heart has never forgotten that kid with the brand new red Civic Si ... so carefree, so nonchalant, so blissfully ignorant of the incredible fortune that life bestowed upon him to drive such a fine automobile at 16 years of age.

My 30 years of suffering in silence can now be exposed - the target of my decades-long-wrath now has a name, and his name is @ace10!

You'd think. But no.

I come from very humble beginnings. 2nd generation American. Parents were bi-lingual and grew up in poverty. No silver spoon here.

Went to college 640 miles away from home. Conned my way into a couple of scholarships. Worked (really) shitty jobs during my breaks.
Drove the heck outta that car back and forth to school. It was an alternative to air travel.

I think we're past the statute of limitations on driving infractions, but I once did the drive (MA to VA) in under 8 hours in that car. Had a built in radar detector. Got out of the car one time. Stopped 2X for gas. Oh to be young (and stupid) again. Seems like such a short time ago.

Also got my highest mph speeding ticket in the car. Not even on that trip. No need to go into details.

Drove my roommate back from spring break in Key West after he developed a condition that required medical attention not available down there. Nearly 1100 miles. Solo. With him basically unconscious in the passenger seat. Stopping only for gas and snacks. He spent a week in the hospital when we made it back to school.

Good god that was an AWESOME car. So many memories. Sigh....


EDIT: And those five minutes I spent writing out those stories is what drives people to pay stupid money for cars that are special to them. Put two of those people in a room and who knows where the bidding ends.

 

[Gatorblue92]

How many other people open up BAT and then spend the next minute screaming directly at the inanimate monitor when they see auctions like this and what people bid the car to:

5,600-Mile 2000 Honda Civic Si

Bid for the chance to own a 5,600-Mile 2000 Honda Civic Si at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #32,346.

bringatrailer.com

@sgtiger nailed it.

Good lord.... 27k with 5 days left.