If you’ve been following the auction scene of late, then you’re aware things are kind of nuts right now. Thanks to the continued growth of online selling platforms, classic cars are being bid on at an unprecedented pace. Insider has lots of thoughts about this phenomenon—you can find some here and here—but perhaps the most important one is that it’s fun. Who doesn’t like seeing amazing classics trotted out day in and day out, and who doesn’t like guessing just how much they’ll go for?
In the spirit of fun, we’re introducing a new contest. We’re calling it, The Bid is Right. The premise is simple and should be familiar to anyone who has watched daytime TV in the last few decades: The person who guesses closest to the final bid—without going over—wins.
Oh, and did we mention we’re giving out $500 to the winner? Yes, we take fun pretty seriously.
With no further adieu, we present this week’s contest. Submit your guess in the comments section below no later than April 2nd, at 2:05 pm EST (24 hours before the auction officially closes—that’s right, no sniping!).
Boy, do we have it good these days. Even as we stare down the plug of the forthcoming EV-pocalypse that’s ostensibly just over the horizon, enthusiasts are spoiled for choice when it comes to the four-wheeled fun stuff. We’re down a few hot hatches in 2022, but VW’s GTI and Subaru’s WRX are still buzzin’ through dealership lots, as are affordable sports cars like the new Toyobaru twins and the Mazda Miata.

Still, our rose-tinted rear-view mirror shows it used to be better for a gearhead with more passion in their heart than bucks in their wallet. Performance-ish trims of economy cars were far more common than they are now, carrying punchier engines, stiffer shocks, and bigger brakes than the standard car while also keeping payments—and repairs—lower than a contemporary sports car.
Honda and Volkswagen set the standard for cracking low-buck, big-smiles back in the 1980s, but Nissan had its own form of budget boot-scootin’ with the first-gen Sentra SE-R. Based on the third-generation Sentra, this little sport compact made big waves upon its debut in 1991—particularly for its then-new 2.0-liter SR20DE four-cylinder. Immediately, the SE-R set about breaking all the standard conventions surrounding the dreary subcompact commuter; 140 hp and 132 lb-ft were strong numbers in an era where an (un)healthy portion of the segment struggled to break three-figures in the power department.

A 7,500-rpm redline made accessing said power a whole heap of fun, as did a standard limited-slip front differential and a set of snappy gear ratios. When you were more focused on corner entry than bouncing off redline, the little Sentra continued to punch-up with 4-wheel disc brakes and a MacPherson strut independent suspension. Inside was quite spartan—what 1990s econobox isn’t—but a shmear of nice touches included more aggressive cloth sport seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Fun, fun, fun—all for a smidge over $10,000 when new. As such, most first-gen SE-Rs are on their tenth-or-so hooligan, and are festering examples of egregiously deferred maintenance and the canvas of the backpage order form of the JC Whitney catalog. There are well-used cars, there are s**tboxes, and then there are well-loved SE-Rs.
All of which makes Bring a Trailer’s minty fresh, 445-mile 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R so alluring. There are no missed shifts, no burnt valves, leaky gaskets, worn suspension, or dubious stains-‘n-smells to be alarmed at. As we outlined in our prior in-depth spotlight on this very Sentra, the car was purchased new and quickly pickled following the 444-mile break-in drive, with the 445th mile added during its removal from storage. Aside from a replacement battery, everything—everything—is factory original, including fluids, stickers, grease-pen markings, and tires.

So, just how much will this ‘90s capsule claim when the virtual hammer falls? Based on prior low-mile outliers, your guess is as good as ours. At the time of this writing, the high-bid sits at $30,666—more than double the original MSRP—and should continue to climb, Or, maybe not. You know the drill, folks! Closest to the pin wins a cool $500. Scramble down to the comments below and sound-off where you think the final bid will land.
More ground rules:
- The commenter who guesses closest to the hammer price—without going over—wins. (Hammer price excludes auction house fees).
- One guess per commenter.
- If two people guess the same amount (within a dollar) the earlier guess wins.
- Commenters must provide first and last name in addition to email address.
- We will close the guessing on Saturday, April 2nd at 2:05 pm.
- Your privacy is important to us, and we’ll never sell your information. By providing your email you will receive the weekly Insider newsletter, and you can opt out at any time.
- You can read the full rules here.
$32,500
$46666.66
$40,589
$38,201
My glib comment on BAT is that it could fetch $70K, now that there’s some actual value to guessing accurately, here goes:
$48,192
$45,900.
Sure hope I’m not too high!
Going with $38,600
Going with $38647
$44,445
My guess is $33,073
$55,432
$47992
My guess: $34,000
$37,231.00
$51,000
$23111.
$50,101
$9500
$56,200.
25k The Spec V would bring 49k
$46700
46000
$39,334
$47,148
My guess is $14,500.00
$32685
$32,000
I would not give them $500 for this plain Jane throw away Jap crap car. The reason it stills exist, is because it was never used.
$52,190
39,000
Believe it will sell for $55,000
$34,000
My guess for the Sentra is $42,500
$42500
$39,600
$47000
39,956
$23,811
$15,000
42,400
The SR20DE is a fantastic engine and will run forever.
I think it will go for $38,741.00
$28,262
16,500.00
72,000.00
$35,400
$50,663
This is an ugly car so I expect someone to pay a big price!
This is a strange car so should sell for a high price.
$47, 401
$39756.00
$41,992
56,7891 USD
$37,474
62,555
$39,999
43,500
$39,267
$42,900 USD
$17,500
$47,650
49,500
$23,450
63,200
37,900.00
$50,050
37283.00
47,890
$46,992
38,575
17,500
I’m gonna say 42,521
28000
Put me down for $58600.
Thank you.
48,500
$52,100
$44500
I am thinking an outrageous 36501.
$1 (c’mon hasn’t anyone played TPIR?)
$38250
$36,501
$36,555
$45,100
$46,059.00
I would bid$38,947 of someone else’s money
Going with 37,900
$48,550
41,250
$33,300
39445
$46,600
49,999
I’m guessing at $29,000
$59,512.00
$34501.00
$38,831.00
$59,500
$51992
43600.00
$29950
$23500
49550.00
$14,250
$51,833.00
$33,749.00
$23700
43,445
48,000
$47,470.47
Reasonable price is $28,300
$48,992.00
35K
$39750
$38,995
$41,000
$23,330
46750
$42,600
$53,100.00
They tend to run up at the end but this one is already pretty high. I’m going with $44,456
$86753.09
$35,750
$48,650 final price
$38,566
52,200
$42,140
My guess for the SE-R at the hammer will be $47,700
This is a great car to own/drive, especially with the extremely low mileage.
$44,650
$36,523
My guess is 40,564
40150
$67,250.00
$41950
$31,185
$66500
$38850
Nice lines for the day, quality / reliability good. SO LOW MILES / EXCELLENT HISTORY? $$ $77,500; looks similar to an earlier ‘318.
$62,001 my jaw hits the floor watching these auctions sometimes as I get more and more envious at these ppl bidding 15 thousand over the price like it’s nothing to them…well usually cuz 15 k is nothing to them lol.
$42,950
39,500
I smooth 53275
$45,250
$27799
48,500
$42,950
41 250$
37,000
12,000
$33,500
$21,500
These are a blast to drive! $62,888.
$18,800
I’m gonna say $29,750
$31,250 ..and it’s already too much for what it is.
This car should fetch $37,777.
This car is not worthy of that type of price
A total modest overpriced vehicle.
J
I will say 39500…
$63,000
Nice $29,999.
$26450
$36,700
46,700
$53,200.00
$36500
44,500
$58,000
$22,750
36680
$36499.00 sootowncraig@yahoo.com
$36499.00
34,500
$28,001
$36,500
my guess is 41,589.25
$65000
$31,750.00
27950.00
$ 29,550.00
$31,250
$61,500
$48750
I posted my guess earlier this morning, but was not accepted! Fixed! Fixed! Lol
Oh well, try again.
$53,200
$53500
48001
73,000
$47,250
41001
$27,950
$33,900
$37,595
$47750.00
my guess $36,666
$40000
I don’t see it posted yet but I bid $40000 at 1104PST. Moderators please delete if the other post is approved:)
$42,250.95
33,000
I’ll say $47,784
I missed the deadline, but for fun I will guess $34,650.
$95,500
My guess is 48,502.
$32,500
$1.00
51,000
35350
18,000
$22,500