**Admins feel free to move to a more appropriate forum**
When I first joined driver, I posted a question somewhere( can't remember the forum ), which received zero responses. Here is my second attempt.

I have never modded a vehicle before. I have never considered it. Now that I have, and will continue to do so, I am in an unknown place. At some point, I will get get rid of the vehicle; be it private party or trade-in. How do these mods affect the value, and marketability of the car?

For example, I posed a question in another thread about swapping the sedan's driver's seat for a coupe's driver's seat. Overall, I think this mod will have very little impact on my ability to deal the vehicle at a later date. Most potential buyers won't even notice, even the dealers. But what about a more intrusive mod, such as the 3.9 gears?

It's been well established that the 3.9 gears affect both drivability and gas mileage. If I were to attempt to private-party the car, would I need to include the gears in the description, or at least explain to potential buyers the existence and effects of the mod? What about the case of a dealer? Or should I revert the gears back to factory?

I've come to understand that modding is a very low-return venture. If I added 10k in mods, I can't realistically ask and actually receive an additional 10k over fair-market value for the car. Depending on the actual mods, I couldn't even ask for 5k over. On the other hand, many mods can be sold separately using such outlets as this site. But parting out the car would require the removal of such mods.

So, some mods can be simply left on the car, such as the ztube. These mods don't add significant value, and aren't intrusive. When dealing the car to the general market place(private party or dealer), these mods won't affect the value of the car.

Other mods might need to be removed, such as test pipes. So the actual cost of this type of mod includes the purchase price, the cost/effort of the initial installation, and the cost/effort of reverting to stock. One could deduct from the final cost anything that can be gotten for the mod, but that value will typically be a fraction(rightfully so) of the original acquisition price.

Another category of mods might be something that is actually desirable, though to only a small subset of the overall market place. Examples might include FI. However, I assume that matching the car to a buyer that is actually looking for a specifically equipped car will take time and money. I guess one will have to balance the cost and effort of removing this category of mods and reverting to stock versus the potential lengthy advert/sales process.

And another question. What do people do with all these bodykits? When I see all these ricer civics running around town, how many of the drivers acquired the car so equipped?

So far, I really haven't posed much of a question. On the surface, it is self-evident that modding is costly, and obviously not an investment by its traditional definition. However, are there less costly avenues that I just don't know about yet? For example, other than fringe market places such as g35driver and ebay, are there locations that potential buyers visit *looking* for modded cars? Is there a demand for such a marketplace? Or is the current mod-remove-sale process as good as it gets?

 

If your previous attempt was this long - that could be why you got minimal responses... it's just an awful lot to read and reply to... Admittedly I didn’t read it all but I can tell you I have kept all my oem parts. If a potential buyer is interested in a modded car I will price accordingly, if he/she wants stock I will revert to oem (what is practical anyway) and sell the after market stuff.

It may not answer you question entirely - I would have to attempt that later when I have more time.

Good luck.

 

1) If you're going to mod, don't do anything to the car that you can't remove and return to stock.

2) KEEP ALL YOUR STOCK PARTS!!!!!! Don't sell them to support your crack habit.

3) Don't sell a car with mods. Most people that see mods think the car is abused. Mods, in most cases, will lower resale unless you find that one guy that wants a modded car.

4) Expect to only get back about 20-30% of your money back when reselling aftermarket parts.

5) Modifying cars is a horrible monetary investment. For some though, it's a great investment in terms of driving pleasure.

 

Example. My previous car was a 2000 Durango. I did not go too crazy on it - added a "Quick-D" intake (K&N cone filter with a curved pipe intake), had a modified throttle body, upgraded the horns, added a billet grill. Things like that. I indicated the billet and input when I sold it. While the billet grill was destrctive (could not go back to stock), I still had the factory airbox. The buyer liked it as it was, but I gave him the airbox if he ever wanted to go back. In the case of the Durango, the intake inmprove mileage by about 1.5 mpg - not bad on a car that went from 12.5 to 14!

 

Dude, modding is something you do to make you happy, like others said. If you have the money and you feel your car could use it...do it. Just like other's said, keep your stock parts, when you're ready to get rid of your car, send it back to stock.

It will lower the value of your car to sell it with mods. By selling the mods separate you could accrue some money back, but not a lot.

You only live once, if you can afford it, why not?

 

Definitely keep all your oem parts. I purchased a car back in 2001 that was already fully modded... worst decision ever. The car was abused and i learned my lesson. Took 8 months of being on the market before i could sell it for even close to my asking price. If you wanna mod your car, DO IT. But when it comes to selling put it on the market with all your mods. If a couple months go by and you dont sell it convert it back to stock and try your luck then. Plus you part out all your mods and make some more money off those. There is no such thing as a good investment when purchasing anything that has to do with a vehicle.

 

I agree. If you are worried about resale value or don't plan on keeping a car long, then go easy on the mods. You will rarely, if ever, get a fraction of what you put into a vehicle.

 

ROFLMFAO!!!

I told him when he was typing it that no one wanted to read all of that mess. Thank you for proving my point without even trying.

 

VERY well put Dave.

I have kept all my OEM parts and I will part out my sedan when it's time to sell/trade-in. I would expect most people would not be interested in buying a modded car.

 

Keep 'em coming guys! More and more reasons to put behind my argument that this is not something to do right now. I'm not a big fan of the idea of modding a car when it is still not paid for - at least not more than about $1000 or so. Seems like too much of a risk to me. Besides - I have no room in my garage for all the parts we would have to keep

 

One thousand dollars is nothing really. You could easily spend $10k and not even be FI'ed. I have not spent quite that much, but I could go back to completely stock if I wanted to. Nothing but simple bolt-ons for me. I have parts stashed all over. Wheels in a cabinet in the garage, exhaust in the attic, etc.

 

SHHHHH!!!!

 

I'm not surprised he's looking into mods... since you two have been racing a bit lately it's a normal progression. There is no way he is going to get the ETs he's looking for without modding.

Cru is right - there isn’t much you can do for a mere $1000, but it is a start… in small increments at a time you can add some things that will give you better track times. As others have indicated, the money spent on mods should be considered a hobby or entertainment. It's clean, safe fun – not an investment. But the car in general is a cost component, not an investment.

At least he's not spending a grand on strippers when he tells you he's at the track (or maybe he is ).

 

Mostly true, but not entirely... have you seen what some custom classics get on Barrett/Jackson auctions?!!!

Hmmm - maybe I should park the G in the garage for 50 years

 

That's putting it lightly. I like to call mine a money pit!