At what point does modifying a car begin to increase the value of it?

[Rodeoflipper1818]

All the time I'm hearing on here that when you are selling a car you can take what the car is worth, subtract the amount of money spent modifying it, and you have your estimated sale price. Atleast that is how the general expression is.
But at what point does moddifying a car make begin to increase its value? Is it a certain amount of money that has to be put into it? The point where it's making a certain amount of whp? Does the matter of authentic parts or knock off's come into play? Or are professional racing / product teams the only ones that can truly modify cars to increase their value?

I'm curious as to what everyone thinks about this.

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[Mercaldie]

Possibly never...it all depends on the buyer. Many people want to find a car that's "stock" because the idea is that it has been driven less aggressively, etc.

On the other side, there are certain people I'm sure who would pay more for a car that's been tuned correctly and is making good numbers. They are most definitely in the minority.

[subiedudebroslice]

Never, unless there is a buyer that is willing to pay for certain mods.

[Rodeoflipper1818]

Originally Posted by Mercaldie

Possibly never...it all depends on the buyer. Many people want to find a car that's "stock" because the idea is that it has been driven less aggressively, etc.

On the other side, there are certain people I'm sure who would pay more for a car that's been tuned correctly and is making good numbers. They are most definitely in the minority.

That's exactly why I was wondering if only racing/performance/product teams are the only ones capable doing so because they are professionals who know what they are doing.

[fatso]

Never.
In fact the car starts to increase value with these factors
1) 100% Stock
2) Time
3) Use.

Mods = Devaluation.

[rossl]

So what about something like an RS with an STi drivetrain swap? Those mods will surely increase the value of the car.

But at what point does moddifying a car make begin to increase its value?

There are plenty of Subarus that have been modified into track cars. Ever seen one of those cars selling for LESS than a stock Subaru? Of course not.

When done right modified cars do increase in value.

[Chi_San]

When you put close to half a million into it turning it into a WRC Rally car.

Otherwise, for a street car, there aren't a lot of things you can really do to increase a cars value with mods. I'd pay more for a WRX with an STi transmission in it, but that would just be me, and I'm weird like that.

[chazly413]

Originally Posted by rossl

So what about something like an RS with an STi drivetrain swap? Those mods will surely increase the value of the car.

Um, maybe, maybe not. I'd say your car is worth the same value as KBB states.

Originally Posted by rossl

There are plenty of Subarus that have been modified into track cars. Ever seen one of those cars selling for LESS than a stock Subaru? Of course not.

When done right modified cars do increase in value.

Yeah, because you know that a reputable sponsor funded a reputable shop to build a reputable car that will run as advertised for what it was intended.

[DHRDAN]

Originally Posted by rossl

So what about something like an RS with an STi drivetrain swap?

You're no longer talking about modifying a car per say, but converting it to something else. I mean to many this involves removing the whole drivetrain.

Originally Posted by rossl

There are plenty of Subarus that have been modified into track cars. Ever seen one of those cars selling for LESS than a stock Subaru? Of course not.

When done right modified cars do increase in value.

Yes, track cars often to sell for more, however those are few and far between. I personally would never buy a track car that didn't come with a warranty, there is just too much risk in that. Even so, track cars are just that, made for a track. Not really a general modification, you're basically turning it into something totally different.


However i ask you this, find me a car that is a track car, and I'll show you a car that isn't WORTH the parts it's made up of. You can pour 40K into an STI, but you won't get that in resale.

Nevermind labor costs.

[69subaru360]

Usually when there are more aftermarket parts than stock the value starts to go up.

[bug eye wrx]

modifying can increase the value of a car...Lots of times it does. Hwoever the person putting money into it will always lose money.

In other words a stock similar condition wrx will not sell for more than a wrx with 6speed, built motor, gt30r turbo...

I like to think usually you will get 10%-30% of what you have invested into the car. So lets say i buy an STI completely stock. Spend 15k on fully building motor, big turbo body etc.... I would at most expect it to sell for $2000-$5000 more than i bought it for.

[rossl]

Originally Posted by DHRDAN

However i ask you this, find me a car that is a track car, and I'll show you a car that isn't WORTH the parts it's made up of. You can pour 40K into an STI, but you won't get that in resale.

Nevermind labor costs.

True you can never recoup your original cost, but it can still increase the value of a car. For example if I bought a stock STi for $20k and put $40k into it then I couldn't sell it for $60k but I bet I could sell it for $25k. Even if it's only $5k it still increased the value of the car.

I'm sure you wouldn't sell your RS with an ej257 for $5k (book value). If you do then I'll be the first to buy it at the price. My point is that mods can increase the value, you have all these replies saying mods NEVER increase the value, but all I'm saying is that the potential is there.

[Dave D.]

I know that Defiant has more of less said that at a certain HP level, it's not a matter of if it blows, but when.

A highly modded machine would likely end up costing me a new motor and possibly tranny down the line. I would pay no more for a modded car than the stock price minus the parts and labor for at least this much.

To me, buying a $10k in mods car is buying the privilege of owning a time bomb.

[The G.O.A.T.]

As soon as foose touches it?????????

[Byzantium]

It really depends. For example, a stereotypical stage 2 car is worth absolutely nothing over stock in my mind. However, my car heavily modified. It's probably worth ~8.5k stock. I had planned on selling it last year for $16-17k with all the mods in place but finances prevented me from getting a replacement so that is on hold until it gets fixed.

[hybrid gti 2]

Yes on cars being moded. But trucks gain with the mods.

F250 vs f250 lifted with mods is worth much more.

[jmang]

it's only worth what people are willing to pay for it.

[oly kenji]

never. unless the mods make the car fly, turn into a submarine, or teleport!

[Chi_San]

Originally Posted by oly kenji

never. unless the mods make the car fly, turn into a submarine, or teleport!

James Bone never owned a car that could teleport.

[Rodeoflipper1818]

Originally Posted by hybrid gti 2

Yes on cars being moded. But trucks gain with the mods.

F250 vs f250 lifted with mods is worth much more.

What makes trucks so much more special then?

[chimchimm5]

The only way for someone to sell modded car for more than it is worth stock is when that person sells it to a bigger moron.

But I'd say this has more to do with engine mods and reliability items.

My previous car had aftermarket springs/struts/swaybars/wheels but they were functionally modded, not slammed aesthetically. I had an intake on, but returned that too stock. I also didn't hack up the interior/exterior with APC wings, faux-seude dashes, APC "racing" seats.

[howweirdo]

Originally Posted by rossl

So what about something like an RS with an STi drivetrain swap? Those mods will surely increase the value of the car.

i highly doubt that something like this would increase the value of the car. i would take a stock RS over an RS sti swap any day.

[Howl]

Warranty is the issue.

How much would you pay for a car straight out of the dealer if they said it came with absolutely no warranty? Cars prepared by professional car prep companies can only maintain their value if the prep company will warranty the work. A car modified in someone's home garage has no warranty and therefore is likely to cost the buyer some money at some point in the future to fix. A guess of what those repairs might cost is deducted from the price of the car. That cost is generally a complete replacement of the part.

I bought a lightly modified Forester (suspension, exhaust, intake) for less money than I would have paid for a stock Forester of the same year and condition. It was 'cheap' because no buyer would touch it with the modifications. I bought it because I know the seller is an upstanding and talented rally mechanic, but his work came with no warranty.

[DHRDAN]

Originally Posted by howweirdo

i highly doubt that something like this would increase the value of the car. i would take a stock RS over an RS sti swap any day.

Awwwwwww no.




However to respond to a few previous posts.



1. Swapping a GC chassis car with a Turbo motor isn't exactly "modifying," in my opinion, you're basically changing the fundamentals of the car. It's not like you're putting coilovers on it.


2. I agree, the only increase in value is what someone is willing to pay for it. Period. People have delusions about this fact. "MY car is worth sooo much more, i have a build motor... blah blah blah."


3. It seems that if you have a car with some sort of "sentimental value" like the cars Chip Foose builds, THEN the value goes up. However i argue this isn't because of modifications, but because the buyer has an emotional attachment toward the car.

4. Okay SURE, if you buy a new turbo, intercooler, tune, water/meth kit on say a 06 STI, then ya, you MIGHT get a buyer to understand that you have put parts in the car that increase it's value. You will never get what you paid in parts + KBB for it though. Never never never.


I point to my second point, Ricer markup is the only thing that i know of that increases value in a car that is modified. "OMG it's got exhaust and turbo!!! omg it's total JDM omg!!"

[nhmtns]

Originally Posted by Chi_San

James Bone never owned a car that could teleport.

Who the hell is James Bone?