Do rare options make a car worth more?

"BadMotorScooter" (badmotorscooter) 11/24/2015 at 15:29 • Filed to: None

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I don’t mean rare performance options, like a turbo Supra or manual transmission, but rather more mundane options like a sunroof. I see cars listed with the ultra-rare moonroof, or rare factory wheels, or 6-disc CD changer, or one of 10 made with yellow seats, as if that should raise the price. A rare option does mean there is limited supply, but often the options were rare because they were butt-ugly, or didn’t work, or made the car worse, so nobody wanted them.

It surely depends on the car and the options in question. I mean, I’d definitely pay more for a Firebird with the optional factory C/B radio, because Bandit. But what about a Camry with rare puke green seats and factory sunroof?

CalzoneGolem > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:36

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Some options are rare because no one wants them.

HammerheadFistpunch > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:37

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depends. Some people claim the 40th anniversary Land Cruisers are worth more because they are more rare and came in exclusive colors, but I haven’t found that to be the case. However if you are selling a cruiser with the “rare” K294 lockers package...you bet you ass that its worth more.

Sam > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:37

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I'd assume a Countach with a wing is worth more than one without. I don't know if I'd consider it a performance option.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:41

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At the time of initial sale, when the car is new, yes they make the car cost more. 10 years down the road I would say absoutly not, the used car value is more based on mileage and condition than if it has a $150 dollar cd changer.

d15b > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/24/2015 at 15:45

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This.

Urambo Tauro > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:47

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Only if they still work. Otherwise, they’re a ******* nuisance.

Future next gen S2000 owner > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:47

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rare =/= valuable

Performance options generally are worth more but interior packages are worthless.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:49

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I love the people at car shows (this is big with the old muscle car crowd) who make these sandwich boards that list all their cars features and options, and sometimes at the bottom it will say something like “1971 Nova SS - Only 7,438 made with SS package, of those only 928 had the 396/400HP big block, of those only 422 had the M21 close ratio manual transmission, of those only 83 were sold in Yellow, and of those only 19 had hounds tooth interior, and of those only 3 had factory air conditioning”. So clearly that would be a very rare and desirable Nova since it’s 1 of only 3....

Übel > Snuze: Needs another Swede 11/24/2015 at 15:51

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I’ve noticed this seems to be more prevalent with more common cars, especially Corvettes. When half the people at a show have the same car as you, I guess you’ve gotta try to set yourself apart somehow.

RallyWrench > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:59

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If it’s an old muscle car or Porsche, yes.

jjhats > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:59

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no concrete answer. bmw e30 may be more valuable with a sunroof delete but its tough to gauge that on the second hand market. my focus is black with blue recaros. they only made 100 like that in usa for 2013 so someone looking for this car may pay more but im not likely to find that person. bmw 328i wagons with a stick are worth more to the right person but not the average joe.

functionoverfashion > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 15:59

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Surely what matters most is whether the buyer wants that particular feature... otherwise, no extra value.

jjhats > Snuze: Needs another Swede 11/24/2015 at 16:01

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I always enjoyed those. reinforces how crazy optioning an American used to be. my dad has a 65 vette and you could color match your seats to every exterior color except yellow. you will see silver seats brown white red blue green etc. it was all more custom than it is today as manufacturers don’t let you build ugly cars

jjhats > CalzoneGolem 11/24/2015 at 16:01

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3 speed corvettes cough cough

PS9 > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 16:04

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No.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Future next gen S2000 owner 11/24/2015 at 16:22

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Disagree, depends on the car, the buyer, and the package. For instance, I would happily part with an extra 25% of vehicle value to buy a W210 with a red/black interior. Even more if it has air con seats. Even more if it's black. But with a grand total of >10K produced worldwide (I think) and a fraction of that in the US, that car will certainly evade me for quite some time.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 16:24

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Completely depends on the car, the option, and the buyer. I would pay more for a Discovery 2 without sunroofs than with, so it can go the opposite direction as well.

BadMotorScooter > jjhats 11/24/2015 at 16:24

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I think that’s the key - if it something that is worth more to you, the buyer, then so be it. I just think people should market their cars appropriately and recognize that not everything unusual or rare is valuable.

jariten1781 > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 16:26

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In the general market? Almost never. Even full on trim and engine packages rarely move the value a noticeable amount.

Specialty market. Sure. Its a much more difficult market to sell in though.

BadMotorScooter > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 11/24/2015 at 16:30

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That’s a good point - there are some options you don’t want, like some of the adjustable suspensions or air-shocks. That’s an interesting dilemma if the option was very expensive or very unusual, but also prone to failure or high maintenance costs. Some may value the rare and unique feature, while others specifically avoid it.

BadMotorScooter > Future next gen S2000 owner 11/24/2015 at 16:36

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If you were buying a new car today, and had an option for an unusual interior color or package, would you consider it knowing that it could be the sought after ‘rare’ setup when it comes time to sell? Or do you avoid it because most buyers would see it as too weird?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 16:37

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Exactly. When I bought my wife's R500 I went for the V8 to avoid the possibility of an expensive balance shaft failure on the V6 and got it without air suspension, because air suspension.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > jjhats 11/24/2015 at 16:39

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Or they build very ugly cars for you... hahaha

But your right, I think its crazy how you used to be able to option a car a la carte. Though part of me wishes you could still do that to some extent instead of being stuck with “packages”

Future next gen S2000 owner > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 16:42

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I go for the options that I want. I buy and hold for ten years+. Hard to tell what will be sought after in ten years. After 150K and ten years any actual residual value is icing on the cake.

jjhats > Snuze: Needs another Swede 11/24/2015 at 16:43

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Porsche has your back but youll pay for that convenience

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 16:44

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Yes. My car was optioned with caramel designo leather, which adds about $1000 to the value of the car

Snuze: Needs another Swede > jjhats 11/24/2015 at 16:45

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Yeah, i should have added an affordability clause.

camaroboy68ss > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 17:47

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I think it depends on the car and what the option is. First Generation Camaros are a great example due to having many different options available. I’ll listen some examples of the variety of ways:

1) options like speed warning, 8 track, am/fm radio, rear defroster add value to a car but not a lot. It’s not going to make a base 6 cylinder car as valuable as a stripped down SS396 car.

2) as a rule performance options add the most value the other stuff is just icing decorations on a cake. Things like the L89 aluminum heads, rear disc brakes, factory tube headers or cross ram intakes add substantial amounts of value.

3) option has to actually be original to the car- this is where things get messy and documentation is key. A rare option really only add value if it actually came from the factory that way. On 67-69 Camaros is realativly easy to add different options. Look at how many cloned SS and Z/28s there are.

4) to tie into #3, if adding rare options to your car make sure they were actually available when the car was assembled. This I can’t stees enough because it’s a small pet peeve of mine because I’m tired of people sticking cowl hoods on 67-early 69 Camaros and then claiming its original. Many options were only available for a short time and not carried all year. For example was the JL8 rear disc brakes. Only actually a single from sept. 68 to early February 69, or the SS wheels(magnums the 69-70 muscle car wheel) was only available 3 months in late 68 early 69.

ranwhenparked > BadMotorScooter 11/24/2015 at 20:47

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It depends on the car. A 1982 Seville with a 4.1 V6 and an 8-track probably isn’t going to be worth any more than one with an HT4100 and a cassette deck.

But, a ‘67 Beetle Cabriolet with Saxomat, that will bring a premium.

Nauraushaun > BadMotorScooter 11/25/2015 at 05:40

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It depends what people will pay. If you find the right buyer for your particular set of options, they may be willing to pay.

A good example is something that is hard to find in manual, like that V10 Toureg (not sure if it ever came in manual). The right person might pay quite a bit extra for that, but your average buyer wants an auto so it might be hard to sell if you can’t find the right buyer.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > BadMotorScooter 02/27/2016 at 01:05

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Depends on the car. If it a 1968 Lamborghini 400GT with a ultra rare rainbow unicorn shit interior, yes that option makes its value go up. Vs. a 1968 Camaro with factory AC, not really. They made lots of them.