Car + Mods = Loss in Value/Reliability???

"mitology" (mitology) 09/03/2015 at 09:30 • Filed to: mods

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Is modding really worth it?

Afternoon fellow oppo-lockers,

After the front page article on the DIY twin-turbo mk IV Supra I found myself doing some soul searching.

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All of us gearheads wish or dream of the perfect car, one that is truly ours.

But as with everything in life those things that would make it perfect for all of us differ, and to those wishes no car manufacturer can answer, no matter how many options of shades of yellow VW tries to give you when you “make” yer own Bugatti.

So, to meet those needs we go aftermarket, we dive deep in to DIY territory, having fun in the process and creating something truly ours, but most often than not we end up with a car only we can love, riddled with problems, reliability and other headaches that sometimes we are more than happy to give someone else at a loss.

I myself am pro-keeping cars stock except for cosmetic mods or if you are creating a track toy.

So my questions are these fellow lockers:

1 - Why cant we accept the cars we love as they are?

2 - Is being a gearhead being forever stuck in the loop of getting car we love > modding the hell out of it > dealing with problems resultant from said mods > eventually letting go of said car losing money in the process?

3 - Should there be a point where one should stop modding? and what specific parts should those be?

I ask these questions because stock Japanse halo cars are getting rarer/pricier and driving someone else’s project car is always an exercise in luck (as in “i hope to get home before this thing blows up’’) and patience (as in “i will just stay locked here refreshing this ebay motors front-page two more months until the perfect non-LS swapped RX7 comes up’’).

Well, to be honest i just wanna dissuade all of you from modding so I have more chances to own a stock mk IV supra, a stock fd3s rx7 and a stock NSX-R one day ;)

Party-vi > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:39

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“Stock sucks, except when it doesn’t.”

~ Some fuckin’ guy

I feel like my car isn’t truly mine until I do something to it. The E46 has a Dinan tune (which as far as I can tell just tuned my wallet out of $350) and iPhone integration. The Pilot has tinted windows and similar phone integration, and I built just everything bolted to the Willys myself. I have plans for more modifications, but most are pipe dreams, like a supercharger for my 13 year old BMW, or cut springs and wheels for the Pilot, but it’s nice to daydream about those things.

jkm7680 > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:44

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Stancinh ruins cars forever.

But selectively modding and keeping original part is a good plan. Always part out modded parts before you sell then.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:45

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Modifying cars has (almost) always been for one reason. How can I get the most power for the least amount of money.

Modifying speed freaks have been around since the 20’s and I don’t see them going away anytime soon.

crowmolly > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:45

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1.) Tech of the day . 60’s cars can be great to look at and drive but some of the stuff just plain sucks. Points ignition? Poor shifter linkage? Stock 60’s auto trans? 70’s emissions gear? Early 80’s EFI? Etc. That’s a big reason why pro-touring took off. Fix the stuff limited by crude tech.

Bean counting. Some cars have “concessions” made to make them cheaper, and subbing in better designed/built parts can be a world of difference. Stamped suspension parts come to mind. As does low power/poor handling in an otherwise fun car. Fix the stuff limited by business decisions.

2.) Comes with experience I think. When you are younger you think all parts fit and work as advertised, and that you will have all the time and money in the world to build your dream. Over time you get a bit more realistic and careful about the decisions you make. And to be brutally honest, of the 15 car guys I knew in high school there’s maybe 2-3 of us still at it years later. For many it’s just a phase.

3.) Nah, have a ball. Just be careful if you aren’t a wrench-swinger yourself as the further you go from stock the more narrow your choices are for help if shit gets real.

PS if someone is modding a car and thinking about ROI they need to get their head examined. It is a big loss in almost every case.

djmt1 > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:45

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No need to convince me. Due to spending way too much time on Autotrader, I have come to the conclusion that modding is dumb. More often than not, the case is why mod car A when you can buy car B.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:46

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I think it is somewhat of a cultural thing, made stronger during the height of 90s tuner culture. A lot of cars can be really fun in stock form. My FR-S is great for that, IMO. For others, an FR-S would be a miserable slow POS that needs all the boooost, mad tyte JDM wheels, and super stance.

But the thing is, production cars are made with compromises. Sports cars need performance, reliability, and daily drivability. They need to appeal to both enthusiasts and your average consumer that just wants a sporty/flashy car. For that reason, some things that enthusiasts might want get left out. That’s why we tend to mod. I autox my FR-S and am signed up for a HPDE in a month, and I plan to do a lot more track days in the future. For that reason I will modify my car. I’ve already modified it a bit. But for me, it doesn’t need to be. I keep all my stock parts so that one day I can return it to factory form if it suits me.

As for when we should stop modding, that will change from person to person. For me, if it goes far enough the FR-S will eventually become a stripped, caged, and dedicated track car. Then I’d like to pick up an older Japanese car (70s or 80s) and restore it to be a nice weekend cruiser/autox car. It will be fairly close to original/stock form, but likely with a few small mods like Koni dampers, lowering springs, and new wheels/tires.

Good luck finding any of those stock for a reasonable price. Also, I’ve got dibs on one of the NSXs. ;)

Bullitt Ride > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:47

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There’s one thing I know, and that’s if I wanted an fd3s rx7 I sure as hell would prefer one that’s been “modded” to a new single turbo over that stock rat’s nest twin turbo set-up

JR1 > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:49

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I understand the idea of making a car your individual creation. But a lot of cars come from the factory being the best combination of reliability and performance. I for one do not want to upset that balance. However a little exhaust mod here or there isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Nibby > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:51

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Modding is all about personal taste and preference.

mitology > djmt1 09/03/2015 at 09:52

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hahaha indeed, the monstrosities you find there are quite curious

mitology > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 09/03/2015 at 09:53

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Very well said, i guess i tend to forget some of the “sports” cars on sale today are made with compromises, but what are we going to do when all the stock NSX’s go?? I cry myself to sleep sometimes lol

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:56

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1- Don’t do anything to the exterior that can’t be easily reversed, or at least easily hidden.

2- Don’t do anything to the interior that can’t be easily reversed if it can be avoided. If it can’t be avoided (eg switches for extra accessories) try to blend it in as much as possible, such as using the blank switch spaces that already exist. In any case make it a neat job.

3- When modding the drivetrain internals, take time and do it right. If you lack the skills or tools, get a pro to do it. When modding anything that will be visible, keep it tidy. No buyer wants to look under the hood and see your custom ABS pipe CAI, no matter how much of an improvement it proved to be over stock. It just screams “this thing was done on a shoestring budget”.

4- Keep all the stock parts.

Basically, for any mods you do, think of the Golf GTI approach. It looks like a normal Golf, and yet it doesn't. You know it looks different, but it's hard to say why.

spanfucker retire bitch > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:56

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I’ve never modded my car before, but as long as it’s tasefully done, I’ve no problems with it. Especially if it does something really useful. One of my co-workers is looking into getting an aftermarket Intercooler for his Focus ST to help with the heat soak. As long as the install is done correctly (and he does know what he’s doing) I can’t see a mod like that hurting the car in terms of its perceived value. It would actually improve the vehicle in nearly all respects - even if you weren’t one to autocross or track the vehicle.

GUYMANDUDE > mitology 09/03/2015 at 09:57

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Track day bro. Or you might have to mod to get over the disappointment of meeting your hero’s.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Party-vi 09/03/2015 at 09:57

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If I get a car that’s in good shape and does its job - in which I have little mechanical interest/modder’s bug, I’m not screwing with it. If I get a car I want to do something with, depending on how much doing, it’s mods ahoy. My Benz is bone stock except for an aftermarket head unit, my Rover has some factory extras added, a modded rear door, and a better horn, and the Ranchero is OMGWTFBBQ and nothing like the stock vehicle at all. If I got a Packard, I’d not do a damn thing with it. XJS V12 - better exhaust and some minor tweaks. Something sleddish, maybe put it on airbags with other suspension improvements. Then again, I’m not the guy who sells cars...

mitology > crowmolly 09/03/2015 at 09:57

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hahaha i do get your point about making older cars driveable, but please explain to me this stace thing with all this newer cars... Compete to see which car scrapes the ground more? Somethings i just dont get lol

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:00

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Yeah, it depresses me too.

The problem is that many of the people modding cars are hard parkers that are doing it for street cred. They add on a bunch of expensive JDM performance parts just to go to parking lot meets and brag about what they’ve got.

It’s a very common thing in the FR-S/BRZ scene, and I can’t stand it. There’s one kid with lambo doors, forced induction, fully redone suspension, giant aero, and he put a roof scoop on his car saying that he installed it to increase airflow to his rear brake ducts. Even after several people explained to him that the point of roof scoops are to keep dust and other debris out of the cabin of rally cars, not to increase airflow to rear brake ducts. That’s not how it works. lol He has also never been to a track, but routinely reviews/recommends performance parts based on his “spirited driving” experience. He literally said he has the speeding tickets to prove that he drives hard and knows how to drive. He complains that there aren’t any tracks near him, and he doesn’t go because he’d have to drive a minimum of 2 hours to get to one. We live in Chicagoland, which I’ve come to realize is one of the best places in the country for any motorsports enthusiast. There are tracks everywhere! And of course a track is going to be 2+ hours from most people, because of noise and zoning laws. It’s these sort of kids that ruin cars with modding.

mitology > Party-vi 09/03/2015 at 10:00

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Nice, it is indeed, I guess modding it gets you closer to your cars in a way.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:01

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Some cars should not be touched. Or at least, you should have to get “building” permits for the mods.

#pipedream

macanamera > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:01

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Short answer- no

Long answer- no

German answer- nein

macanamera > Party-vi 09/03/2015 at 10:02

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Tunes on naturally aspirated motors are kinda BS in my opinion...

505 - morphine not found > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:02

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I did gather some thoughts on this issue a few months before, though concentrating on older cars: http://rattenschule.kinja.com/can-a-mod-be-g…

TL:DR - for me anything goes, as long as it’s purpose is to make the car drive better / faster. Of course there are trade-offs when it comes to sell on, but I would say that 90% of modded cars don’t start out as low-mileage garage queens, so won’t ever climb to the top of the value curve anyhow.

mitology > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 09/03/2015 at 10:03

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That is true, i tend to think that modding with a goal in mind, like power for example is okay

jariten1781 > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:03

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“1 - Why cant we accept the cars we love as they are?”

Because they’re all designed with compromises for a wide audience.

“2 - Is being a gearhead being forever stuck in the loop of getting car we love > modding the hell out of it > dealing with problems resultant from said mods > eventually letting go of said car losing money in the process?”

No, it’s a learning process. Every single car I’ve owned has been modded to some degree or another. Only the ones I did early in my driving life ended up as problem children. You learn the limits of your skill and how to judge the risks of a single or aggregation of mods based on the platform over time.

“3 - Should there be a point where one should stop modding? and what specific parts should those be?”

If you want a reliable DD, absolutely. There’s no ‘specific parts’ though, it’s platform and skill/experience dependent.

To talk about resale: If you can’t return it to stock you’ll lose some to a lot of value on the market. You’ve turned the general solution to a point solution...good luck finding someone with your same vision. I don’t worry about that though; it’s what it costs to maximally enjoy 5-10 years with a vehicle you ‘love’ vs. a car that’s just ‘good enough’.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:03

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Making decisions based on resale value is dumb. this is you denying yourself enjoyment so someone else can enjoy it more. If you think mods and upgrades will help you enjoy it more, go for it.

deekster_caddy > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:03

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It’s one thing to value the car for it’s resale value. It’s another to see it for it’s potential. People will always try to make it go faster, or handle better, or have a better sound system, or... but when it comes to ‘resale time’ value is almost always diminished by the mods. It’s really, really hard to sell a car with lots of performance mods. It’s one thing to have “known improvement” mods, where a widely problematic part is upgraded, but another entirely to have a car loaded with performance parts.

mitology > Bullitt Ride 09/03/2015 at 10:04

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but... but... 2 > 1 :’-(

Party-vi > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 10:07

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They worked better on pre-OBDII engines, or at least the piggy-back chips used to. The biggest reason for my purchase was to get the top speed limiter removed (for literally no reason than to just have it gone) and get the redline bumped up and improve throttle response. It’s almost impossible to get any noticeable power increased out of the M54 engine with boltons, unless you go through the expense of installing new cams and headers.

Vicente Esteve > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:09

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IMO, if you have a car with which you have a list of modifications to make it do what you want just spend that money you will spend on the car that can do you want.

Example: Spending money modifying a base 1.8 Golf with suspension bits, tune, brakes etc. to make it a GTI killer. Just save a little more and buy the GTI you ACTUALLY want.

I am pro stock cars with as little modifications as possible. Some cosmetic parts? Sure and slight additions to complement the mechanics as well but nothing too outrageous that will make the car either worse or hard to put back to stock.

Party-vi > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 09/03/2015 at 10:09

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It depends on the car and your use, really. The Pilot is the spare car/ski car, so there’s not much needing done except visual modifications at the most. It doesn’t need a CAI or exhaust because that would be a waste. The BMW is my daily for at least the next two years, and will probably only get visual mods as well since doing anything mechanical is a waste of money.

mitology > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 09/03/2015 at 10:10

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hahahaha man that kid sounds like someone to meet lol although he is a danger to himself and others. Well, it can always be a phase

mitology > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/03/2015 at 10:10

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hahahahaha

crowmolly > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:11

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Also an easy one :)

Not every car mod has tangible performance benefits. Appearance mods are usually subjective. IMHO they get the absolute WORST ROI as it’s a matter of taste. Every generation went through a “trend” and #STANCELYFEYO is the active one today.

60s

70s

80s and 90s (with a side of fuck you kinja)

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:13

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Honestly, I don’t think I could handle this kid in person. lol

I doubt it’s a phase with him either. #hardparker4lyfe

crowmolly > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/03/2015 at 10:14

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No buyer wants to look under the hood and see your custom ABS pipe CAI,

Or worse, PVC. If I see stuff from the plumbing department at Home Depot under your hood there’s a good chance I am not buying your vehicle.

Wacko > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:14

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Modding is never worth it money wise. For me it’s to personalize a car. It’s for my pleasure. I modded my 90’s era civics, my 2003 protege5. I even modded my 2010 suzuki SX4 with oversized tires( crashed it this spring) My jeep tj has a 4 inch lift kit running 35’s. But I didn’t mod my 2014 pathfinder, don’t have to, it’s a family CUV and I bought it with the leather and tech package, so I got a factory 8 inch touch screen and a sub.

I never made money on any mod I made, but the cars became mine, and became the way I wanted them. No I will never install a fart canon with a cold air intake like I had on my civics and mazda, but I will mod for my comfort and my kids pleasure (thinking of installing power usb plugs in the back to charge their ipods/ipads....

If I ever get my classic car I will mod it, lower it, give it better brakes...

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:15

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Here’s his car: http://cms.kraftwerksusa.com/id/1046/Featur…

“I‘m a huge fan of the McLaren F1 and Lotus Exige. I knew that I was after an exotic track-style look and of course… it had to get up and go!” (emphasis mine)

He works for some shop and now makes those stupid roof scoops for other hard parkers too.

mitology > jariten1781 09/03/2015 at 10:15

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well put “enjoy 5-10 years with a vehicle you ‘love’ vs. a car that’s just ‘good enough’ ”, i wouldnt have said it better.

Guess one way to stop the crazy modding would be for manufacturers to stop compromizing when creating a enthusiasts car.

Would you say the new Miata is a perfect example?

Bullitt Ride > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:17

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The same thing goes for the detomaso pantera... ask any owner whether they’d prefer to have a stock example or one that’s been “sorted out”. I don’t have any gripes with modding in general, it’s your car, do whatever you want with it, but I don’t think it should be frowned upon in the occasions when it’s done to improve the functionality and reliability of a car while trying to still maintain the original essence of the vehicle.

GTI Sprinks > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:20

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I think this will be the eternal debate in car culture.

Mod a car and make it truly yours or buy another car and keep it stock and drive it like it was meant to be driven from the factory.

I think i fall into the former camp. I bought my car intending to stay in the stock camp. Then i started reading more about to learn to maintain it. Then i started asking, well why not mod it? Mods i’m thinking of are little more than OEM plus swaps or corrections from previous owner. A few cosmetic and functionality upgrades here and there. I’ve learned alot and i truly love my car. I keep it really clean and it looks factory fresh. I also love having someone who’s not a car person climb in and say “oooh, nice car”. I’ll likely continue slight mods and upkeep because i enjoy this particular car.

Long and short of it is, people are going to spend money on hobbies. For some people, the car they’ve bought is the hobby. Everything past that is just to what degree they are enjoying their hobby.

mitology > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 10:22

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lol you never disappoint, but if you had to choose would you buy the DIY Supra or Tavarish ‘s Mitsubishi?

mitology > crowmolly 09/03/2015 at 10:29

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hahahah awesome examples, say no more hahahha

Justin Hughes > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:29

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The definitive answer is “it depends.”

If you’re selling a 1992 turbo Miata, it’s obviously modified. There’s a market for that sort of thing, and it could get more money than an equivalent stock model. But that depends on the quality of the upgrades. The stakes are a bit higher when you buy someone else’s project.

For me, my BRZ is almost the perfect car - almost. Give it good tires, a nicer exhaust note, and brakes that hold up to track use, and I’m happy. I’ve done a few little tweaks and additions, too, but nothing that can’t be undone and put back to stock if necessary. Well, except the Prius tires, but who wants those anyway?

mitology > Bullitt Ride 09/03/2015 at 10:30

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Very well argued, if the mod is to improve or mitigate known issues its greenlit, can’t argue against that

wiffleballtony > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:33

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1. Because what separates my car from anyone else’s? I think Matt LeBlanc said it best on Top Gear.

2. This is only a problem if you care about reselling the car. Also I think if a car gets undriveable from a reliability standpoint something went wrong in the planning stage.

3. Sure, you should have a stopping point in mind before you start. Is it a daily driver? Track car? Show car?

mitology > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 10:36

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hahaha dead @ prius tires, very well said sir

daender > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:36

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If you’re going to sell the car, then don’t mod it. If you’re going to keep the car, then modify it to your heart’s content.

Ex: my ‘02 Miata.

Swapped in silver interior trim from an ‘03 Miata to replace the boring black trim

Restored a damaged OEM wooden parking brake grip to replace the boring black soft-plastic one because fancy~

Racing Beat front sway bar, Racing Beat sway bar chassis reinforcement blocks and brace bar (because safety), and adjustable Racing Beat endlinks because autocrossing and very enthusiastic mountain trips. The factory setup is too compromised for typical old-people comfort than be aggressively enjoyable on twisty roads or trying to beat other Miatas in autocross

Koni Sport adjustable sports because same reasons as above

Roadster Sport mid-pipe and muffler (and later a removable baffle tip) to shed some weight and give the Miata the exhaust note it deserves because unlike the NA, Mazda just threw on a muffler instead of trying to tune the exhaust note to sound pleasant

Konig Helium 15” 15x6.5 wheels to replace the heavier 16x6.5 OEM wheels that were in pretty rough shape, also opened up a lot better choices for grippy tires than the 16”s market

Found a used convertible boot cover and a matching cockpit cover because fancy~

OEM hardtop from a ‘99 Miata in emerald green metallic (my car is silver). This is the only known upgrade for a Miata that will indeed increase its value.

Tinted the windows (including the hardtop)

What the interior started out as:

What it’s like today:

Exterior at the start:

The “Ew” wheels:

What is it today:

TL;DR: Modify your ride for yourself and no-one else. Otherwise, don’t modify it at all or don’t expect the car’s value to increase in direct proportion to the amount of money you spent in modifications.

mitology > Vicente Esteve 09/03/2015 at 10:36

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Couldn’t agree more, but i guess there is pleasure in “creating” the GTI killer yourself right

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > crowmolly 09/03/2015 at 10:40

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Homeless Despot plumbing is a perfectly legit low-budget mod material. Some stock setups are reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally restricted. But yeah, I'm not buying either. If you're planning to sell, do it with actual automotive parts or put the stock one back in.

wiffleballtony > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 10:41

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My car went from slightly wheel spinny to very wheel spinny after I put a tune on.

macanamera > mitology 09/03/2015 at 10:41

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I mean, if I had to, Tavs 3000, but just because it's a great example and I know it runs. Personally I like the MKIV Supra a million times more, though.

crowmolly > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/03/2015 at 10:42

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Some things are OK, sure. But it can be telling about other mods.

macanamera > Party-vi 09/03/2015 at 10:47

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So when you gonna drive that German performance machine to meet my German performance machine and discuss them over German performance beers?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > crowmolly 09/03/2015 at 10:48

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Exactly. While it might be an improvement, and perfectly safe and functional, I don’t want to see it, because it says “this electrical mod here will also have been done without care or proper budget, it will go wrong and I’ll have to take it out because the wiring will be too big a mess to figure out, and it’s probably hard spliced into something really important, so in the end I’ll have to rewire the whole vehicle, which will mean...”

Likely nothing will go wrong, but one mickey-mouse job opens up a whole can of horror stories in your head.

Party-vi > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 10:50

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You have an German performance machine? After the wedding, and after it’s presentable. Needs new headlight covers and B pillar, because right now they flap in the breeze.

mitology > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 10:53

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precisely, that is true for all stock cars vs modded ones, and it will always hold granted you are not just looking for a track day weapon ;)

macanamera > Party-vi 09/03/2015 at 10:59

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I daily a CLS63...thought you knew. And sounds good. You're getting married?!? How old are you?

Party-vi > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 11:03

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I had no idea. A CLS63 and a GTR? Good lawd - doesn’t really compare to my 330Ci. Yep - 27 yo so not too old for it yet. It’s literally one month away. I can’t wait to get it done and then start on after marriage stuff, like, you know, saving money.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 11:06

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My approach exactly.

Kosei K1 TS wheels wrapped in sticky rubber for track/autox, a Berk muffler delete, and picking up Club Racer pads for track only use. Also planning on a new daily wheels setup in the spring with Enkei Compe 8s and some stickier rubber.

macanamera > Party-vi 09/03/2015 at 11:08

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Congrats dude!!! And the GTR is long gone, I traded it for the CLS actually. I thought you were much older for some reason...but that’s cool, I’m 25. Now we can talk about irresponsible twenty-year-old things.

Heehee bewbs

Funktheduck > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 09/03/2015 at 11:11

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I thought tickets meant you couldn't drive

Party-vi > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 11:12

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Irresponsible twenty-year-old things? Like spending a weekend in front of an Xbox when you could be installing car parts or maintaining your house.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Funktheduck 09/03/2015 at 11:12

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Nah they mean you go hard in the streets, bruh!

#madtytejdmlyfeyo

macanamera > Party-vi 09/03/2015 at 11:15

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MGSV?

kanadanmajava1 > mitology 09/03/2015 at 11:16

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A modified car might be more fun than the original but it will be less valuable. With an original car you usually can obtain service manuals and most spare parts are available. But if you have a modified car that has been built by someone else you can only guess how the wiring harness’ have been bundled together and where all parts came from. It’s pretty rare that the builder has documented his work so good that you would have a complete wiring diagram and parts list.

I don’t mind modifying my cars but as I do understand that modifying isn’t good for the value I only like to modify cars that aren’t very rare or are in terrible condition already.

Party-vi > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 11:16

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New Vegas

*hangs head in shame*

macanamera > Party-vi 09/03/2015 at 11:16

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Preparing for number 4?

MoFinWiley > mitology 09/03/2015 at 11:18

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Fast

Cheap

Reliable

PICK TWO!

The old rules are still the best rules.

Party-vi > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 11:23

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If I were doing that I’d go back through Fallout 3. I’m just finishing up all the DLC that I never got around to, specifically Dead Money and Lonesome Road.

jariten1781 > mitology 09/03/2015 at 11:27

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I’m sure the new Miata would have less distance to go to get it where I’d want it, but I’d likely do an intake (maybe exhaust) and smaller diameter wheels (15” if they fit...most of the higher trims on the Miata come with 17s). I love induction and exhaust noise (I would not expect any appreciable performance gains) which get compromised out, and I hate large diameter wheels which are compromised in for style. Based on reviews I’d likely leave suspension and engine stock, but I’d have to own it first to make that call.

dogisbadob > mitology 09/03/2015 at 11:28

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so much better than the US red turn signals

citizennick > mitology 09/03/2015 at 11:32

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I love modding my cars, and I know it will take a hit when I re-sale it, but modding is part of my car enthusiasm.

But when modding I make sure I use quality parts, no cut corners. I’ve seen so many guys complaining about low-ball offers they get on their cars and I just want to be like “plastidipping your whole car and stock wheels HURTS the value”.

Also, I never do DIY stuff. When getting an oil cooler I decided to go with the more expensive Mishimoto option over putting on together myself. Who wants to buy a car that has DIY stuff done to it?

citizennick > macanamera 09/03/2015 at 11:40

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I got MGSV but am trying to finish The Witcher 3 before I start it. Which will take forever.

McLarry > mitology 09/03/2015 at 12:05

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Some folks mod for the sake of modding - they just want to do something to your car, whether to make it different or to continually improve it, and I understand that. I never end up following through with it myself, but I always want to. ‘One of these days’ I’ll get around to getting a tune for my ECU or stiffening up the handling a bit, but to be honest I’m not bothered enough by my car’s current power or handling so I never actually do anything about it. I fix or upgrade only what needs improvement (and nowadays there’s a laundry list of things that just need to be restored to ‘working order’ before I get to pushing the car past stock performance :P).

Urambo Tauro > mitology 09/03/2015 at 12:06

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Your best chance of reselling a modified car is to a fellow enthusiast, one familiar with that particular make and model. It can’t hurt to post an ad on your forum/message-board of choice.

It also helps when the mods are done with quality parts. I’m a big fan of OEM-endorsed brands like TRD or Ford Racing.

mitology > citizennick 09/03/2015 at 12:51

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Yeah, i agree. Doing it with original parts and by specialists would be the better option when deciding to mod, that and no plastidip lol

mitology > jariten1781 09/03/2015 at 12:54

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Yep, i wouldn’t mind having a stock one for a week that and the new beat, in my opinion smallish cars like these are the ones that are fun straight “out of the box”

mitology > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 09/03/2015 at 14:55

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hahahah street cred

 > mitology 09/03/2015 at 19:30

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You can’t really lose any value if your car isn’t worth much to begin with.