Alterations and resale value

Joined
12 July 2002
Messages
44
Location
Victoria, BC, CANADA
Just wondering..

How is the value of an NSX [or any other car - for that matter] effected by being 'customized'?? Should a person ONLY 'do' something to his NSX IF he plans on keeping it for a long time??

I'd much rather buy a completely stock NSX than one that has been 'changed' - but do MOST people feel that way??

Thanks,
Craig!!
smile.gif
 
I would say it would limit your market to a smaller group of people that would appreciate what you have done. I wouldn't expect to get any of the money back from customizing. However, I would have paid a bit more to get a car with some aftermarket things I would have liked to have when I was looking to purchase.
 
Depends on the extent of the mods. I would not purchase a car that has forced induction but would purchase a car with I/H/E. I also think it is important to keep your original parts, albeit I sold my original wheels and have Volk's now. OEM wheels are fairly easy to acquire so I didn't think that not having them was a big deal plus that's alot of dough just sitting in my basement.

You will somewhat limit your marketability by doing any mods but some will definitely limit more than others. Personally, I look for cars with the mods I like - seats, wheels, I/H/E because I would probably do that anyway.

Dealers (aka Stealers) also prefer un-modded cars. In fact, I would not doubt that the modded car would be discounted vis-a-vis an un-modded car. To base a purchase soley on mods would not be doing yourself or the purchase justice. What about condition, mileage, track use, overall useage, present owner, history, number of owners, paint work, body work, books and records, etc.
 
Originally posted by CanadaCraig:
How is the value of an NSX [or any other car - for that matter] effected by being 'customized'?? Should a person ONLY 'do' something to his NSX IF he plans on keeping it for a long time??

Not necessarily. Most mods won't effect the market value of the car substantially; a few will increase it, and a few will decrease it. But of course, you need to pay for the mods themselves. A general rule of thumb would be to assume that you will be out the amount you invest in the mods. Do them if you believe they are worth the amount you spend on them for the enjoyment you get from them during the time you expect to own the car.

Originally posted by CanadaCraig:
I'd much rather buy a completely stock NSX than one that has been 'changed' - but do MOST people feel that way??

Many do; many don't. Most people won't care if a car has a very minor change - an aftermarket exhaust, or aftermarket wheels. The more serious the mods, the fewer people will be interested in the car. But that doesn't mean you won't be able to sell it. It just means it limits your market, as Lofwyr mentions. And when your market is smaller, you depend more on luck in finding the buyer who wants exactly what you've done to the car - or, if you need to sell it quickly, you may need to sell it for lower than you could if you found such a buyer, in order to sell it to someone who doesn't want exactly what you've done to the car.

Originally posted by wildrice:
To base a purchase soley on mods would not be doing yourself or the purchase justice. What about condition, mileage, track use, overall useage, present owner, history, number of owners, paint work, body work, books and records, etc.

And color, and transmission, and year, and of course, the universal top criterion: price. All of these items can affect the desirability of the car to prospective buyers. A heavily modded car that's got low mileage and is in immaculate condition may be more attractive than a stock car that hasn't been well cared for. A lower price can make a modded car (or one in a less popular color) more acceptable. Heck, all of these are factors that buyers will consider, and among which they will make trade-offs.
 
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