why do people mod and sell?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
The guys I know who heavily deal in Corvettes and other performance cars say top dollar goes for unaltered original cars. I bought my Z06 and CTS-V after inspection and ONLY if they were untouched OEM stock condition. It's too much of an investment to deal with someone elses modified horror. Mine are staying stock.Oh please, investment
you just don't get it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
What exactly is the investment? Each year the car grows old, each year it decreases in value.
I respect folks that keep things stock, but when folks say the car will become "useless, worthless piece of junk!" when we decide to modify and personalize it to what we want, I get a little irritated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,124
Likes: 272
From: SC
Anyone who says a stock c5 is not fast is somewhat crazy! I agree it's not fast for a track car, but for a street car, hell yes. 20 years in law enforcement, I have driven cars that are quick, but remember, you can only go so fast on a public roadway. a c5 was built for the public roadway. Any car modded for more speed is overkill IF DRIVEN mainly on public streets. Personally, I don't understand why any company makes a car that will do 160+mph that is registered on the road. I can assure you, drive 100+ mph chasing someone down public streets who does not care if they die, or kill someone else and you would wish they never made a car as fast as a c5. In the hands of a responsible adult, a vette is great, but an idiot, drunk, or just fool... I wish any punk with 20K should be required to drive a Yugo! Not calling anyone here a punk, but we all know the ones out there I am referring to.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,124
Likes: 272
From: SC
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 10
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
What's the old saying? People want their cars to be powerful, reliable, and cheap. Unfortunately, you have to pick two, and can never have all three. In this case, it is easy to make a car that is powerful and cheap, but not reliable. It is easy to make a car that is powerful and reliable, but not cheap.
You're right that a highly modded car requires tradeoffs. Make the list:
Lightweight flywheels require more throttle to engage the clutch, and who wants to rev the engine at every light?
Heavy clutches are frequently noisy, and require more pedal effort. That's always nice on a date.
Free-flowing exhaust requires removal of the cats, and that makes the exhaust smell like main street in 1967.
Exhausts that sound awesome at idle and WOT usually drone between 1500 and 2500. Nice when you're in the second hour of a long trip.
High boost requires high octane. It isn't impressive when you're mixing your own fuel or having to go to the track just for a fillup.
I could go on. Point is, the greater the power, the less the experience is that of a civilized automobile.
You're right that a highly modded car requires tradeoffs. Make the list:
Lightweight flywheels require more throttle to engage the clutch, and who wants to rev the engine at every light?
Heavy clutches are frequently noisy, and require more pedal effort. That's always nice on a date.
Free-flowing exhaust requires removal of the cats, and that makes the exhaust smell like main street in 1967.
Exhausts that sound awesome at idle and WOT usually drone between 1500 and 2500. Nice when you're in the second hour of a long trip.
High boost requires high octane. It isn't impressive when you're mixing your own fuel or having to go to the track just for a fillup.
I could go on. Point is, the greater the power, the less the experience is that of a civilized automobile.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
There are some mods that take away from the general drive ability of the car, (mainly drag related) but for the most part (IMO) the thinking that mods ruin a car is an old school way of thinking. That's why we wont work on the older cars, because I'm not satisfied with the job afterwards so how can the owner. With the advances of the PCM's and engines of the C5 and C6 it can easily make 600+hp and run exactly like stock.
I think for many people, including myself, the build can be more fun than the finished product.
I think for many people, including myself, the build can be more fun than the finished product.
Preach it, brother 
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Michael S. Palmer
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,599
Likes: 1,717
From: Converse TX
For me as a young boy I always wanted a Corvette and a race car, so when I could afford the Vette I got one and then saved up to mod the hel$ out of it for my pleasure to have my semi race car. I abused it for 5k before anything broke and that amazed me. When it broke last November I went on another mod craze and I am one who will keep his for some time. For me and my profession it would not be a daily driver even if stock and it sure is so much fun to get into a 700+ rwhp car and other than taking off at 1500 rpm it drives like stock until I mash the gas and then the fun begins, so I do not fit in the category of mod and sell, not to say that I will not do the same again in a C6, I just love my modded Vette and do not care what it is worth, I like it just how it is, until the next round of mods
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I know when to go and when not too. I agree with your post, I modded for more than just to be faster on public roads, I modded for style, sound, 1/4 mile track running, road course racing and to be able to drive it to work every single day, because I love my car.
BTW, when are we going to get together?
BTW, when are we going to get together?
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Friends don't let friends drive stock.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,124
Likes: 272
From: SC
I know when to go and when not too. I agree with your post, I modded for more than just to be faster on public roads, I modded for style, sound, 1/4 mile track running, road course racing and to be able to drive it to work every single day, because I love my car.
BTW, when are we going to get together?
BTW, when are we going to get together?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,124
Likes: 272
From: SC
Sounds good, I am in charleston every few months, but usually I am on the Harley. Drop me a PM next time your at the beach, we will get together for a cold one and see if we can turn our vettes into z06's
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Fl
If someone thinks a stock C5 is fast they obviously have not driven a fast car. Sorry but you don't have to be stupid and drive irresponsibly to enjoy a real fast car. There are plenty of opportunities to run the car at the track or simply accellerate in a spirited manner without violating the law (not much anyway). I will be 50 this year and I doubt I would qualify as a punk...kind of wish I could though... It sounds like some of the folks posting here would argue against people being able to buy/own a truly fast car since it might be capable of 200 mph or even a fast bike. I have seen the arguements that manufacturers should not sell Hyabusa's or Ferrari's or for that matter Z06 vettes. It somewhat saddens me that some might feel that way in America. It also scares me a little that a law enforcement officer might feel that way. I am not attacking anyone personally for their beliefs but this is the USA where freedom of choice and personal responsibility should be our goal.
Keep your car stock if you wish..it is obviously your choice and if it was truly a collector car or rare it should stay stock. I kept my # matching '70 340 Cuda and 70 T/A Challenger bone stock for that reason. Fun to drive and beautiful... but fast....I don't think so.. To each their own but please don't espouse limiting people from the freedom of choice to drive or own as fast or exotic of a vehicle as they want or can afford. That is just wrong. It is a very slippery slope to travel. Next comes outlawing boats that go over 40 then snowmobiles, jet ski's, motorcyles, guns...you name it.
I realize this post got off track of why people mod and sell but some of the comments deserve at least a counter viewpoint.
Keep your car stock if you wish..it is obviously your choice and if it was truly a collector car or rare it should stay stock. I kept my # matching '70 340 Cuda and 70 T/A Challenger bone stock for that reason. Fun to drive and beautiful... but fast....I don't think so.. To each their own but please don't espouse limiting people from the freedom of choice to drive or own as fast or exotic of a vehicle as they want or can afford. That is just wrong. It is a very slippery slope to travel. Next comes outlawing boats that go over 40 then snowmobiles, jet ski's, motorcyles, guns...you name it.
I realize this post got off track of why people mod and sell but some of the comments deserve at least a counter viewpoint.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
If someone thinks a stock C5 is fast they obviously have not driven a fast car
Top Speed? 0-60? 1/4 mile times, Speed in the curves?
Yes. A stock C5 is fast compared to most other prodution cars
Even a modded 10 sec C5 is SLOW compared to a 6 sec Pro Stock.
