MOST Regrettable Mod
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 2
From: Palm Desert CA
YOU WILL regret all your mods....WHEN you decide to sell or trade up one day. Not only will you loose all the money you spent on mods, but it will also cost you money due to depreciation of a non stock car. Believe me, a used car is worth much more when it is 100% original stock. I have spent about $3,000-$4,000 on mine and it is worth about $1,500-$2,500 less than it would be pure stock. My math say's it cost me about $5,000 that could have gone towards a newer vette.
BUT, it's not for sale, and I am enjoying my mods... So it comes down to if, or how long you are going to keep the C5. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes you can find a buyer who likes your mods and is willing to pay for them, but on the retail market, everything above is very true... I know, been there and done that, many, many times...
BUT, it's not for sale, and I am enjoying my mods... So it comes down to if, or how long you are going to keep the C5. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes you can find a buyer who likes your mods and is willing to pay for them, but on the retail market, everything above is very true... I know, been there and done that, many, many times...
unfortunately. Sad but VERY true 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
At this point I wish I had just bought the VARARAM first instead of having to change the K&N FIPK as I cut a hole in the support to give it more air!
Needed to replace that and buy the VARARAM!
Thanks,Matt
Needed to replace that and buy the VARARAM!
Thanks,Matt
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 3
From: Simi Valley CA
Biggest waste of money on the planet was the p.o.s. rear facia blackout I bought a year ago. Not the new plastic one that came out which looks really good, but this thing is a damn sticker that fit like crap. What a ripoff for 100 bucks. I put it on, saw it looked like crap, took it off and straight in the trash.
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
YOU WILL regret all your mods....WHEN you decide to sell or trade up one day. Not only will you loose all the money you spent on mods, but it will also cost you money due to depreciation of a non stock car. Believe me, a used car is worth much more when it is 100% original stock. I have spent about $3,000-$4,000 on mine and it is worth about $1,500-$2,500 less than it would be pure stock. My math say's it cost me about $5,000 that could have gone towards a newer vette.
My '00 vert is 100% bone stock. I didn't really appreciate that aspect until people at the weekly muscle car show I attend started commenting on the exhaust. I'm the only guy among 40 or 50 'vettes that has the original black dumb looking exhaust still in place. I even had a guy take a picture - what's with that!
My GM-issue chrome wheels, solid pie plate discs and battleship grey calipers are becoming an oddity, too. It's not like this is a 60's era split window coupe or anything, just a daily driver...
Mods are cool and fun but preserved stock has a place, too.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 539
Likes: 0
From: Nevada City CA
I guess I can be considered a novice to mods, having only done Cat Backs and Air Intake to improve performance on my '04 C5 Vert. Even though the car is still under warranty, I plan on doing some more. What , if any, would you consider to be your LEAST favorite mod to your C5. It can be ANY year C5, performance AND/OR appearance mod.
to your C5. It can be ANY year C5, performance AND/OR appearance mod.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 4
YOU WILL regret all your mods....WHEN you decide to sell or trade up one day. Not only will you loose all the money you spent on mods, but it will also cost you money due to depreciation of a non stock car. Believe me, a used car is worth much more when it is 100% original stock. I have spent about $3,000-$4,000 on mine and it is worth about $1,500-$2,500 less than it would be pure stock. My math say's it cost me about $5,000 that could have gone towards a newer vette.
BUT, it's not for sale, and I am enjoying my mods... So it comes down to if, or how long you are going to keep the C5. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes you can find a buyer who likes your mods and is willing to pay for them, but on the retail market, everything above is very true... I know, been there and done that, many, many times...
BUT, it's not for sale, and I am enjoying my mods... So it comes down to if, or how long you are going to keep the C5. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes you can find a buyer who likes your mods and is willing to pay for them, but on the retail market, everything above is very true... I know, been there and done that, many, many times...
Or looked at another way, I'd never say "that $2500 I spent on an Alaskan cruise last summer was a waste -- I'll never get it back", because it paid me back in memories, new experiences, and time with my family.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Another thing that comes to mind, now that I think about it, is such gadgets as the Hypertech and Predator, so-called hand-held "tuners". Not really considered a "mod" by definition, but what it cost as opposed to what it could actually do, was not worth the bucks I laid out for it.
And yeah, I know.....there's all those who swear (by the seat of their pants) that these things have made a world of difference in how their Vette performs. Sure, ok, whatever you say <wink> <wink>
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,119
Likes: 272
From: SC
I agree with you; the monetary value of mods is something people can't help regret. But the other gains these cars give us... a saturday spent detailing it, meeting new people, the pride of swapping out your own shocks, etc... is a whole other kind of value. No, you won't get the money back, but you profit in other ways.
Or looked at another way, I'd never say "that $2500 I spent on an Alaskan cruise last summer was a waste -- I'll never get it back", because it paid me back in memories, new experiences, and time with my family.
Or looked at another way, I'd never say "that $2500 I spent on an Alaskan cruise last summer was a waste -- I'll never get it back", because it paid me back in memories, new experiences, and time with my family.
Very good point. I just want everyone to understand, modding is not an investment, it's like taking a vacation that will never return any funds...
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 2
From: Lakeland FL
3x heads for me on the silver car they made about 5 rwhp hp did get rid of them after about a year and go to AFRs made 42 rwhp. lost 2000.00 on that mistake not to mention labor cost they did put a nice set of valve springs that I was able to pull off and put on the AFR heads.
Don't ask long story bottom line was they would not take the heads back after only 600 miles of use tried to blame the tuner the installer me and everybody else. AHH live and learn
on the silver car they made about 5 rwhp hp did get rid of them after about a year and go to AFRs made 42 rwhp. lost 2000.00 on that mistake not to mention labor cost they did put a nice set of valve springs that I was able to pull off and put on the AFR heads.Don't ask long story bottom line was they would not take the heads back after only 600 miles of use tried to blame the tuner the installer me and everybody else. AHH live and learn
Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
From: West Jordan Utah
Only a couple of simple mods......no regrets. My vette is also a diversion and hobby. Since I purchased it previously owned, I needed a couple of simple, tastful changes to make it my own. It worked!