I couldn't have said it ... well, come to think of it, I wouldn't have said it!

I find it interesting that people buy things that they're already selling in their heads. What are you using the car for? A daily driver? A show car? A drag racer?

And how long to you plan on keeping it? If just for a year or two, keep it stock. If for many years as a driver, it won't make much difference because of the mileage. C5s (with exceptions) will not be considered collectible for many years ahead.

Many people tell you to return it to stock before selling. Why do all the work? Put "all original parts included" in the ad and make the other guy do the work. State in your ad all the mods you have made. Someone might be looking for just such a car - plus it will automatically turn away those looking for stock.

To me, we all get much less than we feel the car's worth at trade-in time or private selling. When you consider all the money modding costs, in the end it probably won't make much difference.

Mod away!
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For many people here modding their vette is a hobby. For others the vette is transportation. For some it's in the middle somewhere.

I've had many hobbies over the years and I don't think I got into a single one with a profit motive. One of my current hobbies just happens to be modding/improving my car.

 

Like you, my mod theme was to improve on the GM OEM design. To a non-Corvette owner, my mods would probably not be even identified as modifications, rather just "really nice stuff", i.e. custom leather interior, double din NAV, custom paint trim, CCW wheels, etc. All of my "performance" mods are also stealth, i.e. Callaway Honker (very OEM looking), Koni FSD shocks, Z06 sway bars, Corsa X-pipe + Indy Exhaust and Bear Eradispeed rotors.

I doubt any of these mods would hurt me in the event I (ever) sell my C5. I have the original parts, however my time is worth more to me than the extra $$$ I may get if I return it to stock.

A friend of mine owns a very nice C6 Grand Sport convertible. He waxes it as much as he drives it and really takes good care of it. However, he felt he was missing out on a piece of Corvette ownership, so he purchased a used 2004 C5 Z06 for track events and general HP fun. He modded it to his liking, installed a cage and had it painted flat black and installed track-ready gunmetal gray wheels.

I recently asked him how he likes his track car and his response was that he loved owning and driving a Corvette that he did not obsess over so much. He drives it everywhere and at anytime not worrying about rain, scratches, etc. as that is what his track car was designed for. He laughed and told me the car actually looks better dirty!

He has the best of both worlds!

 

Do you mean like being a legend in your own mind ? Why put all of the money into it if you don't intend to use it ? Whatever turns you on, but when I 'm looking for a car and see mods, I think beat junk. Just saying !