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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 12:05 AM
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Default Very mild mods

I'm not much into mods like internal mods or external mods etc... because I plan on keepin this car for a long time and I feel like if it was "untouched" it would hold greater value. Well my question is, has anyone else changed the tires (runacraps) and put LS1 edit on there A4 C5 and if so what kind of difference did it make.
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 12:31 AM
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LS1Edit or HPTuners only makes as much difference as the skill of the person using it. It doesn't have an "auto tune" feature. Changing the tires is nice, but it's a little scary running without a spare.

When you mod, you can put the stock parts on the shelf where they're nice and safe, and then return to stock at a later time. I don't think any future buyer could possibly care if the car was untouched because it wouldn't matter as long as the number matched. Do you think a Vette is an investment?? If so, get that right out of your mind. If thinking it's an investment is some mind trick to prevent you from modding, then fine, whatever works for you. Not a bad idea since it's easy to dump as much into mods as the original price for the car. Modded or original, if you bought it new, you'll be lucky to get half your money back if you sell in a few years.
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 12:39 AM
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yep Drive and enjoy it. Buy a TSA for the future.
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 07:09 AM
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If you find a good tuner, an LS1 Edit tune can add a few ponies to the car. Could be worth the $500 or so it costs. As far as the mods go, I think it depends on how radical you get as to whether it really hurts the resale value. You definitely won't get your full cost back out of the mods (or the car for that matter), but I bought my car for me to drive. For the most part, I try and keep the stock parts that I have taken off so if I want to or if I sell, I can return it to its original form.
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 07:46 AM
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Originally Posted by jarretfoster
I'm not much into mods like internal mods or external mods etc... because I plan on keepin this car for a long time and I feel like if it was "untouched" it would hold greater value. Well my question is, has anyone else changed the tires (runacraps) and put LS1 edit on there A4 C5 and if so what kind of difference did it make.
If you plan on keeping it for a long time, then not to wory - your car has nowhere to go but down. I don't mean to be negative, and Corvettes hold their value pretty well compared to most cars, but seriously. Look at any C4 - you can have them for a song these days. C3's too. You have a long, long time before you can even hope that it'll bellcurve back up in value, and you'd better keep it immaculate if you're thinking of it as some form of investment.

So if you're aching to put some go fast goodies in there, and you really do want to keep it for the next 15 years or more, then go for it. If anything, save the OEM stuff in your attic in case you change your mind...
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 09:20 AM
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by ClarenceT
If you plan on keeping it for a long time, then not to wory - your car has nowhere to go but down. I don't mean to be negative, and Corvettes hold their value pretty well compared to most cars, but seriously. Look at any C4 - you can have them for a song these days. C3's too. You have a long, long time before you can even hope that it'll bellcurve back up in value, and you'd better keep it immaculate if you're thinking of it as some form of investment.

So if you're aching to put some go fast goodies in there, and you really do want to keep it for the next 15 years or more, then go for it. If anything, save the OEM stuff in your attic in case you change your mind...

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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 09:57 AM
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Your C5 (and any modern car for that matter) is an expense - not an investment.

If you truly wish for it to be an investment - never, ever drive it, keep it in a over pressure humidity controlled room and ultradetail it every day.

You Vette is a Car - not a 401k.

Enjoy it - drive it - go get a serious dose of PermaGrin(TM)

EG
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 11:49 AM
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The only cars that can be considered investments are old cars like the Mid Year c-2's etc!
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 12:28 PM
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As far as the investment issue is concerned - C5 production was around 34,000 cars give or take - per year, except for 1997 when it was just under 10,000 - which comes out to a total of about 282,000 cars. They aren't really collectible, with a very few as an exception. Maybe in your next life they will be!

Mod the car to your heart's content - save the O.E.M. parts if you must. These cars are "drivers" - not museum pieces!

Tires - well it really depends on your situation. If you drive the car routinely in remote places - far from help, well maybe the O.E.M. GY EMT's are the way to go. They were designed to be driven on for 200 miles (I think.... ). The other run flats by Michelin and Firestone to name a few can only be driven on for very short distances.

Personally - I have non runflats (BFG KDW). I carry a small air compressor, tire patch kit and some basic tools. Also - I never leave home without a cell phone, and I have towing coverage on my insurance.

Make that car yours - and don't worry about the next owner! Let the mods begin!!
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 12:54 PM
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Default Drive it until the wheels fall off!!!!

I thought exactly like you at the beginning of my C5 experience. I thought I should'nt do anything to the car that the manufactory did'nt already do to it. Because then I would lesson the resale value of the car and the authenticity.
I even thought that I would be one of those guys that kept the car since it was new and babied it, then when I turned 90 years old I could get a million dollars for a clean, numbers matching 00 C5.

Then I had a serious thought. At 90 what in the hell would I do with a million dollars besides pay medical bills.
I had another thought. GM/Chevy made tons of C5's. Now I know some have different manufactory packages, but the fact remands that there are hundreds of thousands of C5's on the roads today. So mines being one of a kind is a dream. So I decided to enjoy mines and deal with the age of 90 when I get there.

So Mod up my friend and enjoy yourself

CN RED
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by jarretfoster
because I plan on keepin this car for a long time and I feel like if it was "untouched" it would hold greater value.
I thought this way a long time ago. Mod the car the way you like it especially if you are going to keep it for awhile - change it to what you like and
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by jarretfoster
I'm not much into mods like internal mods or external mods etc... because I plan on keepin this car for a long time and I feel like if it was "untouched" ...
I said the same thing 2 years ago. I was keeping my Z bone stock...forever...
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 06:51 PM
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i said the same thing when i got mine.....now i cant stop!!!!
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by BeastieBoys21
i said the same thing when i got mine.....now i cant stop!!!!

Yep. Same here. It all started with just a simple High Performance Hood Seal to add 5HP. Then came the simple Throttle Body By-Pass for another 5HP. Then a C5 owner of questionable character cornered me in a dark alley and said, "wanna lower it?" Before I knew it I was ordering Lingenfelter stuff, and KEWL stuff, and vendors were calling me at home if I didn't order every week.

I too thought I could just be a "social modder", and before long I was hooked on mods and I couldn't stop. CCW wheels, Kumho tires, and then I hit rock bottom and started racing the car.





My therapist says I should look farther ahead on a course and hold a higher entry speed into the corners.

But I'm getting better.
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 07:05 PM
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anyone feel the 04 will hold value/be a collector because last of the c5/ last of the flip lights??????????????
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by jdplays
anyone feel the 04 will hold value/be a collector because last of the c5/ last of the flip lights??????????????
Nope. Too many C5s out there.
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by jdplays
anyone feel the 04 will hold value/be a collector because last of the c5/ last of the flip lights??????????????

It'll hold as much value as the '98s do because they're the last year with a fuel return line!
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Old Dec 13, 2004 | 07:21 PM
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ouch
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Old Dec 14, 2004 | 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by leaftye
It'll hold as much value as the '98s do because they're the last year with a fuel return line!

I knew I had a winner with my '98, I just didn't know why. Thanks!
Well, maybe I'll hit the lottery - More MODS!!!!!!
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