How do mods affect resale value?
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Beulaville NC
this is the reason a modded car is harder to sell than an un modded car. My car has 65000+ miles on it, has never been tracked, and I'll put it up angainst any non-tailer queen as far as contition, but the mods still will cause a buyer to think its been "beat down". However, I've got a list of 7 people , in cluding my GM mechanic, who know the car and want a shot at buyinf it if I decide to sell.
My 1998 has 77,000 on it , is in showroom condition and has never been tracked also! But the who idea of a 20 year old owning such a powerful car makes one think that the car has been "run to death". Some people love the idea of buying a "Modded" car as this reduces the hustle of buying all the mods you wanted. But some people rather jus have a bone stock car. Keep in mind a bone stock car can be ran just as hard as a modded car! Good luck my to you!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 27
From: WTB Kook 2" long tube 4 C5 TEXAS
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I'll just reiterate what everyon else has said... mod for you and you alone. If you think you'll be selling the car in the future do things that can be easily returned to stock.
If I was wanting more power and ease of returning to stock I'd go with a Procharger kit from ECS with some Longtubes. The Procharger has self contained oiling so no drilling/tapping for oil feed and return has to be done. It's literally a bolt-on kit.
Then, when you want to move the car you can put it back to stock and sell your mods. Used mods typically get 50-60% of their original cost.
In reality... a C5 was my dream car when I was 15 and they first showed up in the paper in late '96. Then I read about the pending 2001 Z06 in 2000 and knew I had to have one.
So I don't plan on getting rid of my car and am modding it for my enjoyment. If anything I'd like to pass this one on to my future family
If I was wanting more power and ease of returning to stock I'd go with a Procharger kit from ECS with some Longtubes. The Procharger has self contained oiling so no drilling/tapping for oil feed and return has to be done. It's literally a bolt-on kit.
Then, when you want to move the car you can put it back to stock and sell your mods. Used mods typically get 50-60% of their original cost.
In reality... a C5 was my dream car when I was 15 and they first showed up in the paper in late '96. Then I read about the pending 2001 Z06 in 2000 and knew I had to have one.
So I don't plan on getting rid of my car and am modding it for my enjoyment. If anything I'd like to pass this one on to my future family
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
I pretty much agree with what everyone else has already stated. However, I think in some cases cosmetic (rims and tires), and other tasteful mods like better stereo, insulation,etc can make your car more saleable and worth more than stock (but you won't recover the costs of the mods).
One other point. I have noticed that a lot of people de-mod their cars before selling so a "stock" vette may not be so stock after all. I have owned 3 C5s and all 3 had been modded and de-modded to some degree.
One other point. I have noticed that a lot of people de-mod their cars before selling so a "stock" vette may not be so stock after all. I have owned 3 C5s and all 3 had been modded and de-modded to some degree.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
This gentleman certainly represent 95% of the buying public and those folks want stock vettes.
I have modded SIGNIFICANTLY 4 different C5s (over the last 7 years) and can tell you that the rule of thumb is you can expect to get 0 to 25% back on your mod money, and the car is 95% more difficult to sell as most vette guys are purists like the gentleman above, and they think all modded vettes have been beat on, etc., etc.
Here is da rule. You mod for you and yourself only, realizinig that you will get 0 to 25% of your mod $ back if and when you sell and selling to the PUBLIC if VERY TUFF (just look at the C5 for sale section)!
Now, for a guy who wants a high performance professionally modded C5 (like myself if i was in the market and did not have one already) and that is small percentage of the buying public, buying one already modded is a great way to go for that buyer b/c of the reasons stated above!
I have modded SIGNIFICANTLY 4 different C5s (over the last 7 years) and can tell you that the rule of thumb is you can expect to get 0 to 25% back on your mod money, and the car is 95% more difficult to sell as most vette guys are purists like the gentleman above, and they think all modded vettes have been beat on, etc., etc.
Here is da rule. You mod for you and yourself only, realizinig that you will get 0 to 25% of your mod $ back if and when you sell and selling to the PUBLIC if VERY TUFF (just look at the C5 for sale section)!
Now, for a guy who wants a high performance professionally modded C5 (like myself if i was in the market and did not have one already) and that is small percentage of the buying public, buying one already modded is a great way to go for that buyer b/c of the reasons stated above!
I had an 03 convertible that I turned into an FRC (it was an anniversary car), I put a magnacharger on it, heads, cam, headers, a differential with 3.73 gears and a built FLP transmission. When I sold the car I rebuilt it back to stock with all the original parts and the only mod that remained was a trans cooler, I did alright on the car and recouped 50-60% of my money selling all of my parts.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 10
From: Simi Valley CA
This is exactly why I went bottle instead of forced. My car will be sold "stock". I've done it too many times and lost too much money with expensive mods. To me, there is no such thing as "keep forever".
(I'm also on my 3rd wife )
(I'm also on my 3rd wife
)
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
