anyone REGRET doing mods?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 17
From: Walnut Creek, CA
anyone REGRET doing mods?
This is something we should talk about...I've always had the mod bug, and have taken it to the extreme on a few cars I've owned. With one in particular, I just did way too much, and totally ruined the balance of daily driveability/power/fun/reliability.
So, obviously little things that can be easily reversed, like mufflers, and air intakes aren't gonna destroy that balance, but i'm wondering:
Has anyone on here done more extensive mods, from, say, Longtube headers/tune to supercharging/turbo, to serious suspension mods and then felt any regret because the car was changed so dramatically? Discuss.
So, obviously little things that can be easily reversed, like mufflers, and air intakes aren't gonna destroy that balance, but i'm wondering:
Has anyone on here done more extensive mods, from, say, Longtube headers/tune to supercharging/turbo, to serious suspension mods and then felt any regret because the car was changed so dramatically? Discuss.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Not here
I have upgraded everything in my C6Z with the exception of the transmission (coming soon) with absolutely no regrets. The car outperforms that of stock in every category and is smooth as can be.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,253
Likes: 134
From: Short Hills, NJ
Nah, my only regrets at this point are not having gone far enough! 
I do believe that one can potentially go too far but it all depends on one's tolerance levels and their wallet of course.
I do believe that one can potentially go too far but it all depends on one's tolerance levels and their wallet of course.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I have gone to far on my c5...it was so loud with heads/cam/Borla exhaust it was like a kid's car, not a grown man's car. Great for car shows and track but lousy at 6 am in the morning in the neighborhood and at stoplights.
With my c6 when I put on headers and a big cam I used stock mufflers and cutouts, that made the difference. It's loud when I want but quiet most of the time.
And I learned to self tune it with hp tuners so it runs great with a big cam, so pretty much anyone can drive it (valets, etc.) without killing it over and over thus it's still usable as my daily driver.
So yes IMHO mods can be overdone and a car turned into a race car. That level is a personal decision.
With my c6 when I put on headers and a big cam I used stock mufflers and cutouts, that made the difference. It's loud when I want but quiet most of the time.
And I learned to self tune it with hp tuners so it runs great with a big cam, so pretty much anyone can drive it (valets, etc.) without killing it over and over thus it's still usable as my daily driver.
So yes IMHO mods can be overdone and a car turned into a race car. That level is a personal decision.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 5
From: Ambler Pa.
Learned over mod lessons on my Z28 , which I still have. The tuner I was working with had trouble getting the A4 shift points just right. The " bouncing off the rev limiter method" is a recipe for bent push rods, bent valves, and broken rockers. I have been somewhat conservative with my C6. I still can't leave any car or truck I buy stock, I am just more careful .
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 52
From: Sicamous BC
I went a little extreme as well on C5, still a work in progress. My C6 as for now, will get headers........I've been thinking for FI for this one. So any mods for the C6 will have to be compatible.
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 729
Likes: 0
From: Oceanside N.Y./ Boynton Beach Fl.
In addition to what I've done (see my sig below) I'm picking up my car today or tomorrow after having an A&A Vortech supercharger installed by the Vette Doctors. It's an addiction. I'm already thinking about what else i'd like to do. I keep telling my son that next time around I'm buying an automatic convertible Vette and leaving it bone stock. Then he says to me right dad then you'll do exhaust intake and it'll start all over again. Guess he's right! I can't help myself.
I don't regret it one bit though. 
I don't regret it one bit though.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
my buddy road courses an automatic, and his buddy fell asleep riding with him! I'm not making that up!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 4
From: Mililani HI
The only time I regret modding my car is when I see a good deal come up on a ZO6 . However that is short lived as once I hit the skinny pedal that smile comes out and I love what I have done to my car.
Also as was said modding is an addiction, now lets see, better heads a FAST intake, nitrous, supercharger, bigger gearing
. However that is short lived as once I hit the skinny pedal that smile comes out and I love what I have done to my car. Also as was said modding is an addiction, now lets see, better heads a FAST intake, nitrous, supercharger, bigger gearing
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
I had a loud exhaust (GHL) and regretted it every time I had to take a co-worker for a ride; the drone was unbearable, everyone asked what the hell that noise was, and it embarassed me. I took it off and ended up with C6 Z06 Mufflers, which I love (this after going with Corsa Sports which I did not like as much).
I had a VaraRam intake that I regretted getting when I took it apart for cleaning and found that the foam had come unglued allowing dirt into my engine. I pulled it from the car.
I've had an A&A Vortech Centrifugal supercharger on my car for 5000 miles and I really regret not having gone this route sooner
My first car was a similar experience to the OP's... I modded EVERYTHING on the car (all the way to swapping out the entire engine) and it was as unreliable as it was fast. After spending triple what the car cost originally between mods and repairs I had to get rid of it. I plan on a much more balanced approach with my C6.
I had a VaraRam intake that I regretted getting when I took it apart for cleaning and found that the foam had come unglued allowing dirt into my engine. I pulled it from the car.
I've had an A&A Vortech Centrifugal supercharger on my car for 5000 miles and I really regret not having gone this route sooner
My first car was a similar experience to the OP's... I modded EVERYTHING on the car (all the way to swapping out the entire engine) and it was as unreliable as it was fast. After spending triple what the car cost originally between mods and repairs I had to get rid of it. I plan on a much more balanced approach with my C6.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,448
Likes: 4
From: Sarasota Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Absolutely. Every single mod I've ever done (or ever seen done) has some downside or another. Some almost none, and some so annoying as to ruin the car. There's always a reason the factory did things the way they did, and when you change it you're very liable to run into one of those reasons.
Part of the problem is that you don't know what it's like to live with any of them until you try it yourself. Asking folks on the intarwebs doesn't really tell you much. There lots of kids running MS4 cams that will tell you it's "great! totally streetable!" Right.
So you end up doing one or more cars and making mistakes, and then finally maybe you can do a car where the payoff for each mod (to you) is greater than the compromises. Expensive. But everybody needs a hobby, and it can be fun, depending on how you define fun.
Then there are these two (in)famous threads:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-gone-bad.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...one-wrong.html
Part of the problem is that you don't know what it's like to live with any of them until you try it yourself. Asking folks on the intarwebs doesn't really tell you much. There lots of kids running MS4 cams that will tell you it's "great! totally streetable!" Right.
So you end up doing one or more cars and making mistakes, and then finally maybe you can do a car where the payoff for each mod (to you) is greater than the compromises. Expensive. But everybody needs a hobby, and it can be fun, depending on how you define fun.
Then there are these two (in)famous threads:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-gone-bad.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...one-wrong.html
Last edited by Gannet; Jan 8, 2009 at 01:00 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 12
From: Alpharetta Georgia
My only regret is that now I have a 2008 Vette with 15k miles that is not running because of a timing chain failure. Prior to this incident, I absolutely LOVED the power and reliability of the package. I am rebuilding it identical to its previous setup with stronger/better parts in some key areas and if the fails again with regard to the timing chain, then it will be returned to stock and sold. I can't afford to "play" with a car that has a failure no one can pinpoint or fix since timing chains are such a voodoo topic with these LSX motors.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Regretting mods after the fact is usually going to be about money. Reversing them and selling is more work and its hard to sell a modded car.
Personally, I dont care about the costs and I dont buy things thinking about selling them. I enjoy them for what they are and then deal with things later if it has to go to a sell point. I guess you have to ask yourself why you're modding before you do it. If you cant sleep at night knowing its nearly a total loss to mod then dont do it. I dont pay for labor to get mods nor do i ever really pay full price on parts but I would if I had to. I mod to have fun especially the wrneching part. Some guys drink and smoke and drop hundreds a month on that non-sense so i dont look at my hobby as a total loss. If I buy 15k in parts and mod then over the few years i have the car, its a few hundred a month. I dont have any other vices so i dont cry about the money.
Its a lot of fun to have a fast car and there is no production car that can keep up with mine. For the guy that is looking more at the money than the car but still decides to mod, get reversable mods such a supercharger instead of a H/C package or get a set of gears in instead of the exhaust that makes no difference.
Personally, I dont care about the costs and I dont buy things thinking about selling them. I enjoy them for what they are and then deal with things later if it has to go to a sell point. I guess you have to ask yourself why you're modding before you do it. If you cant sleep at night knowing its nearly a total loss to mod then dont do it. I dont pay for labor to get mods nor do i ever really pay full price on parts but I would if I had to. I mod to have fun especially the wrneching part. Some guys drink and smoke and drop hundreds a month on that non-sense so i dont look at my hobby as a total loss. If I buy 15k in parts and mod then over the few years i have the car, its a few hundred a month. I dont have any other vices so i dont cry about the money.
Its a lot of fun to have a fast car and there is no production car that can keep up with mine. For the guy that is looking more at the money than the car but still decides to mod, get reversable mods such a supercharger instead of a H/C package or get a set of gears in instead of the exhaust that makes no difference.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 38
From: A galaxy far, far away...
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '26
I have the mod bug, definitely, but I've also had many loud bouncy cars over the years. Other than a few things to make the engine "more efficient" & some personalization items, I'm trying my damndest not to mess with perfection, well close to it. 
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 0
From: Shavertown PA
I put over 40k into a 99 C5 vert...interior, exterior, motor, blower, suspension, wheels. I so regret wasting that money. I had a blast mind you, but in the end a waste.
But I learned my lesson. I bought a c6 with an LPE 427, suspension, wheels, brakes, interior, just a ton of stuff in it already. I paid maybe 3k over kelly blue book.
Its fun and all to mod the car but its far better just to get in and drive!!!!
But I learned my lesson. I bought a c6 with an LPE 427, suspension, wheels, brakes, interior, just a ton of stuff in it already. I paid maybe 3k over kelly blue book.
Its fun and all to mod the car but its far better just to get in and drive!!!!