Trade-in value?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Trade-in value?
Has anyone ever added performance modifications to their car and then sold it or traded it in? Do performance mods hold their value at all when the time comes to sell? I am referring to things like heads, cams, forced induction, ect. Not so much intake, cat back, or tune. Just curious! 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
From: Tampa (Cigar City) (The Big Sombrero)
Here's what the car dealers do.......
If your car is worth, let's say, $30,000....the dealer you try to trade it in/sell it to will say "Its got after market parts on it, which will depreciate the value by about $5,000. So I'll give you $25,000 for it.....$25,500 if I can get it before my manager finds out. After all we are going to have to pay to get the stock parts back, then pay someone to reinstall the stock parts, otherwise no one will want to buy it".
Then if you sell your $30,000 car to them for $25,000...they will try and sell it for $35,000+ They say something like this to potential buyers, "This car has very expensive after market parts, and this car is very very fast. You cant get a stock Vette to be this fast unless you spend thousands and thousands of dollars. And most of the after market parts on this Vette, are hard to come by, if they even make them anymore."
If your car is worth, let's say, $30,000....the dealer you try to trade it in/sell it to will say "Its got after market parts on it, which will depreciate the value by about $5,000. So I'll give you $25,000 for it.....$25,500 if I can get it before my manager finds out. After all we are going to have to pay to get the stock parts back, then pay someone to reinstall the stock parts, otherwise no one will want to buy it".
Then if you sell your $30,000 car to them for $25,000...they will try and sell it for $35,000+ They say something like this to potential buyers, "This car has very expensive after market parts, and this car is very very fast. You cant get a stock Vette to be this fast unless you spend thousands and thousands of dollars. And most of the after market parts on this Vette, are hard to come by, if they even make them anymore."
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,513
Likes: 1,301
From: Windermere FL
It depends on the stealership. Some will do as described above, others will just whoresale the car. If they can steal it for a lot less than what they turn around and sell it at the auction for in a few days, they will turn it around for a quick profit.
It is always best to try to sell it on your own. I find that modified cars go best on Flea-Bay.
It is always best to try to sell it on your own. I find that modified cars go best on Flea-Bay.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
I see what you guys are saying and I appreciate the advice. The dealer I purchased the car from installs performance modifications and sells those cars on the lot. They always have supercharged Camaros sitting on the lot. I wouldn't put anything past a dealer but I find it hard to believe that if I were to buy that camaro and then try to trade it back to them a few years later they would say it is worth less because of the supercharger. But idk! That's why I asked. Thanks!
Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
Here's what the car dealers do.......
If your car is worth, let's say, $30,000....the dealer you try to trade it in/sell it to will say "Its got after market parts on it, which will depreciate the value by about $5,000. So I'll give you $25,000 for it.....$25,500 if I can get it before my manager finds out. After all we are going to have to pay to get the stock parts back, then pay someone to reinstall the stock parts, otherwise no one will want to buy it".
Then if you sell your $30,000 car to them for $25,000...they will try and sell it for $35,000+ They say something like this to potential buyers, "This car has very expensive after market parts, and this car is very very fast. You cant get a stock Vette to be this fast unless you spend thousands and thousands of dollars. And most of the after market parts on this Vette, are hard to come by, if they even make them anymore."
If your car is worth, let's say, $30,000....the dealer you try to trade it in/sell it to will say "Its got after market parts on it, which will depreciate the value by about $5,000. So I'll give you $25,000 for it.....$25,500 if I can get it before my manager finds out. After all we are going to have to pay to get the stock parts back, then pay someone to reinstall the stock parts, otherwise no one will want to buy it".
Then if you sell your $30,000 car to them for $25,000...they will try and sell it for $35,000+ They say something like this to potential buyers, "This car has very expensive after market parts, and this car is very very fast. You cant get a stock Vette to be this fast unless you spend thousands and thousands of dollars. And most of the after market parts on this Vette, are hard to come by, if they even make them anymore."
point it out though and they will say its because that they need to make a profit. I love how they use that excuse for every unethical thing they do. Its not like they can just be straight forward... 
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: philly pa
im a car dealer and cell6ida is total wrong. if you want a real number on a trade or advice i am more then happy to help. aftermarket does make the car worth less cause potential buyers dont want a car modded already. there is no warranty and you cant purchase extended warranty also. if your a potential buyer and you see a modded car youalso have to worry if the car has been beat on. kbb is full of crap also, we get our numbers from auction prices like manhiem
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,706
Likes: 5
From: Toronto Ontario
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: philly pa
maybe if your a specialty dealer, but a normal manufacturer is always gonna have a hard time with such car, especially if it sends it to auction. at auction it will have to run in the yellow lane which means no warranty or buy back . ever car we have ever gotten in with mods besides rims or exhaust we have always bought low for the simple fact you dont know if the next buyer wants those same mods.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne, Arkansas
Cruise-In X Veteran
I remember when there were car lots in So Cal called Stick City, Street Rods, etc...... All they sold were modded performance cars and "T" bucket street rods!!
Ahhhh the good old days.....................
Mark
Ahhhh the good old days.....................
Mark
