Your Modifications Don't Add Value To Your Car

No matter what I spend on modifying my car, there will be no return on investment.

But I’m OK with that.

People spend more on a vacation or holiday in one year than I do on modifying a car. People spend a lot of money on hobbies, and if you own a car for reasons outside of a necessary mode of transport then that my friend, is a hobby.

You don’t expect a return of investment on a vacation or a hobby.

Yet you still see people still set a value on their car as a model with a year and a condition, and then list a bunch of modifications and reflect their perceived value to the owner in the asking price.

The problems are two fold, maybe even three depending on how deep the mods go.

First you have the issue of not knowing who did them or how well they are done. The seller may say “ALL MODS EXPERTLY INSTALLED!!!!” but even if you forgive the abuse of all caps and crime against punctuation, then that still means nothing. Those are just words. Everyone thinks they are an expert once they have done their first windscreen washer fluid mod, and you’re about to trust that someone has expertly modified the suspension on your car?

You, dear reader, I know are not an idiot.

He or she may have some invoices even, chances are high you don’t know the shop if there actually is one though. Even if there is, you don’t know the conversations that went on and if corners were cut to suit a budget or a profit margin.

Second, there’s a reason someone lowers a car, has a turbo and carbon fibre cup holders installed - so they can drive it faster. At the very least you can safely assume the drivetrain has more strain put on it than an unmodified version purely by knowing it’s been modified. With all the best will in the world, you don’t know that persons understanding of driving and level of mechanical sympathy imparted upon the car.

The third fold is that even if that car was modified for a pensioner at a facility you already know and trust, then the car was auto-crossed by that dear old lady once a month for six months… the whole point of modifying a car is to suit the owners tastes and goals, not the next owners. The chances I’m going to find someone willing to pay over book price for my car because they too wish to own that particular model and year with a one inch drop on the front and .75 drop on the back complete with that particular match up of springs and struts, with carbon ceramic wheel nuts, bolted down La-Z-Boy recliner sport seats and tasteful pink and blue interior LED lighting to top it off… are remarkably slim.

Of course, you can go buy a car modified already at over book price and people occasionally do. Occasionally someone will pick up an actual screaming deal of a cool car, but mostly you’ll find the seller got incredibly lucky and the buyer bought someone else’s problem.

If you have a car that’s been modified or you’re planning to modify, it is possible if done right and judiciously you may be able to list and get a little over book price but in general terms we are talking ten grand to pull back maybe one. Pennies on the dollar type money.

My advice is to do what I do - spend that money purely on my car and then if some dumb ass offers to buy a five grand car for fifteen, then deal with the moral and ethical dilemma then.

Otherwise, accept and enjoy building a car for you in the same manner your next door neighbour plans and enjoys a holiday. Except of course a week later they’ll be posting selfies and shaky vertical video on Facebook while you’re out rocking your fresh twin turbo, neon under-glow and windscreen fluid upgrade like a boss.

There are of course some exceptions depending on who modified the car and it’s authenticity. On the high end, this was Steve McQueens Porsche and last time I read about it there was $1.5m price tag attached.

Neither you or I are Steve McQueen though.