Looking into buying a 966 tt, how do you put a value on the modifications that have been done on the car? Wheels,exhaust,spoiler,carbon fiber, suspension etc...does $10k in mods =$10k above blue book value? Thanks

 

No way is it dollar for dollar. Taste plays a huge part in the for looks modding.

 

No and sometimes makes the car worth less in comparison to a stock car in like condition. The mods are a plus if you plan on doing similar later. Usually mods are at best 50% of original costs.

 

the dilemma is that putting a value on existing mods is that their added value ( or lack thereof ) largely depends on you alone knowing what you want vs what you don't on it.. and that's usually learned by owning the car.

that said, it's hard to go wrong with the basics e.g. tune/exhaust/wheels/suspension provided they all suit the car. so there's someones ten grand right there potentially.in my case i feel i paid a premium for the car i got because it already had a lot of what i wanted done, so i'm glad i didn't fork over the 20k+ the stuff cost since they were on the car.

 

I agree with Tim and RMC, you can't really place a firm market valuation on a modified car. Like anything, the car is worth what someone is willing to pay for it after it has been modified.


Some people will avoid modified Porsches like the plague as this is a solid indicator the car has been beat. Of course this isn't always true, but it's a common perception with any modified car.


Others want to modify the car anyway, don't care about collectability, and see modifications as a premium.


You have to be careful though, I think if you're going to pay extra for modifications, you should only do so if the mods have been installed by professionals. DIYers often don't install components correctly and you can be buying a real handful without knowing it.


These are $120-140K cars new and they aren't cheap to service, my advice would be to buy a good one at all costs before buying a modified one. But you didn't ask for my advice, just saying .

 

My car came with $27,000 of tasteful mods and I paid about the same as stock.

BMW world seems to be about 15-20 cents on the dollar for mods (if wanted) FWIW

 

Hopefully you realize that for the most part everything depreciates on the car....the $120K turbo is now~$45K....so of course the mods depreciate as well...LOL

 

i see it this way. suspension, cosmetic and interior mods can enhance the value of a car. they can also be removed and sold separately if the oem pieces can be reinstalled aging value that way.

engine transmission fuel and most power mods are simply tossing money away for the hobby you love. if you get .40 on the dollar your lucky.

the bottom line for the car your looking at is it what you want? if it has all the things that make you smile the cost may be worth it to you. only you know that answer

 

Generally speaking, mods will devalue a car and narrow the potential buying audience. That's why you seldom see modded cars on Porsche dealers lots.

On the other hand you have found a car that is modded and you like what has been done, decide for yourself if it has added value over stock and how much. That's what it is worth to you.

Personally, even if I wanted the mods, I'd prefer 100% stock. Then I could do the mods myself and make 100% certain they were done right and the car was not mechanically compromised in the processed which is often the case.

Being in the business for decades, I see things damaged and broken all the time from amateur and shoddy work while attempting to customize or mod vehicles. 100% stock and you can assume the car is as Porsche built it. (check closely though)

 

nick49s comments are on the money in my opinion= but just another opinion lol.

 

+2 to Nick49's comment. I was pleased to find a lightly modded car (tune/intake) vs. mods galore and would imagine that most (clearly not all) prospective buyers prefer stock. Of course, being able to return one's car to stock when selling it and selling the mods one by one is the best of both worlds. However, some cars are "too far gone" to feasibly be returned to stock.

 

I have found that mods don't add value. They detract.

Unless you find someone that wants exactly what you have done, most buyers won't put value on mods.

 

The value of anything is what someone will pay.

If you will pay more for a modded car then they added value, if not then they don't.

There does seem to be the idea that modded cars have been beat on more.

I bought mine modded and then modded more. I tested the waters selling and basically priced it the same as stock ones.

Didn't sell and I'm cool with that, now it looks like I can keep it.

 

As an automotive dealer, mods decrease value, IMO. They dramatically narrow down the prospective customer base. Therefore, the car will sit on my lot longer than a comparable stock vehicle, resulting in lower profit margin.

I'm also an avid rock-crawler, and started out with a Jeep TJ that saw extensive modification. In that market, unless the rig is in perfect shape, the mods add very little, if any value. I'd much rather start a jeep project with something that hasn't seen any off-road use.

There is a common theme amongst people selling their modded cars that they increase the value. The reality is, the mods can, but only if you're willing to wait for the right buyer.

If you're the buyer and the mods are ones you would choose, I'd say they add $.25 on the dollar to the value at most. Case in point, my 996TT came with coil-overs, 19" wheels, exhaust, and aftermarket double-din nav with 60k. I paid slightly over average market value for it, but in my mind, the highest value item was the fact that the previous owner had a dealer do the 60k service right before he listed it for sale.

[edit]posted before reading all the replies so far. Short version: +3 for Nick.

 

I have modded many cars and my opinion even with a buyer that wants similar mods you are lucky to get 50% back. And for the most part the stock car will be easier to sell and you will have much more interest. I always consider the mods I do are for my taste and don't expect to get my money back. Thats why I prefer bolt on simple things that can be converted back to stock. Sell the modded parts separately and still only get roughly 50% of the paid value but makes the car easier to sell and 50% for the parts is about as good as you will get for the most part.