Let's Talk About "VALUE"

[dennish]

My question IS....Do the aftermarket parts we put on these cars increase or decrease the value of them?

In my case the Kenny Brown subframe connecters are in, as well as a driveshaft loop. To me the loop implies racing and the potential new owner would then NOT be interested. I would remove it, and have the underbody fixed to hide it from looking like it was ever there before I tried to sell. The pricks at the track made me do it but do you think they ever looked for it? NO not once, and I complained twice.

Anyway, I got the extreme bracing parts from Kenny Brown to finish the body off as well as the shock tower crossmembers and I'm afraid to have them installed because I'm just not convinced it's a value enhancer as much as an indicator of potential ABUSE.

I wonder if most people are not hip to the inherant benifits of such items and I don't want my market narrowed even further so I'm thinking I'll just sell them to someone else, OR, after reading some fellow member comments I will install them and enjoy the benifits.

I must say I have no problem defending the installation of the subframe connectors, and I think I will be just as satisfied with the rest of the bracing especially since the jacking rails will make life better for the car.

Please......Spout off, I'd really like to hear from people who made these investments in their previous Cobra's and see if it "helped" or "hurt" resale values.

:huh: :tmb: :beer:

[1CEBITN]

I think it depends on who you are selling the car to. If it is a dealer, they will never give you any money for mods. Depending on how heavily modded the car is, they might not even want it. In your case, you wouldn't have to worry about that but you would never get any money on trade for modifications you make aftermarket.

If you sell the car to an individual, it could go either way. If someone is looking for a car and wants the mods you have made, they might pay a little more for it but not anywhere near what you paid for them. Then there are those who look at a modded car and think it was beat on so they pass.

Another thing to keep in mind is that most people don't have a lot of cash laying around and they need a loan to buy the car. The bank will only loan what the car is worth in their NADA black book (or whatever they use) so you usually will not get anything for your mods other than the enjoyment from them while you own it. If you expect mods to enhance the value of your car, you will be unpleasantly surprised.

If you are going to keep the car for a few years, don't worry about it, just mod it, enjoy the heck out of it, and take the loss. Cars are a horrible investment anyway and, unless your car is paid off already, spending money on mods makes it even worse. Imagine if Ford voided your warranty for a mod and you still owed a good amount on the car.

[5.0 guy]

Great points!, Dennish I purchase mods for me and take them off before I sell the car, my exhaust on my 5.0 has been swapped off of two previous 5.0's I've sold. I wouldn't concern yourself to much over getting your money back unless you are planning on selling her now. 5 years from now the warranty will be no longer, the miles will be higher, so a modded 03 Cobra with all the origional parts including the mods will be worth a little more than maybe say a stock high mile 03 with terrible paint. I think that the key to holding the best value possible would be to have all the origional parts wether it is modded or not. Mods are always a plus!, but most people would frown on the origional parts missing.

[RMitchell12]

I think that modifications will either be neutral towards resale value, or negative, and more often negative. Examples:

1. You've pullied and chipped your car, exhaust, CAI, etc. These mods have the potential to significantlyl shorten the useful life of the engine. Ford recognizes this and that's why they won't repair drivetrain damage under warranty with these mods. Such a car would be of less value to me unless I had personal knowledge of how the mods were done and the way the car was typically driven. Unless you are buying the car from a family member or good friend you aren't going to have this knowledge. In most cases these mods will reduce the value of the car.

2. Minor mods such as exhaust and CAI. Neutral, I think (especially if you've held on to the stock parts and can include them in the sale.) These don't have much potential to reduce useful life, but I don't think people would pay extra just because I've got a Magnaflow catback on my car.

3. Cosmetic mods such as aftermarket wings, aero kits, fancy ghost flame paint, etc. Again, neutral, and perhaps negative. Unless you find a buyer who loves the wing or paint job as much as you do they are unlikely to offer you any additional money just because of the mods.

IMO the bottom line is too mod your car if that's what you personally want, but don't expect it to enhance the value when you go to sell it.

That's my two cents, anyway.

[dennish]

I never expected to get any of the money back, at all. What I am hoping for, is that I won't actually loose more money because of the mods. "I" think the stiffening stuff will only enhance the fact that the body won't deteriorate as quickly so it would be a plus.

I just did a search this Monday with Edmunds & Trader On Line to see what 03 Coupes are going for and it was only 25,000.00. There are still new ones and some with less than 2000 miles and they go for 31,000.00 Plus.
What I would truly like to do is install the rest of the bracing, then go for the Roush Alcon Brakes, and finnaly a chip and pulley swap.

I think then I would have an awesome clubsport racer, although after all that I would probably want the newer differential, coil overs and bigger tires on lighter wheels, it never stops, but will I then be able to MOP the new 06???? Of course I will, but can I live without the new retro car.....NNNNOOOOO!!!

Oh such problems....poor me.

SO, I need to leave this one alone and just sell the additional parts then sell it in time to go big bucks on the new SVT or Shelby GT or whatever the new King is. After all, this is an old platform, and the new one should be awesome, but hey, we need to see.

It just may NOT be sssoooo fine, but I sure do like the looks, since 1964 I've been crazy about Mustangs.

What's an Old fat Dad to do?

[norcal_cobra]

My opinion is that cars in general are not investmants but expenses. Perhaps you could have lucked out and had the foresight to buy and store an old Shelby Mustang or something and turned around and sold it for a lot more than purchase price years later. But think also of the forgone opportunity cost of tying up those funds in that car instead of investing it otherwise. In most cases you'll find that you could have done better elsewhere. Surely, our mass produced Cobras are not a great investment. Heck, with an 03, you've already lost about $9k in value on your one of 12,000+.

-norcal_cobra

[dennish]

I'm not concerned about the costs because I agree with norcal_cobra this is a hobby for those who can afford it, I just don't want to increase the depreciation rate with mods that the next buyer hasn't a clue about much less the inherant virtues of.

I think what's really bugging me is the desire to get an 06. I went into this feeling like it would be the end.....and let's face it, it could be, I don't have to buy a new one.

This is what I like about these threads. It gives me a chance to think out loud and get responses from you guy's. Every time I go to a car show I see people who held onto a car that I would never keep, yet they are satisfied, and I think that's what I need to decide is if I'm satisfied. I bet a lot of this is because I have'nt been driving my car and won't really be able to appreciate it for another month.......it just eats at me you know, is it worth it, should I keep it, blah blah blah.

I'm not making any decisions until I get it out for a good romp. I forget that what we have here are faster cars than almost EVERYTHING on the road, and I love that fact, much less how simply and safely we can move into the the next wave of available competition. I'm almost convinced that the cost of this kind of power is going to kill this game, it could be over and we could have the last of a very special time for which the value will turn around considerably, I mean let's face it, the new Vette's gonna cost a fortune, Vipers are 80 g's, much less the imports. They cost way too much money for the balls we got.

Now I feel like keeping it for a long time. But it may not last. I'll read about and then drive the new King and probably be overwhelmed. Oh well, better get to work on making the big money.

[FalkenMike]

Hi Guys, Great post.
For myself, I look at getting the most bang for the buck when it comes to mods, you read the magazines about people pay hundreds of dollars to get 10-15 HP? I bought a $60 pulley and got 40-50 HP, also on this machine since I sprang for the extended warranty I went for the mods that are easy to "Undo" should I need to. you are never going to get your money back on the car so mod it the way YOU want it, Enjoy the heck out of it, keep all the OEM parts and when you sell it toss them all in the trunk along with the car. Most Importantly have a great time in the process!

[5.0 guy]

I'm definately not selling her, but do know that my wife and I plan to expand our Mustang family in 06, I hope they make enough to go around, but not 13,000!, not that I wouldn't buy one anyways!!!

[sonicblue03]

I think that you mod your car for your own satisfaction. If your interested in value leave it stock. It will definitely be worth more stock then modded but no fun.

When I sold my 97 cobra it was amazing how many people didn't have a clue when I listed the Mods

[vger]

When I look at a car that is for sale and modded I look to see what has been done and if that person took the time to do it right. As far as body kits go (for looks that is) that to me is a turn off and a price reduce. If the price of the modded car is close to the non modded car and condtion. Then it is in the running. I saw an 03 Cobra for sale (when I was looking for mine) that had $5,000 in mods and only 3,000 miles on her and was priced the same as a non modded car and sold pretty quick. I passed because it was not a vert and I live in Mi and the car was in Tx. So do what you want and don't worry about re-sale until you cross that bridge. The money that I spend on my toys I don't expect to recoup. This is your car then make it how you want it.

Life is short Cobras are fast enjoy it!!!!!! :) :allhail: :) :allhail:

[tomsgarage]

The investment as far as I am concerned started for me 34 years ago when the Boss 302 was sitting on the showroom floor at the local Ford Dealer. And then my Dad and I went to watch the Trans Am races at Lime Rock Park and saw those Boss 302 on track! Now it is 34 years later and MY Boss 302 is sitting in my garage! And instead of watching these cars On Track, I am driving my "Dream" in On Track Events with my Dad and my youngest son watching, and my oldest son On Track also, trying to keep up with me in his 01 Bullitt Mustang!

PRICELESS!!!!:)

[Waltman]

Talking from experience and answering to the original question, any engine/exhaust/trans/susp. mods added will not increase its value, just the opposite.

Keeping the stock parts to reinstall them is a joke. Who you want to fool? Then what you do with all that junk, garage sell?

On top of that with all the problems posted here, IT IS IN THE RECORD for the whole world to see (potential buyers included).

The only ones making money here are the ones selling the aftermarket parts. I was sucked into moding my old stang, it was fun, but boy did I lose alot of money when it came time to sell.

Mine is still 100% stock. And I am happy wth it. Ford did a great job with this car the way it is.

[helga123]

I think the "modded car value" thing is not universal at all, but I've observed one thing: IF, a car is modified, buyers become more critical. IF, from bumper to bumper, the overall car is sweet, you can do pretty well with it. But IF, there's something "here & there", the car can be written off as "beat on".

The ONE car I bought, drove, & made money on was in fact, very obviously modified. It was a '71 Corvette with huge ZL1 rear flares, killer wheels, steamroller tires, & show level paint with serious clear/depth. I saw it driving down the road (in '76) with a FOR SALE & had to have it (because it just freakin' looked serious). Drove it 4 years, kept it detailed, had everyone wanting to buy it always, and sold it for enough to pay for every bit of maintenance, fuel, insurance for the 4 years! In the last 20+ years I've never had an automotive "deal" come even remotely close. So that's a positive experience with a modded car: Use of a 'vette for 4 years that everyone lusted after.

What's key here is that I didn't buy it new, didn't pay for the mods, and then try to sell it a few years later. My buddy did with his '96 Cobra, and the dealer (who I bought my 'stang, Lightning, Focus & E150 from) specifically asked for the original parts when he traded to a '98 Cobra. They gave him book & handed him back his box of parts. Everything: Panhard rod, shocks, blower, everything. (So think about THAT- some used rides might have been modded & later unmodded!)

So I weigh in this way:

- If you think you're trading for an '06, change the upper pulley only, play with the Zaino's kit & enjoy the hell out of it while you have it. Change the pulley back before you get that trade-in appraisal... It's still gonna cost you $5K+/yr to own it, so use it. Consider it your rolling Disney vacation.

- Or in the alternate, do anything you want to it, but don't trade it. Keep it. Become your own buyer for your used car. You know what's been done better than anyone else. Your used car may be the best deal you ever get, if you think about it. Why did you take the depreciation hit to make it available to someone else (as in my Corvette experience)? I offer this because I have my modded Chrome Yellow '95 GT 'vert with 4,300 miles on it that 99.99% of the population asks me "did you just get it?" when at the pumps. They don't say "Dude, that thing is such a load compared to an '03 Cobra", which is true, but TO ME, I love taking it out & it's still "new" to me. Someone just recently bought a black '82 GT & was thrilled with it. So consider, the longer you keep it the rarer it gets & the less the cost/year. Consider it "amortizing the depreciation", or what I do: An excuse to not have to give up Toy A for Toy B. I guess what I'm saying here is if you're OK with throwing mod money away on the basis that "it's a hobby", then why not just keep the car? Wouldn't a clean, sweet '03 Cobra in '12 be cool? I wouldn't throw it out of the garage, and it ain't like '12's are going to do 9's & pull 2 g's off the showroom floor...

Just some things to think about.

[dennish]

Hey Waltman...did you ever at least get a drop in K&N air filter? I remember suggesting that to you. I'm just wondering.

I'm liking 5.0 guys' Idea about keeping it. So I get another one. Maybe I should just get busy paying this one off before then.

[Mike Kievit]

I look at it this way. The mods I install are for my value and enjoyment. If I have to sell the car, then I hope the added parts will aid in the sale of the car. Don't try and hide anything. What goes around will eventually come around. Someone is going to see the car and remark about it to the new owner.....

In my case I have 44K on the ODO. Not going to get much anyway.

[helga123]

It's obvious we've all thought a lot about this.

Seems like buy-mod-sell is an expensive wild card, whereas buy-mod-use & buy-mod-keep is where the value is.

One thing I didn't see touched on is: What is the REAL difference @ time of trade?

I think it's more in our heads that in reality. I bet if you take an '03 Cobra that's low mileage/no snow/no dings perfect & trade it in on an '06 you wouldn't get $1500 more for it than one you drove the hell out of, detailed @ the end & traded.

In other words, the day you bought you signed up for the depreciation (the big hit), so using it (the smaller hit) is where the value really is.


This thread has convinced me I should just quietly wait 2 years for a garage queen '03 Cobra I can buy for less than I paid for my Focus... That's value, no?

[Mike Kievit]

A garage queen will generally be 8 to 10K less than the first sale.

Supply and demand.

[Waltman]

Originally posted by dennish
Hey Waltman...did you ever at least get a drop in K&N air filter? I remember suggesting that to you. I'm just wondering.


I am, I am. Problem is, if i do that, next thing will be the exhaust (Borla Stinger), densecharger, pulleys, chip, subframe connectors, larger tires/wheels, etc.:D

[vger]

helga123 you do have a way with words. What you said is soo true.

[dennish]

Waltman, your not going to do anything else just because of a K&N. Part with the bucks and FREAK OUT! It's amazing. Your engine may die out once in the first five minutes but that's all mine did. It had to teach itself how to deal with more air I guess, but the pull from 3-5000 is amazing, and this is not a dangerous thing to do by any means, I truly believe this, and besides, I can't wait for you to see what it does.

Come to the dark side Waltman, you won't get crazy, just happy, and I swear you'll love it. So will your Cobra.

You have to love Ford for giving us a car that will respond SSSOOOO WWWEELLLL to a simple air filter and cat back change.

I'm gonna put my factory exhaust back on just to prove to myself that the cat back had nothing to do with my ET's at the strip. All I needed to do was learn how to drive.
I don't like my FRP500 system, it droans like **** at 1750-2100 which just happens to be around 65MPH in sixth. I'm going to get the flowmasters because that's the sound I love. I finaly met a guy who has an 02 and all he did was put on a flowmaster cat back and I like that sound.

[Mgrad92]

As a buyer, I would definitely shy away from a highly modified car unless I knew the owner personally. There are just too many hacks out there who make modifications so they can abuse their cars. Personally , if I wanted to buy a used car for racing, I would buy the typical grandmother 4 or 6 cyl. car and make my modifications from there.
As for my 5.0, I've got a kenny brown cage, strut tower brace, K-member brace and rear shock tower brace. At first I worried about potential re-sale problems of instaling these items. But if I wanted the car to last, these mods had to be done.
A little further down the line, I made the decision to turn the car into my toy. To hell with resale value. At that point it became very easy to modify the car. A/C?- Gone. Back Seat?- Gone. Stock Seats?- Gone.
In the end, I have more fun with a car that's done just the way I want it.
Eventually I'll sell the car. Maybe I'll get a good price, maybe I won't. But the value of the car is the pleasure you get out of it while you own it.

[Mike Kievit]

"I have more fun with a car that's done just the way I want it."

Well said Mgrad92

[helga123]

Me again, another comment...

I think it's really important that the quality of any mod be absolutely top shelf, perfect, beyond reproach, magazine quality, done like it was being circulated worldwide as the only sample of your work that anyone would ever judge your skills on, etc., etc..

Everything, including prep work, hardware used, wire lengths & dressing, weld beads, priming & blending, cable tie spacing, everything, must be equal to or better than what was there previously & look like it came that way.

I'm throwing this out for 2 reasons:

1) The general suspicion you're all voicing has to be met with total comfort when you examine the mod closely. In this case the quality MUST speak for itself, and suspicion must turn to admiration & appreciation, therefore value & ultimately $ back.

2) I have never installed anything on a car that didn't take me 5X as long as it seemed like it should, (I really never cared how long it took to do it, what tools I had to buy, what else it leads me to perfect while I was there, whatever). For whatever reason, prior to this thread, I felt like I only did this for me, but always did the work "like someone was looking over my shoulder" and sitting in judgement. Now I feel maybe others truly care about the quality of the mod.

So that's it. "Anything worth doing is worth doing right" understates it. Instead it should be "do the mod like your life, reputation, & financial future" depend on it.

I say the right mods, done tastefully & perfectly can add value. If the total package is sweet, people will get an expensive jones for your ride.

**My crew @ work gets job offers from time to time & I tell them that it's a sign they're standing out amongst the herd by kicking ass & doing their job well (and it's also why I have to overpay them...) I feel the same applies to cars. If you get favorable comments on your ride, including "Hey, if you're ever thinking of parting with this, can you give me a call?" and it's a serious inquiry with a business card or phone number being forwarded, you know your work kicks ass.

So on mods, kick ass. Do your own personal best to give Chip Foose a run for his money, even if it's only a shifter install. Quality Rules!!

[dennish]

Good point. I would only get it done right, and so far I'm going to finish what I started. It's a long time before there will be an 06 sittn on a lot at the end of the month just waiting for me to PICK OFF! That's the only way I'll buy one next time.

Hey, for what it's worth, there's a 04 mysticrome at the dealer I bought from with a discounted price, blah blah blah....OOOHHH I want it bad. I was thinking of just buying it and selling mine outright, BUT....my wife would never understand that one. I saw one at the autoshow and I must say that color shifting is way cooler than the last time. Oh well, I ate dinner and forgot all about it. You know what's really driving me nuts here (besides my wife's chest) is that stupid TICK!!! Man I hate that fear. I'm just gonna have to get over it and get it set up for service.

[dennish]

Now that it's 08, and 03-04 Cobra's are selling at real nice high numbers I have to point out that I will get a piece of my mod money back. I'd say about 20% especially since what I did was mild and reinforcing as apposed to stupid decals and stuff or 700+HP.

Twin screw cars sell well, and you save a bundle, but they are far and few between.

[vger]

Are you thinking of selling now?

[waltman98]

Yes it's 2008 and our cars seem to be holding their value. Mine still under 32K miles and running great. Did some "upgrades" and that's how I like it. I can't believe it's amost 5 and a half years since I bought mine. Still get compliments for it. However, I'm pondering the possibility of selling

The new M3 is very tempting with over 400 HP, wheel paddles and V8 power, have to see it and hear it. And just today they just announced the new Challenger, which looks very nice like the old muscle cars at around $38K. Oh well time will tell.

[marcobra]

... The new M3 is very tempting with over 400 HP, ... .
Yes, newer performance cars keep getting better and better. I have to say, however, the 03/04 Croba style and power has kept up with the best of them over the years. Many a times I've been asked "is that an '07?"

[Screamin04Cobra]

Well said Mgrad92.
We all bought these cars to have FUN!! So enjoy your ride as you like it!! In my opinion , the only way to get more value; as we all have seen on Barret-Jackson is to buy it. Gift wrap it , put it away and forget about it for maybe thirty years and hopefully there is someone out there that really wants it and there you have it. But is that the reason you bought this car in the first place, to look at it under cover. Maybe, maybe not. Whatever the reason you bought these cars, bottomline ; HAVE FUN WITH THEM!!!
Just one mans opinion!

[CobraKurt]

"Just my $0.02." Guys in the New England club have sold their modified Cobras - and I believe they've gotten "stock value" for them. So - don't modify it, and expect to get ANY "value" for the mods. Several have complained that if trading them in - the dealer wants the vehicle "return to stock condition" (if they saved the OEM parts).