I've got a Fabia vrs which I'm really tempted to modify, but something that's holding me back slightly is its value if its modified when I come to sell it (probably wont be for quite a few years yet)

I'd think that it would appeal to a much smaller market. would you be happy to buy a modified car?

Or is it best/fairly easy to revert it back to stock before you come to sell it?

As someone who has sold modified cars the main issue is that you seriously restrict the size of the market you are selling to.

Admittedly, it will appeal more to a buyer that want's exactly what you have done. But as the target market is much smaller you'll get noticably less interest in the car.

So you'll be relying on someone wanting a modified car and buying one to save the cost of the work, most of which you'll lose as the price will not raise by much over a standard car.

I would personally revert the car to standard unless you have got quite heavy with the mods, then sell the mods seperately.

I'm debating with this but when I sell and if I do decide to modify it will be going back to standard. Car retains it's true value and many mods can be sold on

Definately appeal to a smaller market when selling a modified car, and probably not get back any of what you've put into it.

Would I be happy to buy a modified car? Honestly can't say, would depend on the car and situation. Would have no issues buying a car that was sold on here if that's what I was looking for, but would avoid some 'ebay specials' .

Ease of reverting to stock depends on how much you modify.

Put it back to standard when selling. Keep all the original parts up in your loft for when the day comes. I've bought modified cars in the past and never paid more than the going rate for that type of car but then I know what I'm looking for.

The modifications I'd be looking to make over time are a forge intercooler, APR switchabme remap, decent brake pads, possibly lowering springs, and a RARB. Bit more power, and couple of things to help the handling.

So, a couple of those bits are sellable. Would you get the map removed all together, or leave it on? I personally probably wouldn't buy a modified car unless it was maybe off someone on here like someone else said. Partly because I like to change the car myself, and partly because its difficult to know how the car has been treated, but I guess you could say that regardless of whether it had been modified or not.

As someone who has no interest in a modified car, I would pay less than I would for an unmodified car.

I wouldn't buy a modified car generally speaking. To me it suggests the car has been ragged by the owner. When I was looking to buy my Octavia I didn't buy one car just because it had an aftermarket back-box...

That said, a switchable ECU remap isn't something that would put me off.

I wouldn't buy a modified car generally speaking. To me it suggests the car has been ragged by the owner. When I was looking to buy my Octavia I didn't buy one car just because it had an aftermarket back-box...

That said, a switchable ECU remap isn't something that would put me off.

I see where your coming from there, but personally if it's a car off a forum, where there is a decent build thread in place and I can read that the work has been done to a high standard and see all the attention to detail gone into the car and I can tell the car seems to be well looked after in regards to being cleaned and serviced I would be more tempted to buy that example of a car than somebody who doesn't take pride/passion in there car and just see it as a means from A-B

Modifications do not add any value whatsoever!

There is a complete dreamer over on ed38 wanting 10grand for a mk1 audi s3 cause its been modified!

Nearly a year on still no sale!

Case in point was my Harley (stop laughing at the back).

I spent more than the original OTR price of the bike on parts to modify it, in effect more than doubling the cost of the bike. And that didn't include the many hours put into researching the optimum parts and the build itself. The bike was immaculate and had all the really desireable tuning and performance parts.

When I sold it, it sold for what i would have got for it if it were completely stock.

The right answer would have been to put it back to stock and sell the bits, which is what you promise yourself you'll do when you're buying the bits but all of a sudden isn't top priority when the time comes to buy something new and shiny.

Bossfox's post is spot on.

I sold my hybrid Fab through this site, which took some time, despite being very well modified and being a great complete car. What I mean by this is that all the right modifications had been done- bigger turbo, bigger intercooler, uprated clutch, uprated brakes, custom remap and so on (all branded items and or from reputable companies). The car needed nothing and was well priced, but took awhile to sell.

I bought that Fab and my current Fab through this site having picked up plenty of knowledge on the relevant modification stages and having looked into my particular choice of car (common problems to look for etc). As long as there is someone who wants a car with the mods you've added, you'll sell it. Unfortunately some people hear alarm bells when the word 'modified' is mentioned, with stereotypes of the owner and how the car is driven often clouding their appraisal of what could be an awesome vehicle.

For me, if you will enjoy what modifications you plan to put on the car and it enhances your driving experience, do it. Just remember you won't increase the overall value in terms of resale (probably the opposite); but if you plan on keeping the car for a fair old while yet and you can sell a few mods on if need be then in my mind it is money well spent.

I absolutely would buy another modified vehicle, as bargains can be had, you just need to know what to look for.

Thanks a lot for everyone's input. I know modifying a car very rarely adds any value. My previous car I had I modified but wish I hadn't cause I probably did lose money on it come sell time and could do with all the money I spent on that car for this one! But it was still fun.

But I don't plan to go crazy with mods, and I've learnt a lot from this site. The reason i asked was that i was just curious and really wanted to make sure I know as much as possible before I do anything

And for the time being, it's all about enjoying the car and don't need to think about selling it for a long time yet!

Cheers.

Edited 27 November, 201213 yr by MillsyVRS

I see where your coming from there, but personally if it's a car off a forum, where there is a decent build thread in place and I can read that the work has been done to a high standard and see all the attention to detail gone into the car and I can tell the car seems to be well looked after in regards to being cleaned and serviced I would be more tempted to buy that example of a car than somebody who doesn't take pride/passion in there car and just see it as a means from A-B

Fair point, in that regard I would consider it.

I think the best money you can spend on a Fabia MK 2 vRS to assist in the sale of it,

is buying a Skoda Extended Warranty when you can.

Great cars when they are good ones without the engine problems 'some are having' or once those problems are fixed,

but even within Original Manufacturers Warranty, there are a real bargain second hand vehicles available now.

I wait with interest to see how much standard ones are selling for once the Skoda Warranty Expires,

which will be pretty soon on the first 10 plate ex Demo cars.

george

As someone who has sold modified cars the main issue is that you seriously restrict the size of the market you are selling to.

Admittedly, it will appeal more to a buyer that want's exactly what you have done. But as the target market is much smaller you'll get noticably less interest in the car.

So you'll be relying on someone wanting a modified car and buying one to save the cost of the work, most of which you'll lose as the price will not raise by much over a standard car.

I would personally revert the car to standard unless you have got quite heavy with the mods, then sell the mods seperately.

I can't add anything better so i won't try///what BossFox said is bang on the money!

I can't add anything better so i won't try///what BossFox said is bang on the money!

The only bit I'd change would be "So you'll be relying on someone wanting a car that's been modified in the way that you've modified it, and buying yours to save the cost of the work"

I would actually not change that, in this particular example,

if i was looking for a car of the type that BossFox was selling,

i might well consider one he had modified over a standard one, which i wanted to modify myself

in the almost certain knowledge it had been done correctly by the person selling.

Thats where sales/buys through Forums & Clubs can be very different from buying on the open market & from people

that you have not a clue about.

No hard and fast rules, lots of variables on age, value & types of vehicles,

but generally i believe a Modified Vehicle puts more people off.You do always only need one buyer giving you the price you want.

george

Ah, I wasn't clear.

It was more that the mods would only attract a buyer if they were the mods that the buyer was planning to do anyway.

You're right that someone planning to mod might not be put off by a modded car

Also, could the cost of reverting things back to standard maybe offset any extra money you may get from selling it as stock instead of modified?

Obviously it depends how much you've done to the car, and how much your able to do by yourself. In my case, I'd have to pay someone to swap round the new springs and intercooler with the old. Just in my case.

Would you inform someone interested in the car that it had previously been modified? Because to be honest even if the car was stock, and I was told it had been modified, it might put me off slightly. But best to be honest of course.

I think it can have a huge different is what parts you fit. Personally i would not be put off by a modified car but if i got there and it had JOM coilovers, a tuning box from eBay or momo alloys then id be walking away.

Mine has KW V1's which are not cheap my any stretch of the imagination and then theres the remap which is done by a reputable well known dealer. It still have the FSSH, modified does not mean boy racer and people who think this is very narrow minded. Although yes to the original point if i was to sell mine i think id see what the customer wants as i have all the OEM parts to go