GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Most people don't modify their vehicles at all and when they buy used ones usually want stock. Buyers have no problem with small changes the previous owners may have made, but I would think major modifications might result in the sale not occurring. Have you older guys and gals who've done major mods to your vehicles over the years run into any trouble when you decided to trade in or sell? You younger folks probably haven't had much experience with this, but chime in here if you want.

I've never sold a modified vehicle, but based on what the guys on my local Mustang forum have done, they usually remove all the mods they can and replace whatever parts with stock when they are trading a car in. They can get way more for the stock car and selling the parts separately than trading the modified car at a dealer. Now if they are selling it themselves, they usually start out trying to sell it complete. But often they end up selling a lot of the parts before the car itself sells.

I can relate to this post. As Houston pointed out, depending on the mod it could prohibit the vehicle from being sold. Now in my case, it has always been the opposite. One good example was when I owned an '87 Ford Escort 2-dr. It was pretty much loaded (air, cruise .... that's about it) for a small economical car at that time. However what it was missing was keyless remote, power windows & locks which I willingly gave it (out of older GM vehicles ) and when finished you could never tell that it was an add on after the car was produced. This more than sealed a deal when I went to sell it a few years later. Basically if it is a mod that truly doesn't look like a mod, then it will benefit the car & future sale. Otherwise people will turn their heads & look elsewhere

On my Ford Expedition, I had a Pioneer top of the line touch screen DVD/Navigation/Bluetooth system put in on my dashboard to replace my faulty radio that came stock on the SUV. The dealer told me that they do not like mods and installs like that if they do not look stock. They actually deducted a little from my value of the car for that reason, even though what I put in the car was far better and superior to stock.

Even though I'm young I wouldn't want to buy a car with any modification, unless of course, was stock looking. I also wouldn't mind upgrades from a higher trim of the same car (i.e. Leather or navigation added). I also don't like most mod's because you can tell they aren't stock, which makes them look cheap; though stock looking add ons are okay with me.

I certainly agree with stock looking mods as they can increase the value. Everything I've done to my Mustang was stock on some later year model Mustang. Cobra brakes, 5 lug Bullitt wheels, GT spoiler on the exterior, and black leather interior from a later model including 2002 GT leather seats.

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trb wrote:I certainly agree with stock looking mods as they can increase the value. Everything I've done to my Mustang was stock on some later year model Mustang. Cobra brakes, 5 lug Bullitt wheels, GT spoiler on the exterior, and black leather interior from a later model including 2002 GT leather seats.

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Awesome. I too had a mustang. A 2000 V6. The only "mod" I did was the headlamps. I upgraded them to the OEM smoked 01-04 style and added silver stars. That was my first car so I didn't really know many mods that I could've done. I also added the black lettering for the rear bumper "MUSTANG".

trb wrote:I've never sold a modified vehicle, but based on what the guys on my local Mustang forum have done, they usually remove all the mods they can and replace whatever parts with stock when they are trading a car in. They can get way more for the stock car and selling the parts separately than trading the modified car at a dealer. Now if they are selling it themselves, they usually start out trying to sell it complete. But often they end up selling a lot of the parts before the car itself sells.

I totally agree with this. This is what typically happens on The J-Body Organization (Chevy Cavalier & Pontiac Sunfire) website I am also a member of.

I had a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire GT Coupe that I had done quite a bit to (lowered, wheels and tires, full header back exhaust, etc.). When I decided to sell it (biggest mistake ever ), I had another Sunfire (2002 Sunfire SE Sedan), so I pretty much swapped all the aftermarket parts to the Sedan before I sold the Coupe. When the Sedan got traded in for the Vibe, I removed all the aftermarket parts and sold them which gave me money for the Vibe which was nice. Typically you will make more money selling any parts, especially aftermarket, as opposed to leaving them on the vehicle. Plus, people tend to shy away from modified vehicles thinking that they have been abused by the previous owner. I personally wouldn't buy a heavily modified vehicle. If it had something simple like wheels and tires, that wouldn't necessarily deter me, but if it had something more, say it was lowered, I would stay far away from it.

Since I did stuff like paint interior pieces (aka stuff that can't be reversed) I'm pretty much planning on driving this thing into the ground, unless something bad happens in the meantime. But I've got all the stock pieces of the stuff I've upgraded (intake, headunit, etc.) so that I can replace them when I do decide to get rid of this car, and sell them.

Just like ponta, I too have done some irreversable things such as painting interior trim and herculining the whole cargo area. Replaced the guage cluster with blue LEDs. I can change that back to stock, but I would have to find out what the original colors are haha. I knew though that when I bought the Vibe and started modding it that I was basically going to drive it till it falls apart. When I modded my Camaro's, they were performance side that helped with the sale. Little scuff here, but K&N intake here, it balanced out.

I plan on driving mine into the grave as well. I do keep every OEM part aside, so that if I ever decide to get a new car I can use it, but I might still use the Vibe then as a winter car or whatever. It's paid off so there's no reason not to.

Sadly, I have to agree with the general sentiment here. My Vibe will be lightly modified and the only visible non-stock item will be the lowering springs. I probably will sell it private party some day rather than trade it in and probably won't even mention it is lowered unless I'm selling it to a hot rodder or a kid.

I think Carrie hit it on the head - heavy performance modifications indicate the car has been, um...driven with a bit of abandon. (However, the biggest give away to that on my Vibe is the rounded outside shoulders of the front tires - I am overdue for a rotation).

As for me, I would be nervous about engine chips, but would welcome a car that already had the SRI and lowering springs installed (that is, unless it appeared I was buying it from someone that I suspected was abusing it). Aftermarket wheels would not scare me - though they are so individual in taste it would be doubtful that I'd really like them so they also might detract from the value.