Buying used with mods
 

So I'm purchasing a Series.Blue Brz, but the car has a decent bit of mods (coils, full exhaust, cosmetic) priced out about $4k into the car. What would you consider the value of the car with the mods if the owner is not willing to part out. Blue book value of the car is around 22k. What would be considered a reasonable offer and reasonable buying price?

Unless the car is a show quality complete build, mods don't really add to the value. The current owner would make more money converting it back to as close to stock as possible and selling the mods separately. You can always argue that while it's nice that he modded it, you're just going to have to redo them with the things that you want, so why should you pay for his mods.

if the owner thinks he can increase the price to make a profit just because he put mods on it then he is a fool

what is his asking price?

$25k

what is the current mileage on it and how much was the car brand new?

It's a 2015 with 27k miles on it, not sure of how much he paid for it but the msrp on one is 29.5k new

lol, mods generally decrease value at worst and do not add any value at best. I wouldn't pay 25k for that.

what kind of condition would say the car is in? does it just have normal wear and tear

I'm arranging to see the car in person, but by the looks of it he's kept it in great condition, half his Facebook feed is him washing it and I know it's garage kept. I assume il find some flaws here and there but I'm not expecting anything more than a couple blemishes.

25K in my opinion seems to much... i would try to push him to the KBB value

Excellent book value is $21,741. Excellent with 27,000 miles, not likely
Good condition more likely and the book is $20,840

Add nothing for the mods, I wouldn't pay more than $20,500. The mods actually decrease the value of the car slightly. As another poster stated the car has more value if the owner returns it to stock, and sells the mods separately. $25,000 is way to high to pay.

Also keep in mind since this car has 27,000 miles it is a daily driver, and regardless of garage has been driven in all types of weather. Granted it appears you are in Florida so thankfully no salty winter.

I'd probably say right around 20-21 is the value.... 25K is high. You have to think, it is a "limited production" vehicle but it is ultimately a niche of a niche vehicle. Mods don't add value, and actually limit the amount of buyers. The vehicle has some miles, and great deals are out there to be had. At this point, seeing all the deals available, I wouldn't even consider a twin (unless new) if it had a "2" at the front of the price.

Used car value can be very regional so it is better to check local then asking people here that may give you very wrong opinions based on what the car would sell for in their area.
By the looks of things most of the guys are pretty close to the price in you area though. Anyplace from $20K to $22 K seems normal for Orlando. Being a series blue the price would probably be at the upper end of the scale though.
As already said the mods do not add value even if they are ones you would have done yourself. They should be thrown in or removed but I think you would have a tough time convincing the seller that they make the car less valuable.


http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...lando+FL-32803
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...do-d2134_L5167
http://www.edmunds.com/subaru/brz/for-sale/fl/orlando/

like others said mods dont add value but think about what mods are you going to do with vehicle. if something that you're going to do in future has it that vehicle, i would negotiate little. but if you're going to start fresh then tell him to remove that parts.

It really depends how you like the car when you drive it. If you like the mods, then maybe it is worth the full market price. Unless everything is unobtanium and super high end stuff there is simply no way the mods add value.

half the mods I would keep if they came with the car, but i wouldn't buy them if they didn't come with it. The only thing I would buy if it didnt come with it was the headers he has. its hard to find this car as it is, let alone one that is close to me. the closest stock series.blue is found is at a stealership 900+ miles away. i think for the most part the people who buy these cars, mod them. in the end, beggars cant be choosers, so i might just have to settle for the best/closest deal I could find.

Likely the owner bought the mods, didn't like how the car drove after, and decided to sell it off. At least, I've seen that before with people who went with coilovers and sold off their original suspension, couldn't handle the ride quality.

I've heard that same statement from a couple people in Florida about these vehicles being hard to find. Personally, if it would save me 5K on a vehicle, I'd rather spend 1200 bucks on a plane ticket and some gas and go get a perfect vehicle in another state and drive it home. The memories created alone are worth the adventure. There are so many deals out there for these cars it isn't even funny. The value depreciates quickly and they're just going to keep getting more available.

I wish it was as simple as me just wanting a Brz in general, I'm so picky that it's hard to find the exact car I want with the right price and the right mods/lack of mods. I'm just worried of "the one that got away" feeling of missing I good deal while still looking for an even better one. I've been searching for a month or so for this car and at what point do I just pay a little bit more so I can get the car and be done with it. I feel like il constantly be chasing a better deal rather that just driving it and enjoying it. But I'm defiantly not going to spend 25k on one, 23k max if it has what I'm looking for. I've gotten a couple offers asking 25-28k just because they have mods. Not worth it imo.

@MattTheGinge at that price point I'd just hold out and order a new one.

car with mods=minus price imho and for me.


i.e. FRS price 15k, but seller added custom intake+e85 kit+exhaust=20k.

I'd offer 10k.

That's my reasoning. It has stopped me from purchasing over 3 cars that later gave the buyer many problems.

Its your money, if you ran a ecu scan, took to mechanic, test drove and really want it, just buy it.

MY point of view is less radical and and goes like this. Modded car for me is a risk. Risk, that the owner fucked it up in some way. BUT it also can be a plus, if the mods are "right" for you. A lot of people do stuff to their cars beyond belief and that can indicate they don't relate to machines well. On the other hand, there are enthusiast who mods their cars in a way that clearly say "i know what I am doing", then, its great to know the previous owner cared.

If for example you have 20k car stock, and owner added BBK for 5k and full exhaust you want for another 5k, I have no reason to say that the car is worth 15, or even 20 and I would happy pay for the extras. If on other hand the car is slammed to death with mental wheels than I would not buy at all.

For series.blue a dealership might be your best bet. Cars.com was the site I found mine on. Some of these things just sit, and some dealerships are willing to make some deals. Some times the plane ticket and the long drive back are really worth it.

I ended up looking at more dealers, I found this one for 23.5k, however when I asked about any mods specifically the tail lights and exhaust they told me the Car has no aftermarket parts and that this is the stock series.blue, however from this picture it looks as if it has blacked out taillights and an aftermarket exhaust. Correct me if I'm wrong but that exhaust looks like an N1 style rather than stock.

The reverse light is aftermarket, the tail lights are either aftermarket or blacked out OEM (I can't tell), and the exhaust is aftermarket. It also has a lip kit on it. If it's a series.blue, I think they come with it. If it's a normal BRZ, that was added on.

nothing about that rear looks stock ..tail lights, reverse lights, exhaust

but looks good though

If you linked the dealer page/advertisement, we could probably find most mods before you go and look at it.


It is definitely modified, but the price is more reasonable, lol. Tinted tails, different reverse light / fourth brake light, and different catback.

This is the listing: http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/1A2045C4 It would be one thing if I could go see it but I'm in Orlando and this one is in Indiana so it would be me going up there to buy it if it's the right price. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to basically tell the dealer "no, you're wrong" when they try to tell me its stock haha

http://www.mcgonigalgm.com/VehicleDe...-IN/2835041003


No underhood shots.

Non-mobile link: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...ngId=438322628

That's a series.blue, and the brake calipers have also been painted. Someone else will have to say if the series.blue came with a red start button and black interior panels on the passenger dash and around the radio, but I know they don't come that way on the normal BRZ. If those are mods, then cool. I want a red start button.

Also, my BRZ has a VSC Sport button next to the traction control button, but this doesn't. I don't know if that's a series.blue thing or not.

Before making the trip, I would really want an engine bay shot. Mostly looking for header and camber plates.

They came with those pieces.

After finally convincing the sales lady that the car is in fact modded, this is the best response I get
"Ok Doing some research I found the taillights were smoked the exhaust and cold air intake was done a sport modification shop in Lafayette IN. I don't have much more information that that.+"
I feel like if you're trying to sell a car that's been for sale on your lot since early September. You should probably know what you're selling and not falsely advertise what you have. Maybe that's just me

It's a GM dealer; they don't know what they have. They know what their book tells them, and that's it.


Considering she mentioned the cold air intake, I would really want a picture of the engine bay before making the trip.

No doubt, I asked for engine bay and under car pictures, as well as a detailed list of non stock parts and where they were installed. Anytning they can't answer just provides leverage to me on lowering the price. In the end I don't necessarily care if it has a couple mods, I can always sell them and get what I want, but I don't necisarily feel like driving the car 1,100 miles in a weekend with stupid loud exhaust.

I had to double check cause the OP's description sounded familiar... haha

Yea I talked to you on Facebook about buying yours. This post was actually originally talking about the guy from Orlando selling his haha. I was going to go see it but he stopped responding to me when I asked to check it out.

haha figures. If I end up getting rid of mine I'll probably just going to trade it in after parting out

Im almost positive I know the original cars posting.... that guy was really upset about people questioning the price he was asking. I can't even find the listing anymore.

Funny, I actually considered buying this vehicle. I talked with the sales woman a little, never really had any good pictures at that point because it was a new trade in. She sent me some rainy day shots from her cellphone. It was a little closer to me than the one I actually ended up being in Fort Wayne IN. A few hundred miles away, but this one had far more miles on it. I decided to go with the lower miles. I ended up picking mine up for $24,500 with 9,000 Miles, clean tittle, Perrin Exhaust, Perrin Croasbrace, and some other goodies that I have in my ride thread. I felt like I got a somewhat fair deal for a Series.Blue with 9,000 miles. Was originally asking $25,300.

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She finally sent me pictures and this is all I got, one close up picture... I guess il just keep asking her for a list of parts because for all I know it has a full header back exhaust. I hate that I can't just go look at it in person. I might just make a stupid low offer and just move on and wait for something else so I don't have to deal with this dealer anymore.