Cost Effectiveness of Modifying Your Car
 

Howdy All,


:offtopic:

Just some evening musings that I probably shouldn't be doing. I've been keeping a list of all the modifications I've done, where I bought them, what they cost me, and then of course a list of the same things for what I plan to do. I know what I paid for my car (which I suppose my image below will reveal), and together I can very easily compare modifying my car vs buying a more powerful car.


Not that this should be a shock to anyone, but the result isn't very much in favor of modifying your car, although it comes out more favorably than I expected. This is pretty unscientific, and without making this post incredibly long the cost listed for "expected" is based upon a street-legal build with top of the line components and all relevant supporting mods to maintain as much reliability as possible with relatively reasonably mild FI.


https://i.imgur.com/WmZV7Et.png



Also, apparently a 2019 Corvette ZR1 is a pretty darn good deal if you have the dosh to buy one.


Also, it might look way more favorable for modifying your car if I priced in a built LS swap which might get you close to Corvette power for less than Corvette money and a whole lot less than Corvette weight.



Back to your regularly scheduled programmings :)

I want that excel spreadsheet on my desk by Tuesday!

Also important note, the results for the BRZ/FRS/86 would be more favorable had you used the manual for a baseline rather than AT

Hell, I never really look at build costs.

I just buy a car I want and go from there.

I only generally buy things that make it go, stop or handle, so I can "feel" where my money went.

As long as the "Minister of War and Finances" is none the wiser I'm good, if the spending crosses her desk...then it's just another claim of begging for forgiveness with shiny baubles.

I googled the price of a '18 Cayman GTS, it says about $80k . That sounds like more so the price of a Cayman S with some options( $75-80k with options). The last I checked 1-2 years ago, a GTS with PDK was closer to $90k , realistic. The addition of PDK is about $3500 more dollars.

How about adding the dimension of Torque to your chart? That's the real gumption with getting your car up to speed.

Piff, you want cheap power to weight the answer is always a Turbo Miata.

Or a Lotus Exige if you don't want to spent too much but got enough to throw around.

yes $ for $ you can just buy a corvette and already have out the box specs. Thing is most people don't have $100K to throw down on a new car. But buying a $30K car allows you to build it over time as your finances allow. The mods wont add any value but most of us do it for the love of building something great

If all you want is.cheap power a camaro ss or 5.0 is the way to go. but I didn't want that. a used boxer might have been a better deal but I didn't really have the cash for that

I buy, and modify what I want. I have no desire for a Corvette :)

To be clear, I'm not making any particular argument here. I went to a dealer and bought a brand new (4 miles on the odo) 2017 BRZ and had my first modification installed before it made it through it's 1000 mile break-in period. I like the idea of taking something superb and making it even better, or at least more fitted to me as a person so that it's uniquely mine.


If I'd wanted to be fair to most people who modify their cars for performance I would have started with a used 2014 FRS or NB Miata and ended with an LS swap. The PWR numbers and $/PWR would be very favorable indeed.


Most people aren't dumb like me and buy a new car to modify. But I wanted to make sure anything and everything that broke was 100% my fault or the manufacturer's fault, not a previous owner. There's a value all its own of having been the only person to let your ass sweat into the upholstery on the track during high summer in Texas ;)

imo it does not make sense to buy a new car and modify it for forced induction. A used 86 + forced induction can be done for as little as $20k which is a lot more appealing than $35k which can get you a decent condition cayman or something like an STI or Focus RS.

FA20s already have enough possible problems. If I wanted a fat boat I'd rather have a Camaro than ringlands and head gaskets. The only other car I would have bought besides the BRZ is a 4C (not daily drivable) or a Miata (great choice). A CPO Cayman though is a /great/ choice and absolutely could have been a route I'd gone.

Decide what kind you of person you are. Do you just want to have the finished product or do you like the process of fixing/making things your own. I know I am a process guy. Whether it’s modding mountain bikes, cars, guns, fishing gear, kayakks, my house, garage, shed, you name it. I love the process. Sometimes things work out other times they don’t. But I learn and always feel good that I did it myself. Other people just save their money and buy exactly what they want all decked out no need to mod. Neither is wrong just figure out what you want. I don’t even consider the money factor, other than trying to find the best deals for stuff. Sure I would love a new Cayman, but for 90k I could build so many cars, bike and toys. I’ll have one someday, but it will be used and I will mod it to hell for no reason. It’s what makes me happy.

Been there, modded that, it was fun but I don't think it's worth it. I have way more fun in my mostly-stock 2017 than I ever did in my modded '13. The '13 was better-looking, though; I'll give it that!

I'm tempted sometimes to do a strict performance build (F.I., full suspension, major weight reduction, etc), but when I add up the costs it makes more sense to me to buy a 10-yr-old Porsche or Aston Martin... what would you rather drive? It's all up to you. I certainly appreciate the ones that are modded right. The great thing about this car is that there's so much aftermarket it's like a blank canvas!