RE: Tuning is a waste of money: Tell Me I'm Wrong
Discussion
I've really enjoyed modifying my old Forester.
I've modified my car with no worry about resale, because its of very low value anyway. I've not done it because I can't afford a new/better car, I just like this one and I like the fact that its 9 years old and does everything I need it too. I modified it because I wanted to see what it would be like with over 300bhp rather than the 208 it came with. Its turned out to be more than a little bit awesome in my opinion.
I have a buddy who has an old MX5 that is of no value now - it will likely be my first turbo project. Its fun, why not?
Edit - I have also started improving my TVR to see what it will be like if it really did come with 320bhp!
I've modified my car with no worry about resale, because its of very low value anyway. I've not done it because I can't afford a new/better car, I just like this one and I like the fact that its 9 years old and does everything I need it too. I modified it because I wanted to see what it would be like with over 300bhp rather than the 208 it came with. Its turned out to be more than a little bit awesome in my opinion.
I have a buddy who has an old MX5 that is of no value now - it will likely be my first turbo project. Its fun, why not?
Edit - I have also started improving my TVR to see what it will be like if it really did come with 320bhp!
Edited by yellowstreak on Tuesday 1st April 15:59
e. 
Haha, I just saw this advertised on a YouTube advert.
http://www.pedalbox.com/en
Oh dear...
£175 for what is essentially another resistor in a box device that is just making the throttle more or less sharp.
Or you could just move your foot further or less far over a given amount of time... et voila, same end effect but for free
God some people are stupid. Oh how easy it must be to make money in the automotive world if you have no morals about selling snake oil.
Dave
http://www.pedalbox.com/en
Oh dear...
£175 for what is essentially another resistor in a box device that is just making the throttle more or less sharp.
Or you could just move your foot further or less far over a given amount of time... et voila, same end effect but for free
God some people are stupid. Oh how easy it must be to make money in the automotive world if you have no morals about selling snake oil.
Dave
There's definitely a line where you encroach on madness, such as spending £100k (+/- cost of car) on an EVO 8, which today is worth what...£7k? Put that into perspective and that's either some serious Porsche, GTR, Lambo (second hand) etc etc money plus some decent holidays and home renovations. An addiction in that case it most certainly is.
So, what's a sensible percentage to spend modifying a car v.s. its worth?
I'm not sure there's a straight answer as a car that's worth nothing (say any of the classic Japanese greats with a balls'd engine) is definitely worth spending maybe 500% the current value (going on an approx £1500 value) to fix it up and keep for a long long time for your own enjoyment.
I think the most financially sensible way to look at it is by weighing up how much money you'd need to put towards a new car (factory standard) that is in the next bracket up (or more, to meet your desires) v.s how much it'd cost to turn your current car into the drivers car that you desire, if it's possible. For example, say you want your £13k 335i to reach the levels of performance that a V8 M3 has, and a decent M3 at that, you'd probably be looking at putting another £13k+ towards the purchase however, that 335i could be modified (non-inclusive of V8 and bodywork) to match or trump the M3 in both engine and suspension performance for perhaps £7k. If this was a car that you had planned to keep a while then I'd fully recommend the modifications.
Before now I've probably in at around £3.5k on a car was worth then £17k, so that's around 21% of the value for the peace of mind that the car breathed easier and handled a little better. It brought me much enjoyment to drive and the way I looked at it was that I couldn't spend £3.5k on top of the resale value of that car to purchase another car that would give me as much pleasure or take it to the next step.
So, what's a sensible percentage to spend modifying a car v.s. its worth?
I'm not sure there's a straight answer as a car that's worth nothing (say any of the classic Japanese greats with a balls'd engine) is definitely worth spending maybe 500% the current value (going on an approx £1500 value) to fix it up and keep for a long long time for your own enjoyment.
I think the most financially sensible way to look at it is by weighing up how much money you'd need to put towards a new car (factory standard) that is in the next bracket up (or more, to meet your desires) v.s how much it'd cost to turn your current car into the drivers car that you desire, if it's possible. For example, say you want your £13k 335i to reach the levels of performance that a V8 M3 has, and a decent M3 at that, you'd probably be looking at putting another £13k+ towards the purchase however, that 335i could be modified (non-inclusive of V8 and bodywork) to match or trump the M3 in both engine and suspension performance for perhaps £7k. If this was a car that you had planned to keep a while then I'd fully recommend the modifications.
Before now I've probably in at around £3.5k on a car was worth then £17k, so that's around 21% of the value for the peace of mind that the car breathed easier and handled a little better. It brought me much enjoyment to drive and the way I looked at it was that I couldn't spend £3.5k on top of the resale value of that car to purchase another car that would give me as much pleasure or take it to the next step.
Edited by 1Addicted on Wednesday 2nd April 19:01
I've spent way, way more on modifying my old e21 BMW than it will ever be worth, were I to sell it. That said, not a penny of it feels wasted to me and as it's my car and my money, that's all that matters.
Obviously if my partner is reading this, that's a complete lie and it hasn't cost me a penny my dear.
Obviously if my partner is reading this, that's a complete lie and it hasn't cost me a penny my dear.
Match the mod to the car:
Hyundai coupe V6s have a restrictive air intake- a cheap induction kit makes a massive difference.
Turbo cars respond well to remaps.
MGFs benefit massively from MG montego throttle bodies (trust me!
)
Et sodding cetera.
It's easy to waste money on ill-conceived changes but a few cheap alterations can make a car very much better than standard.
Hyundai coupe V6s have a restrictive air intake- a cheap induction kit makes a massive difference.
Turbo cars respond well to remaps.
MGFs benefit massively from MG montego throttle bodies (trust me!
)Et sodding cetera.
It's easy to waste money on ill-conceived changes but a few cheap alterations can make a car very much better than standard.
Rovinghawk said:
It's easy to waste money on ill-conceived changes but a few cheap alterations can make a car very much better than standard.
Exactly.There are oodles of good mods that on certain cars the future market buyers will pay you more for having had done!
There is dumbass tuning, and smart tuning. Unfortunately it seems journalists generally can't differentiate between the two, just like power and torque figures
Some days it feels like I have one of the last OEM VXRs around.
Instead I've poured money into a different hobby, photography. One new bit of kit always leads to the next upgrade, and then 2 other things need upgraded to match. Money pit... But hobbies generally are.
If you are spending money on your car in exchange for many hours of enjoyment modding it, then it's just another hobby. No you won't get your money back, but neither do photographers, mountain bikers, sailors, stamp collectors or most other hobbies.
If you are spending money on it to make it better and worth more then you are kidding yourself.
Instead I've poured money into a different hobby, photography. One new bit of kit always leads to the next upgrade, and then 2 other things need upgraded to match. Money pit... But hobbies generally are.
If you are spending money on your car in exchange for many hours of enjoyment modding it, then it's just another hobby. No you won't get your money back, but neither do photographers, mountain bikers, sailors, stamp collectors or most other hobbies.
If you are spending money on it to make it better and worth more then you are kidding yourself.
e21Mark said:
I've spent way, way more on modifying my old e21 BMW than it will ever be worth, were I to sell it. That said, not a penny of it feels wasted to me and as it's my car and my money, that's all that matters.
I completely agree. The modifications on my E30 probably outweigh the current value. However some of those parts would have needed replacing at some time anyway like the exhaust. It now has a stainless steel exhaust which will probably outlive the rest of the car.I have bought things to put in/on my car that serves no purpose. An original fire extinguisher for £50 that fits to the drivers seat, probably does not work (I have a fresh on in the boot for emergencies) but I like it and am happy with the purchase. Its a bit like a print that I bought for £35, with framing that will probably be over £50, it will sit on the wall and likewise just be something I look at and like.
The Hartge graphics down each side, purchase and fitting easy over £100.
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