Usually classic cars are worth more in their original, unmodified, form. In general, the more modifications that have been done, the less the car is worth as it ages.

Many people have done modifications to their S ranging from Turbochargers to changing the emblems. Some have done none. Many, myself included, have done minor mods like rear speakers and door speakers.

My question is this, if we manage to keep our S in reasonably good shape for the next 15 years, and it becomes the classic that we think it will, will our mods enhance or diminish the value.

I think that the least modified cars will be worth the most. What do you think?

 

Not disrespecting, so no flames, please, but I don't think the S2000 will become a collectors car. (And for what it's worth, my M Coupe won't either.) What it probably will do is become unique and memorable, much like the NSX, but are those considered collectable? Not really.

When you think about it, the cars that are being produced today don't really have the collectible-ness that the cars of the past had. Sure some Ferraris will continue to be some Ferraris and hold some of their value, but unless they build another F40, chances are it won't be too collectable. It's a lot easier for a $250,000 car to remain in high demand, but the true mark of a car's collectability is how it appreciates. Will the new Enzo appreciate? Probably not. Will a 1970 Hemi 'Cuda with Plum Crazy paint appreciate? Probably. But which one is selling at a multiple of it's original sticker price?

And as for accessories? Factory ones make a car more valuable. Get a '67 Camaro, and you're going to spend more on one with the Deluxe interior and console with gauge cluster. Rare factory packages (COPO comes to mind), and/or delete packages (read: factory lightweights) make a car more valuable. However, time-specific after-market accessories MIGHT do something to the value (e.g. wheels), much like (certain styles on certain cars) Cragars do fot the muscle-cars. Putting Rick's badges on it? Probably not. Turbos? Superchargers? Big effin' wings? Probably not.

So, enjoy your car. It's not an investment. However, it's probably depreciated less than a majority of our 401Ks, so you could have done worse.

 

I've always taken the minimalist approach to modifications. I assume that one kept in mint condition and just as it was driven off of the showroom floor will be the most prized in years to come.

 

Oh man, talk about a topic that caused quite the ruckus in the early days of this board!

Here's my 12 centavos.

Anyone who buys a modern day car (or really any car for that matter) as an investment is off their rocker.

Do I think the S will become a classic someday? Probably. I mean look at the original 240Z. But...

There are so many S2K's available for sale today that you might as well do whatever the hell you want with the car, drive the crap out of it, and enjoy it until the wheels fall off. Buy someone else's garage queen a few years from now if that really puts the wind in your sails. These cars were engineered to be driven and its almost a damn shame not to do so.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by KMCC
[B]I've always taken the minimalist approach to modifications.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Da Hapa
[B]Oh man, talk about a topic that caused quite the ruckus in the early days of this board!

Here's my 12 centavos.

Anyone who buys a modern day car (or really any car for that matter) as an investment is off their rocker.

Do I think the S will become a classic someday?

 

Mods hurt the resale value of the car in the short term. Once you "personalize" the car, you're going to have a harder time finding another person with your same taste. Plus, they wonder what else you have done they don't know about.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Destiny2002
[B]Mods hurt the resale value of the car in the short term.

 

Always good to be able to go back to stock and sell your goodies

 

Agreement with most all above.

Don't buy a car expecting it to be an investment. Best you can usually hope for is that it is a somewhat worse "investment" than the other car you might have bought.

For every classic that appreciated, there are thousands of models that didn't. And even for that one that went up, you would have most likely done far better investing in the stock market (Enron excepted).

Don't know what makes a "classic", but I don't expect the S2000 to sell much better in the future than any other high performance 2-seater.

Mods? Do it because you like it. You're spending money to make your car worth less.