Modified STI appraisal

3233 Views 19 Replies 14 Participants Last post by DethWagon, Nov 17, 2013

DethWagon

Discussion Starter · Oct 9, 2013

Hey guys,

I couldn't find a whole lot about from searching around...

I have a 2011 STI Hatch with 15k miles. It is extensively modded...dynos about 440 whp on E85 and 400 whp on 91 octane.

It has a built motor in it now (Rallispec street block) with 3k miles. All mods were done professionally by a reputable local shop and tuned at the same shop. I have never tracked it, never done any drag racing yet...it runs flawlessly.

In terms of private party sale, either on this board or others, are the mods likely to substantially increase the value of my car, considering how new (and unused) my car is? What is the conventional wisdom on this question?

Obviously I'm not expecting to recoup ALL of the $ I spent on all these mods, but I have to expect there is a market for a new(ish) STI with 400 whp right out of the box.

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Entaille

· #2 · Oct 9, 2013

it is tough. you have to find the right buyer that actually sees and feels the value in what you've done. most people want a stock car. I've always, always, always found it better to sell aftermarket parts separately and to sell the car as close to stock as possible, in terms of getting the most $$ out of it.

if you are dead set on selling it as-is, just list it a couple grand over what stock ones are going for. you might run into the right buyer. it's rare, though.

Reactions: 5

DethWagon

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 9, 2013

Entaille said:
it is tough. you have to find the right buyer that actually sees and feels the value in what you've done. most people want a stock car. I've always, always, always found it better to sell aftermarket parts separately and to sell the car as close to stock as possible, in terms of getting the most $$ out of it.

if you are dead set on selling it as-is, just list it a couple grand over what stock ones are going for. you might run into the right buyer. it's rare, though.

Yeah, I was afraid that would be the answer I'd get. However, I would expect having a built block might be a selling point with the GR and the ringland problem. In fact, it happened to me. That's why there's a built block in there now.

Muller Performance

· #4 · Oct 9, 2013

i agree with entaille 100%.. GLWS either way

8cd03gro

· #5 · Oct 9, 2013

DethWagon said:
Yeah, I was afraid that would be the answer I'd get. However, I would expect having a built block might be a selling point with the GR and the ringland problem. In fact, it happened to me. That's why there's a built block in there now.

List it on all the car forums you can. That is going to be your best means of reaching your target market. The average car buyer is going to think you're speaking Chinese when you list your modifications. Try local forums and forums for tuner cars. Also, go to local Subaru tuner shops and ask if you can put a little ad on the wall in their waiting room with your phone number. Tell 'em if one of their customers buys it you'll give them $100 or something.

DethWagon

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 10, 2013

8cd03gro said:
List it on all the car forums you can. That is going to be your best means of reaching your target market. The average car buyer is going to think you're speaking Chinese when you list your modifications. Try local forums and forums for tuner cars. Also, go to local Subaru tuner shops and ask if you can put a little ad on the wall in their waiting room with your phone number. Tell 'em if one of their customers buys it you'll give them $100 or something.

That's a really good idea actually. If I advertised at the shop I had the work done at, they could vouch for the build/tune quality.

Unfortunately going back to stock isn't an option...I've sold many of the stock parts including the stock turbo and exhaust.

The only thing I'm trying to figure out is: assuming the buyer does see the value added in terms of mods, how much more could I reasonably ask. There's probably close to $10k in parts in that car, not including what I paid in labor.

mr shickadance

· #7 · Oct 28, 2013

DethWagon said:
Hey guys,

I couldn't find a whole lot about from searching around...

I have a 2011 STI Hatch with 15k miles. It is extensively modded...dynos about 440 whp on E85 and 400 whp on 91 octane.

It has a built motor in it now (Rallispec street block) with 3k miles. All mods were done professionally by a reputable local shop and tuned at the same shop. I have never tracked it, never done any drag racing yet...it runs flawlessly.

In terms of private party sale, either on this board or others, are the mods likely to substantially increase the value of my car, considering how new (and unused) my car is? What is the conventional wisdom on this question?

Obviously I'm not expecting to recoup ALL of the $ I spent on all these mods, but I have to expect there is a market for a new(ish) STI with 400 whp right out of the box.

mods decrease value, fact. there are very little mods that can add value to your car, and engine mods are at the very bottom of that list.

a 400whp car tells me that the owner beat on this car everyday all day.

is my assumption correct? no, but is it what 99% of the market is going to think? you betcha.

it's unfair, but yea, that's the market thought so that's how you have to take it.

take your KBB for your area, and list yourself at poor and that's honestly what the market i going to deem appropriate.

longshot option, already mentioned but using the forum to sell your ride, forum members are smarter than the average ape, and would most like look up your post history to see if your car was beaten to death or had mechanical issues.

I am sure this is going to be met with backlash, brutal honesty is often the case, but remember, you people are forum people, you get it. but you also represent 1% of the population of car buyer's out there.

other options i would consider would be looking up armed services forums and see if anyone just got their GI bill and need for speed.

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brfatal

· #8 · Oct 28, 2013

I have +$30k in mods on my WRX. I plan on selling it for ~$17k and even I know how hard that will be to make happen. Good luck.

Reactions: 1

LaW

· #9 · Oct 28, 2013

Yeah unfortunately you do not recoup cost... I have 30k+$ in mods in my STI so exceeding the cost of the car and I would probably ask maybe a couple grand over the going market price for similar year/miles and like Entaille said you have to have the right buyer come by.

Now I keep every receipt for everything I have done for the car and complete logs for when oil was changed/oil analysis, track hours etc so the buyer is well informed.

If time is not against you, parting out the car and selling stock is best. Even with a build motor ignore that piece and sell. I just built my heads and block and I would probably at least try to sell the built heads/cams etc and just try to get some decent stock heads in trade. I might be able to get 25-27k for my car but maybe over 30k if I part it out overtime. I anticipate it would take me about 6-8 months to part out and sell most of my components and acquire the stock bits I need.

Gotta decide what makes sense financially.

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Entaille

· #10 · Oct 28, 2013

another part I wanted to comment on - you mentioned you cannot return to stock, because you've sold stock parts... you can still do it! I've found most people seeking aftermarket parts on the used marketplace will gladly give their stock parts + cash for the aftermarket bits they are after.. or you can find stock parts for cheap prices from people that lack the room to store them. they are not worth a whole lot, second hand, so they are not terribly difficult to find at a good price.

it all boils down to the amount of effort you're willing to put in, or the amount of money you're willing to lose.. I've gone both routes before

Subie_Pb

· #11 · Oct 28, 2013

If my car got stolen or totalled and I got a cheque from insurance...I'm going on the forums to find a built hawk eye STi, has to be built by a reputable shop that I trust though.

radeon

· #12 · Oct 28, 2013

mr shickadance said:
is my assumption correct? no

Actually, it is correct.
400 whp, if the owner ever floored it (which I'm sure he did) is most certainly abuse in terms of loads the car was designed to take. And it most certainly decreased the longevity of the car to a considerable extent.

Which is why most people stay away from modified cars. Also, even though the shop 'vouches' for mods, I doubt they would stand behind the motor if something goes wrong. Most likely they will blame the engine builder. So that's worth exactly nothing.

Anyway. For most people who are open to the idea of heavily tuning their car, getting a 400whp STI is not what they want, they want to go through the whole process. It's at least half the fun - shopping for parts, researching, installing etc.

So forget looking for that elusive someone who magically wants the same mods.

Either pull all that you can and sell as close to stock as possible, or price the car so it looks like a good deal to someone who'd pull all the parts he doesn't want a sell them used.

So, assess the amount of parts that could be pulled and sold, figure 50% value and then subtract some more $$ for time spent and some more $$ for procuring stock parts. Say, $10k worth new parts, worth 50% used and another grand for work to part it/procure stock parts. So start with stock +$4k.

That way someone who buys it from you and really want to mod it in his own way can think of this as a deal that lets him save some dough.

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swedishSTile

· #13 · Oct 28, 2013

radeon said:
Actually, it is correct.
400 whp, if the owner ever floored it (which I'm sure he did) is most certainly abuse in terms of loads the car was designed to take. And it most certainly decreased the longevity of the car to a considerable extent.

Which parts did he decrease the longevity of by flooring a 400whp car once? The built motor? I think not. The transmission/axles/diffs? Not in an STi? Some other part not seeing mechanical stress as a result of more power? Nope

I agree with everything else you said, just not this.

Just keep the car and go buy something else if your bored. If you are bored with a car you have not even paid off yet, then maybe you should re-think your car buying/modding habbits.

I have a hard time letting go of cars. I dont see any value in selling something you have already paid for 2-3X over and getting 1/10th of your total investment out of it. My wife hates that we have so many cars, but she doesnt complain on the days she takes a fun one to work

Part it out, or keep it. Only choices. I say keep it.

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Jay11STI

· #14 · Oct 29, 2013

You have so much money invested into this car you might aswell keep it and enjoy it. I understand that you arent going to get anywhere near what you put into it if you sell it but thats the reality. In my opinion, finding a buyer is going to be really really hard. I mean if your really trying to sell it you could ask your tuner and his shop to put up an add on their facebook page and instagram page. Putting an add inside their waiting room / front desk wouldnt be a bad idea also. Use social media to it potential in this day and age. Another possible route would be to take the built motor out and mods and put a stock motor in it and sell the car stock. That option might require you to spend money first but may be the only option... GLWS

Reactions: 1

uncle_w

· #15 · Oct 29, 2013

This should be added to this.

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/232673-your-answer-i-want-400whp-more.html

sutter2k

· #16 · Nov 15, 2013

I sold mine with mods (still miss it though). For the right buyer I got a few grand over private party price. Mod tastefully(no crazy ricer visuals).

mprezme

· #17 · Nov 15, 2013

Why build then sell? Dont want get personal, but you got $ to burn?

I get building it, using it for couple years then selling. Or is it just a challenge of building then selling?

LaW

· #18 · Nov 15, 2013

I understand. The whole thing is people get bored with things easily once you cannot do anything more with it. Once you set a goal for what you want the car to be, and you hit that goal and there is nothing left to do the hobby/car becomes boring. So at that point you usually move on and take a big hit in the process or realize you are taking a big hit and hold onto it a little while longer

Reactions: 1

Entaille

· #19 · Nov 15, 2013

LaW said:
I understand. The whole thing is people get bored with things easily once you cannot do anything more with it. Once you set a goal for what you want the car to be, and you hit that goal and there is nothing left to do the hobby/car becomes boring. So at that point you usually move on and take a big hit in the process or realize you are taking a big hit and hold onto it a little while longer

I've done this a few times.. need to chill out for a while. it gets expensive. LOL.

DethWagon

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 17, 2013

Thanks all for the replies. Not the answer I was wanting to hear necessarily but seems to be what I've heard from other forums and does make sense. For now I'm keeping the car. I'm going to definitely talk to my tuner/shop to see how much if would cost me to go back to stock if I had to though.

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