I just traded in my '97 I30t for a '97 Max SE (I30t was giving me problem after problem, got tired of it). Let me tell you a little about this Max. It was a one-owner, lady driven, well-cared-for car. The paint is in perfect condition, there wasn't a single stain inside (the lady had even sealed up the floormats, i'm assuming they haven't ever had a foot laid on them...until i unwrapped them lolz). Basically, EVERYTHING about this car is in pristine condition.

I want to put some work into this car. Some inexpensive mods (i don't have alot of money) like an intake, maybe a Y-pipe, etc. SO here's my question, before I even get started - what do mods do to resale value? A few years from now, I'll probably want to trade it in or sell it...what reactions should I expect from a dealer/buyer?

P.S. I know this is in the FAQ's...but with a car this perfect, what mods (mostly performance, minimal $$$ spent on appearance) are "safe", as in, that won't compromise the brand-new feeling of the car?

TIA,
-tyler

 

Well, mods never help the resale value unless you can sell to another enthusiast. Even then you should never expect to get back what you put in.

A lot of people would be scared to buy a private party car with mods, as most people are in a mindset that people who mod their cars beat on them (and a large portion of the time they're right ).

Your best bet would be to keep the OEM parts around and swap back when you decide to get rid of the car. That way you can sell the parts off separately and make a little cash back.

 

+1 on keepin your stock parts. inexspensive mods include intake, y-pipe, b-pipe, brake upgrades, ftsb, but the most important is definately springs/struts/shocks.

 

if i did my car over again, id just get a y-pipe and a coil over set up. Then mess with the lights.

 

^ why ? .

 

To make a maxima daily driver have a little more show out on the road. Coil overs give you awesome control and best comfort/handling. The handling is the best thing to do to a maxima. Y pipe is only thing that really gives power. You plan on getting rid of it. The coil overs are easy to remove and replace again with stock. Y pipe is pretty straight forwards.

 

hmm i guess i see your point

 

I think you could sell the y pipe on it if you wanted too...just tell them it was a new nissan part you put on becuase a whole rusted out on the old one.All the other org members that posted saying to keep the stock mods is the way to go.Its like my friends dad said "so what if your car got an intake and greddy exhaust and all this money put into it,when im buying a car that means nothing to me so why would i want to pay more for it,doesnt do anything for me and thats a the truth".So yeah maybe a young guy on this forum may love it but his 40 yr old neighbour doesnt give a **** about an intake.Mod it with rims,intake(keep the factory).

 

IMO, the car is already 11 years old. It is not worth much more than $5000-$6000 now and in three more years, a 14 year old car is not going to sell for much more than $3000...

With that said, I think you should mod it if you want to...most mods you loose money on and will not be able to make back when you sell the car. If you want some mods that you can sell when you sell your car, keep all the OEM parts exchange them before you sell your car and then sell the mods. Just my 0.02

 

Clear corners are inexpensive and look so much better (at least on a dark car)