Questions about selling modified cars

[busdepot]

Hey guise, I'm looking for some advice on selling my car. I have an 2006 IS250 with the 6-speed manual and it's getting to be pretty modified. Not with cheap eBay parts or anything, only real quality AUTHENTIC pieces (Tom's, Weds, JUN, etc). All in all, I've spent about $14,000 in parts (largely cosmetic) of which $6,000 is recoverable through a part out. All mods are tastefully done, no mega rice work.

I don't want to scare away buyers into thinking this is some bagged-on ratty old-car, because it really isn't. (it's 250, so it's too slow to bag :poosie: ). The car is in otherwise mint condition.

Should I try to sell the car modified, or should I revert to stock as much as possible to sell it? I have all the original parts and receipts for everything I've bought.

Here's what the car looks like now,

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8003463495_8508ac10c2_c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8432/7881201870_fb76768ea2_c.jpg

Here's the original, which I can get back to pretty closely.

http://all-lexus.info/wp-content/uploads/Lexus/IS%20250/153033635/Lexus__IS%20250_Silver%20metallic.JPG

Advice appreciated!!

[GS430]

I would advise in the 'For Sale' Ad that the car can be reverted to stock if desired.

Seems like in our day and age, people are aware of the worth and quality of authentic parts and will not be turned off by it.

[Zephyr]

Id part it out.

[EK 2.0]

Originally posted by Zephyr

Id part it out.


This, while I will agree that quality parts are a selling feature...the demographic that will be interested in those will be small...

The amount of potential people interested in a stock car will be greater than that of a modded car....and then you can sell the parts to other IS owners who would be interested...

[M.alex]

If you want the most money you can get, part it out.

If you're lazy and just want to sell it, leave it as is and don't bother mentioning the mods (beyond cosmetic, since that's all most care about) unless the buyer is the type who'd be interested in them all.

[Kloubek]

You'll certainly only get a small fraction out of the parts if you keep them on the car. In addition to that, you've made the car somewhat custom which will detract from the sale. (I personally don't care fo those wheels although I really like the car itself)

While you can't sell used parts for what you bought them for, you're still going to get more if you go that route. And, like I said, probably sell the car quicker.

[95EG6P]

Originally posted by Zephyr
Id part it out.

:werd:

[busdepot]

Alright, so part out is probably going to get me the best recovery. I knew going into this that the parts are sunk costs, so no shock there.

Now, when I make an ad for it on Beyond, I'll post all the parts available with two prices; with and without mods.

But on Kijiji or Autotrader, should I note that I have parts available for it with a list OR should I just sell it as stock and then when people come to see it, mention I have a pile of parts depending on the buyer?

I've never sold a heavily modded car before so I'm a bit green to it.

[Aleks]

Being that it's a manual IS you're going to have an even smaller demographic looking at it. But at the same time someone who is even willing to look at a manual Lexus might be interested in the mods.

[Cos]

.

[Zephyr]

In theory modified parts don't add value to a car. Also for some buyers it also raises a red flag to them. "Oh this guy must of raced his car"

However, some parts are not always easier to return to stock, or depends on your lazyness level. I had a IS350 modded as well, I ended up leaving some springs and intake in simply because it wasn't worth the time....and because I'm lazy.

[busdepot]

Agreed, mods will never add value to the whole. I'm also pretty lazy. My short shift kit isn't coming out, the front lip isn't coming off, the roof is staying black, the Philips HID's are staying, etc, etc. But parts that are big money and easily accessible like my rear lip, strut bars, coil-overs, rims, those would be sold either here or on ClubLexus classifieds.

The market for the manual IS was 1 in 25,000 made for Lexus, so it is a very niche market. Selling the car stock shouldn't be too tough though, it's in excellent condition and has one more year of powertrain warranty.

I do see a lot guys who are asking way too much for their cars that are really junk. I hate seeing guys put $1,000 wheels on the car then asking $5,000 more than market for it. I'm not expecting to add $14,000 to market and calling it a special edition. But I'm also not going to give away a set of brand new WedsSports.

Expect a part out thread soon. Thanks Gents (and maybe girls). Unless anyone is interested in an '06 IS250 6spd with a ton of mods :)

[M.alex]

Originally posted by busdepot
Unless anyone is interested in an '06 IS250 6spd with a ton of mods :)

$7,950.00 delivered to my door?

[busdepot]

For all my mods in a nice box? I'll do $7,950 :)


Just throw in another $22,500 for the car and we got a deal :burnout:

[K3RMiTdot]

whats the wheel size if you dont mind me asking

[busdepot]

19x9 et38 235/35
19x10 et40 275/30
w/ Lexus TPMS installed

[max_boost]

Selling as close to stock is always best. If mods are clean someone will buy it!

[ercchry]

but girls dont drive manual... who will buy it?!

[busdepot]

Trannies.

[ercchry]

just dont tell them that you lost to a girl in a gs300 :rofl:

[busdepot]

I probably wasn't going to use that as a selling feature lol. It loses to a lot of cars.

[Sentry]

So if it's still slow... Where did the 14 grand go?

[busdepot]

Authentic Wheels 4500
Authentic body kit and paint 2500
Good exhaust 1500
A proper short shift kit 500
Custom roof black out 500
Decent coilovers 1500
Good suspension braces 700
Philips HIDs 250
and a bunch of random little parts.

14k goes down pretty fast. There's no cheap aftermarket parts for ISx50s.