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Have you ever shy'd away from or bought an NSX because of it's mods?

Joined
2 September 2002
Messages
52
Location
Birmingham, Al.
The post below got me thinking: Some of you have bought more than one NSX and I was wondering if you bought the new one because someone did a mod that you figured you do eventually, or did you stay away because of what the previous owner had done in the way of mods? Mod horror stories? Great Deals etc. I'm talking strictly about modifications mechanical as well as cosmetic not neglect or abuse.

The one that usually makes me keep looking for another car are interrior changes that look aftermarket ie
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ver done sound systems with disco like face graphics or woodgrain/carbon fiber dash kits that usually look pasted on. I do like the side skirts and chin spoilers that look like modified extended versions of the car. Rear spoiler...don't touch, it's perfect as is.
 
Yes, I passed on two NSXs because of 1)aftermarket stereo that didn't look like it belonged, and 2)heavily modified engine compartment giving the "boy racer" look. I ended buying a 100% stock NSX. YMMV (your mileage may vary)
 
yeah, me too. fair or not, i think a lot of us shy away from modded(other than exhaust) because we think modded=wrung out. i think it is the virgin syndrome. We want to think that we are the FIRST to drive our nsx hard, and any changes are because of us, not the previous boyfriend. I mean, dont you want to be the one who has the bigger bumpers installed
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I bought mine for the sunroof - unfortunately, I'm replacing the motor in it now. Guess it wasn't used too much before.

Anyway, like that glass top!
 
I looked for one with mods...I know I would end up doing it anyway, and as long as all the paperwork was there , I felt comfortable with it.....I ended up buying one with several mods...
 
i'm only looking for an OEM NSX... although new rims (if they suit and look good) is about the only acceptable mod... simply coz the '92 rims look cheap.

...but that's my personal opinion... as if anyone cares...
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I looked for a NSX with specific Mods.
I was going to do it anyway. Just made sure that they were done correctly, I was lucky enough that the shop that did the mods stood behind their work when a problem arose.
I bought a 95 with SC,Exh,Hdrs,6sp w/455,WWkit, 18/19 wheels ect.ect.ect. The car was in excellent shape with low miles.
The mods were a plus to me. Considering what
I was going to pay for a 95-97. I feel that I got the mods for free. The stock cars lack of power (IMHO) just did not do it for me.
Len
n9s5x-t
 
you may be overlooking one fact.since I have been on this board I have seen dozens of posts in the market from people selling their mods and returning the car to stock for resale.I bought my car stock. was it like that 3 months prior? just food for thought,that stock NSX virgin never been tracked ,never been beat on..hmm
David
 
My personal feelings are if the car was modified, it was probably driven harder. That might not be true, but that is what I generally think of.

Certainly if you are thinking of doing I/H/E, it is MUCH cheaper to get a car with it already done.
 
I don't think you can make the general consencus that modded cars are beat on. I think the rest of the car would also show signs of abuse. I know of some fairly heavily modded cars that get treated very well. I even know someone that has removed there NOS because they just didn't use it. The car is very well taken care of. As stated above you may not know what has been done to your car. The original owner may have returned it to stock.
 
Originally posted by NeoNSX:
...but that's my personal opinion... as if anyone cares...
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I care. It's interesting to hear the variety of opinions here, and each one is usually carefully thought out. Of course, our different backgrounds, experiences, and preferences make for a diversity of opinion on many subjects. And each of us can learn more from people with whom we disagree than from those who have the exact same opinions as we do.
 
It depends on the modification. Right now I'm looking at a 92 from a friend of mine that has 97+ rims and the NSX-R short gears and 4.23 ring and pinion. I originally wanted the 94 for the upgraded rims and other little goodies, or a 97+ for the obisous, but if all goes well I'll pick up this 92 with these two modifications. I would have done the exact same mods myself, so I thought of it as a premium.
 
Originally posted by BadCarma:
you may be overlooking one fact.since I have been on this board I have seen dozens of posts in the market from people selling their mods and returning the car to stock for resale.I bought my car stock. was it like that 3 months prior? just food for thought,that stock NSX virgin never been tracked ,never been beat on..hmm
David

I agree that the car may have been driven hard. But that is what compression checks are for, Checking the car out. Bearings, Oil,
Trans fluid, clutch wear, tire ware ect. ect.
ect. If you are thorough in the purchase process and you know what you are looking for or at, then you are taking much of a gamble. Sure there are people that took the mods off for resale. Is that because the value was diminished? Or was it less of a market for the modded cars? I think that there were some 97+ cars that were extensively modded, that the parts were taken off and sold. I think that was due more to the price that was asked for those cars being on the high side. Anyone would be hard pressed to get all of there money back from a modded car. You get lucky if you find someone that fits your seat. I know first hand, I have a money pit in the garage. I will never get my $$$'s back out of it. I will get a premium, because it was taken care of correctly. The cars are made to be driven,driven hard. That would worry me less than the totally stock car that has been a garage queen, hardly driven. Never reaching optimum operating temps ect. ect. ect.
The driven car is (IMHO) probably taken care of much better for the most part.
How many of these guys that go to the track go without making sure there car is not performing to the it's fullest potential?
Checking the belts, Tires, Fluids, Brakes, TT or SC's all on a continual basis. Now the car that isn't driven as hard may be taken for granted a time or two. Missed services here and there, ect. ect. ect. I wouldn't be scared of a modded car if I knew who did the mods, had the paperwork, and thouroughly checked the car. (JAO)
 
see, i agree with you 'rationally', but my comment about human nature was based on 'emotions' ie psychology. Most people just dont want to think she might have been a depraved track nymph in her previous relationship.

most people feel different about a pre-owned vs brand new vehicle--because it was someone else's first. may only have 5k miles, but not the same. In most vehicles lives, 5k is nothing, but compared to the no miles never titled same year vehicle, the depreciation is huge. Only because of the psychology of the buyer.

i think used modded vs used un-modded works the same way. Doesnt make sense, but neither do most of us when we buy cars, and we dont want to be reminded that someone else was involved with this gorgeous car before us...
 
I would never buy a heavily moddded car - i.e., any internals, supercharged or turbo. I would consider cat back, wheels, stereo (if it looked stock), induction. The car I purchased had absolutely NO mods. Overall, I would much prefer an unmodded car. As I stated in another post, I beleive that heavily modded cars decrease the selling price compared to a comparable unmodded car and definitely limit your market appeal.
 
Mods keep me away also even though I want to do some light mods on my car. While we are on the subject, here are some of my thoughts when looking at cars/accessories.

A newer car with aftermarket wheels: Why were they put on? Where are the origional wheels? Were they damaged in an accident?

Aftermarket wheels/tires for sale after only a short time of use "like new": Why are you selling them? Is something wrong? Bad Handeling, wrong offset, other "issues"?

Any mods where the origional parts were not kept.

Any mods that cannot be reversed.

The only mods I think i'll make to my car is exhaust, and maybe wheels somewhere down the line.

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keep the shiny side up
MikeC 01 #46
 
Originally posted by nsxtasy:
I care. It's interesting to hear the variety of opinions here, and each one is usually carefully thought out. Of course, our different backgrounds, experiences, and preferences make for a diversity of opinion on many subjects. And each of us can learn more from people with whom we disagree than from those who have the exact same opinions as we do.


nsxtacy, we all know u r a caring guy (esp. when it comes to ur NSX
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) ...didn't realize you also had idealitic/optimistic side to u man... *grin*

i guess u develop that after 6796 posts?
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I bought my 92 just over a year ago because it was pristine. It had less than 10K miles.

I like that I didn't have to worry about poorly done mods and the increased odds that it was driven harder and perhaps abused. Of course, the prior owner could have driven my car hard and abused it (although it didn't show), but I believe the odds were in my favor.

Not that I have anything against certain mods, it's just that I'd rather do them myself and make sure of the job.

-Jim

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html
 
c'mon guys, youre just trying to rationalize something fairly irrational--YOU want to be the one to do any mods and change your baby, not think that someone else may have already messed with your car.

i admit it---i think most people are also that way.
 
There are certain mods I like and certain ones I do not. I would pay extra for a car that already had what I wanted, and less for one that had stuff I didn't want.

I think it's nuts to assume you can judge anything about the way a car was treated based on mods. There are FAR more ragged out stock or lightly modified NSXs that have been abused than heavily modified ones that have been abused. I will wrap that statement up and slap a 100% guarantee sticker on it!

I am much more interested in the OWNER than the MODS. Most heavily modified cars sell privately, not through dealers, so it is usually not a problem to talk to the owner. If the owner seems knowledgeable and mature I will go to Phase 2 which is to inspect the car itself. There is very little on a car that cannot be evaluated with a thorough inspection by someone who knows what they are doing.

If you want a stock car, obviously you should just buy a stock car. If you don't want the specific mods on a particular car, and they would be a pain to reverse, certainly don't buy it. But if a car has mods you can easily reverse or that you were going to do anyway, you are not doing yourself any favors by automatically passing it over.

Finally, some people will put a car back to stock (or closer to stock) before they list it for sale, so you really never know the true history unless you know the car or owner. For example, I was talking with an NSX owner last night at NSXPO. I happened to know the old owner and a little history on the NSX he bought, and he was not aware the car had nitrous installed for many years. The previous owner removed the kit before selling the car.

[This message has been edited by Lud (edited 06 November 2002).]
 
sorry

[This message has been edited by len3.8 (edited 06 November 2002).]
 
Originally posted by huckster:
c'mon guys, youre just trying to rationalize something fairly irrational--YOU want to be the one to do any mods and change your baby, not think that someone else may have already messed with your car.

i admit it---i think most people are also that way.
See here's here's the flip-sde to this thinking. Don't you think that the previous ownder thought of this to (assuming they weren't the original buyer)? Cause if so, this would be a long, endless line of people thinking that the previous owner didn't take care of the car, where in actuality they did just as well (maybe better job) than you could have done. Just some food for thougt
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.
 
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