What FD mods add value...?
 

I've recently purchased a very nice 2001 RX-7 RZ. They were only sold in Japan and 175 were produced.

Another Aussie member here recently commented that he'd held back from buying an RZ because he thought that modding a rare limited edition model would devalue it. I tend to agree.

That got me thinking. Just what mods will actually add value to an FD RX-7?

I've seen a lot of money lost by guys selling modded FD's, so what mods are financially beneficial when it comes time to sell?

Cheers.

id say a upgraded IC, AST, Radiator, and Rims/coilovers. Keep the rest mainly stock.

Along with modding the above listed items, if you used genuine Mazdaspeed parts it would retain or increase value.

I think that list is pretty good. I would think that any mod that most buyers would want would be a good one. AST and Downpipe are two that I can think of.

A Downpipe is something that the owner of any USDM FD should do, so if it is done already it is one less item for a new owner to worry about. Plus, the buyer knows that if the car has a dp, then a precat hasn't been cooking the insides of the engine bay. It is a mod that actually extends the life of the rest of the engine.

The AST is a little different. If the stock AST hasn't failed, then an aluminum AST hasn't been needed. Some may want the engine bay as stock as possible. In this case, I would say replace the AST, but keep the stock one so it could be put back if you wanted to return the car to as nearly stock as possible. In the mean time, you have put less miles on the stock AST and have prevented the possibility of an AST failure.

For higher mileage cars, what about bushings? At what point do the stock bushings wear too much? As a buyer, I would be willing to pay a little more if I knew that they had been replaced recently.

The more you can stick with OEM or Mazdaspeed parts, the better off you will be.

Some reliability mods like upgraded radiator will add value, I agree.

Do you really think someone would pay more for a car with an upgraded intercooler? Some would see that as an indication that the owner likes to squeeze every single hp out of the car and that it's possibly had a hard life.

An efini (99 spec) y-pipe is another one.

He has a 2001 RX7 already has one ;) haha.

The Intercooler is just like a reliability mod, just as the downpipe, and the AST is.

stick with Mazdaspeed parts and dont remove any cosmetic parts.

Are you seeking more power? I would reckon an exhaust would be ok.

There are no mods that will increase the value of the car by more than you will spend on them. Keep your rare car stock if you want it to hold its value.

^ Exactly. A totally stock car will always be more attractive to a real buyer.

This is why you should keep your stock parts for when you want to sell your car, e.g wheels.

/agreed all mods deduct from car's blue book value.

I wish i had an RZ

No mod will add value.

Dave

when i was in the market for an fd 3 years ago, completly stock fd's almost always sold for more. they were also always the first to be sold

i waited 2 years for a decent priced stock rx7. there definitly in demand

Any "mod" is a detractor from the car's value.
As others have said...DON'T TOUCH IT!

Look at it this way. Let's say you had a rare, early '60s Ferrari. Car is worth millions of dollars if original. But if someone had taken and replaced...ANYTHING...on it, it would significantly reduce its value.

Same principal on a much, much smaller scale with the FD.

And drive it very sparingly.

I should clarify. I'm not just asking about mods to my car, but mods to any FD.

Personally, a decent alarm, a decent radiator...I'd pay more for.

Carbon fibre wings, hoods etc.....no.

The market may be different over there. But over here, it's much harder to sell a heavily modified RX7 than it is a lightly modified or stock RX7.

I started out like you, just wanted to keep my car stock. But as time went by you see other fd owners with certain mods and I got tempted so I started to mod. IF you want to mod it with power mods, just keep your stock parts that way you can always put them back on and sell it.

There are some things that are easy to change back, such as intake or stock cat, but as soon as you start doing things like removing AC, Power Steering, non-sequencial, etc... it becomes a lot harder, at least in my eyes. I've been looking at a nice FD around me, but it is non-sequential. I know I'm much less interested in it than if it had a functioning sequential system.

reliability mods maybe. but no mods outside that will add more than what the mod costs. a good ic will set you back but will not get you more from the buyer.


if mods added value the single turbo guys would not be selling their highly modded and running fd's fer under 20k

Thats why i said, just reliability mods, because any smart FD owner if they were to buy his car, would want to do those anyways (Downpipe, AST, intercooler, radiator) So he could charge more for the car cause he did them. Im not saying like a coolcharge III and move the battery, etc, something smaller, like a Coolcharge II or Greddy SMIC.

I don't think you'll get your money back for 'reliability' mods or that those would demand a higher price overall for the car. However, I don't think those will hurt a sale.

You just got the car, why are you worried about resale already? You obviously got it because you want to drive it correct? It's a car, its meant to be driven. I hope your not one of these I'd like to keep my low mileage fd low! :)

I would do the reliablity mods and be done with it.