Car Modding is a subculture all into itself and there’s almost limitless possibilities when you get into it. From custom external body work to a complete retune to the engine, and an entire community to join. But is Modding for you? And are there any downsides to consider before you dive in? This article will discuss.
Financial Impact
The first thing you need to understand is that despite what you might think, any modifications to a car will reduce it’s value, while the parts may be expensive and improve the performance of the car, they also make the car unique, and uniqueness is not a quality that’s valued on the car market.
This means when you mod cars, it’s with the understanding that you’re doing this for fun, not to make money, however you can mitigate this problem by always making sure you keep the original parts and re-installing them before trying to sell the car.
Another thing to consider before you start modding your car is your insurance, modding a car will most likely result in an increased insurance premium. Insurance premiums are based on risk and if you’re using parts that aren’t factory standard, even if you know they’re just as safe as the stock parts, the insurance company will increase the costs.
You may encounter a similar problem with the warranty, many companies will void a warranty if they find custom parts in your car.
Safety Concerns
Another thing that might be a concern is safety, which is why if you are planning to mod your own car, you need to make sure you know what you’re doing. There are many, many ways to accidentally make a car unsafe to drive. Any mods that raise or lower the suspension for example can mess with the car’s center of gravity and therefore mess with the structural integrity of the vehicle, which you really don’t want.
Upsides
The major benefit of car modding is the same thing that loses its value: uniqueness. With car modding you can turn your car into a personal canvas to get exactly what you want out of the car. Do you want to turn your hatchback into a lightning fast racer? You can do it? Do you want to cruise down the street in a custom tailored sedan? You can do that too, whatever you can imagine and afford, you can do.
No matter what type of car and modifications you’re into you’re likely to find several like minded folks who meet up all year round, so your modifications also become an invitation to a new social group if you’re into that sort of thing.