Modding a car...yay or nay?

Will

Will

Will

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,455
Location
Wolverhampton
I own a 2006 Ford Fiesta ST, with some modifications (cat back exhaust, flexi pipe, induction kit, bilstein suspension) and will within the next few months be in the position to spend some money on the car. I have always wanted to do a few bits and pieces to it, and have gone part way already.

However when adding up the cost of going 'the whole hog' it has crossed my mind that I could upgrade to something quicker/faster for the same amount of money I'd spend on upgrades.

The mods I was thinking would be a full exhaust system, throttle bodies or supercharger, upgraded brakes....a fair cost in total, for between 210 and 270bhp in the car with chassis/transmission/brakes to suit.

I'm sure it'd be a great laugh, but then again, I could spend the money towards a different car entirely and trade my car in for a Focus ST. I even have silly thoughts of an S2000, VX220, Alfa 147 GTA, Subari Impreza or similarly 'faster' cars...say up to £11k purchase price max.

Have you ever modified a car in preference to going for a quicker car in the first place, and then regretted it? Or have you found the experience of owning a modified car built which well chosen parts to be worth every penny?

I expect the fact that I am even asking the question is sign of doubt in my mind. When I didn't have the money, the idea of having a mad fast Fiesta seemed great and I had it all planned out. Now I'm having second thoughts...
 
I'm no modder but I've seen many posts on different forums where modders have done some pretty serious mods and then realised that when they come to sell the car virtually none of the cost/value of the upgrades is transferred into the selling price. I didn't word that very well but I cba redoing it so hope that makes sense.

In my opinion unless your current car is your dream car and you are financially able to effectively write off x thousand pounds then just buy a better car.
 
You will have to throw stupid amounts of cash at it, which you will never recoup in a sale. Obviously parting the mods from the car will help if you do sell. Still, not worth it IMO unless you're going to go bonkers and aim for really high power. An uber fast Fiesta is nothing special really (not trying to knock your car at all). You might as well start with something more responsive to mods or outright brilliant in the first place.

I'd just buy a faster base car TBH.
 
I think you've done the worthwhile mods already so time to get something quicker to begin with.
 
After spending a lot of money on my Fiesta ST then having a girl write it off in the blink of an eye i'd say its definatly not worth it.

I've had to go through a lot of trouble to get even a remotely good settlement from my insurance company.

Looking back on it I just wish I bought a Focus ST or something to start with - but you live and learn.
 
The question you need to ask yourself is would you be happier in a "better" car that is exactly the same as all of the others out there or in something more individual to yourself?
 
depends on the car.. id say modding a slow 1.2 diesel is no point.. modding a nissan GTR to achieve even more from it is kinda good.. for e.g.

WASTE OF moneys..


.... OOOOOFF

 
Last edited:
lordrobs said:
The question you need to ask yourself is would you be happier in a "better" car that is exactly the same as all of the others out there or in something more individual to yourself?
Click to expand...

Not sure - need to drive the 'better car' to decide. I can see the Focus ST being better in many ways, as the Fiesta is a bit horrible on motorway journeys. Have a feeling its not going to be anywhere near as 'fun' on the twisties though.

Even if the modding bug was to bite, the Focus is a lot more tunable to start with, and some things cost the same - Quaife diff costs much the same to fit to either car, in terms of parts and labour, and the Mountune upgrades are ~£1500 for an extra 35bhp on the Fiesta or 29bhp to the Focus (and the Focus upgrades claimed 260bhp is very conservative too it seems!).
 
Will said:
Even if the modding bug was to bite, the Focus is a lot more tunable to start with, and some things cost the same - Quaife diff costs much the same to fit to either car, in terms of parts and labour, and the Mountune upgrades are ~£1500 for an extra 35bhp on the Fiesta or 29bhp to the Focus (and the Focus upgrades claimed 260bhp is very conservative too it seems!).
Click to expand...

But then you hit the catch 22 situation. "Should I mod the Focus or just buy a "better" car" :p
 
lordrobs said:
But then you hit the catch 22 situation. "Should I mod the Focus or just buy a "better" car" :p
Click to expand...

Haha true :D money would not stretch beyond the Focus ST to anything significantly better/faster/more expensive, not whilst retaining some semblance of being sensible!
 
I've spent serious money on modding cars in the past as people on here may remember, in all honesty ? It's a mugs game. I got a lot of enjoyment out of it at the time and really strived to make the cars as good as they could be, but it's so easy to get caught up in the whole scene and there's always something else to do to it, plus if you take it too far you can end up with something which is not suited to the road and not very pleasant to drive.

I'd say get the nicest / fastest car you can, one which you'll be happy with and do a few choice mods which are easily removed/sold on for when you move on to your next car..

Pete
 
Depends on the car I guess. If you went out and bought a car because it's the car you always wanted, then you probably won't think that you should have spent the mod money on something better.

If you bought the Fiesta ST because it was cheaper than the Focus RS that you wanted, then it's likely that you will regret spending the money on mods.
 
Its not that I don't like the Fiesta, because I really do, its good fun....I preferred it to the Clio 182 (not based on how it drives, but on looks, interior, reliability, insurance group, as when I got it I didn't have any NCB).

But had I had the money to buy and insure a Focus ST or similar at the time I bought it, I doubt I'd have got the Fiesta...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom