Think twice before modifying your car and truck

 

For many cars and truck enthusiasts, modifying a vehicle is part of the fun of ownership. Whether it's a lifted truck, a lowered sports car, a louder exhaust, or a performance tune, modifications allow owners to personalize their vehicles and make them stand out from the crowd. It also allows owners to be part of a community of like-minded people sharing their passion for a specific culture and vehicle make or model.

 

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However, what many people don't realize is that modifications often come with some costs, some of which are not obvious as they extend far beyond the initial modification installation cost. In many cases, the modifications that look the coolest or promise the biggest performance gains can end up costing the owner in increased long-term reliability-related costs and may even reduce resale value. While the customization options may appeal to a specific owner, they are unlikely to appeal to the next potential owner and for this reason a lot of heavily modified cars tend to be less appealing once they hit the used car market. In addition, some modifications may not meet local government guidelines and can create insurance complications and even make a vehicle illegal to drive on public roads.

 

While there are many types of modifications, they all have their unique drawbacks. Regardless if you are contemplating installing a lift kit on your late-model truck or lowering springs on your Japanese sport compact, it is vital to consider all of the additional costs and complications that come with modifying vehicles in the modern time.

 

Lift Kits and Oversized Tires

 

One of the most common modifications amongst pickup truck enthusiasts are lift kits and larger tires. While these upgrades can increase the ground clearance, allowing the truck to clear large obstacles and giving the truck a more aggressive appearance, they also have some drawbacks. By lifting the vehicle, you are increasing its center of gravity, making it less stable at high speed and increasing wind resistance, which can reduce the vehicle’s fuel economy. Lift kits will also place additional stress on suspension components, wheel bearings, ball joints, steering systems, and drivetrain components.

 

While larger tires with taller sidewalls can improve a truck's off-road capability by providing additional ground clearance and better traction on uneven terrain, oversized wheels paired with low-profile tires offer little practical benefit beyond appearance. In most cases, larger rims with shorter sidewall tires are primarily a cosmetic modification and may actually reduce ride comfort and off-road performance.

 

Regardless if you are planning to install low-profile tires on a large rim or massive tires on the stock wheel, both have a significant effect on how the vehicle drives. They can change the vehicle's gearing and can negatively affect acceleration, braking performance, fuel economy, and speedometer accuracy. In extreme cases, improperly installed lift kits can create handling issues that make the vehicle less stable during emergency maneuvers.

 

In addition to the safety and street performance considerations, you should also take note of your local laws. Some states regulate bumper height, tire coverage, and overall vehicle height, meaning an excessively lifted truck could fail inspection or attract unwanted attention from law enforcement.

 

Lowering Kits and Suspension Modifications

 

While lowered vehicles may improve its handling and looks, in some cases it can create more problems than benefits.

 

The type of lowering kit options you go with matters, the worst of which happens to be cutting your factory springs. Except for pure cosmetics, this option has no real benefits. It will not improve your vehicle’s handling and it can create some serious safety risks as well as cause damage to other vehicle components.

 

The other option is to use lowering springs specifically designed for your vehicle make or model. While the lowering springs may accomplish what is intended, often times they will force the shocks/struts to move outside their factory-designated range, causing premature failure. A better option is to use a quality coil over kit which is not only ride-height adjustable but also has an adjustment for dampening.

 

A more expensive option is to install an adjustable air ride suspension. This option includes a lot of components, including a compressor, compressor tank, air lines, shocks, along with a heap of complex electronics that not only put stress on the electrical system but may also cause damage to other factory-installed components.

 

Regardless of which option you choose, excessive lowering can cause poor ride quality, uneven tire wear, suspension damage, and undercharge damage. Not to mention the reduced clearance may create major obstacles out of even minor potholes, driveway inclines, speed bumps and curbs. Lowered vehicles can become difficult to align properly, leading to ongoing tire and suspension problems.

 

Engine Performance Tunes

 

Performance tuning has become increasingly popular as they are looked at as an inexpensive way to produce power in modern vehicles. With some simple software modifications, a lot of modern vehicles can gain significant horsepower and torque.

 

The downside is the fact that the vehicle was designed to operate within set limits and altering those limits can have an effect on the engine, transmission, cooling system, and other vital components. Increasing power increases stress on these components, which often leads to premature engine and transmission failures, turbocharger failures and overheating issues. Even with a moderate tune that does not add a massive amount of extra stress on the driveline and related components, regular aggressive driving can create problems, making the car more prone to premature failures requiring frequent repairs and service.

 

Putting all the reliability issues aside, not all engine tunes/programs/maps are created equal. Making certain programming modifications and installing certain programs may not be legal in certain states, as many performance tunes alter emissions-related systems. In some states, that can make the vehicle illegal for street use and can cause it to fail emissions testing.

 

Exhaust and Emissions Modifications

 

Many owners install aftermarket exhaust systems for increased performance or a more aggressive sound. While a properly designed cat-back exhaust generally causes few issues, removing catalytic converters, diesel emissions equipment, or other emissions-control components can create serious legal problems.

 

Similar to how certain engine performance tunes bypass or alter emission systems and federal emissions standards, tampering with emissions equipment like the catalytic converter on vehicles registered to be used on public roads is also illegal. Penalties can be significant, and vehicles with missing emissions equipment may fail inspections and become nearly impossible to register in most US states and equally as difficult to sell.

 

A vehicle with a loud aftermarket exhaust may also violate local noise ordinances, making them more susceptible to negative police attention. Not to mention the fact that no one wants to wake up to the defining sound of a massive 7-liter LS V8 Corvette engine with a free-flowing performance exhaust on a Sunday morning.

 

Aside from legal concerns, vehicles with loud aftermarket exhausts are often viewed as heavily modified, which often acts as a sign that a vehicle has been driven hard or improperly maintained.

 

Aftermarket Electrical Accessories

 

Modern vehicles rely heavily on electronics. Adding aftermarket lighting, stereo systems, remote starters, alarm systems, and other accessories can create additional demand on the already complex vehicle’s electrical system.

 

Poor-quality aftermarket wiring and installation is one of the leading causes of complex electrical gremlins, battery drain issues, blown fuses, and intermittent system failures. Diagnosing these problems can be time-consuming and expensive because technicians often must trace wiring modifications made years earlier.

 

However, even if the modifications are installed properly, the larger demand for electric power may still cause premature electrical system failures and unexpected problems.

 

The Impact on Vehicle Value

 

Many owners assume that spending thousands of dollars on modifications will increase their vehicle's value. In reality, the opposite is often true. Most used car shoppers prefer stock vehicles because they know exactly what they're getting. Modified vehicles appeal to a smaller group of buyers, which can make them harder to sell. Potential buyers may also worry that the vehicle has been raced, abused, or improperly assembled or repaired. This is especially true when the modifications were done by a do-it-yourselfer not a trained and certified automotive technician. It takes a certain type of meticulous DIYer to make sure that the vehicle is properly reassembled with no missing screws nuts or bolts and that all bolts are torqued to factory-specified specs and nothing is missed during the reassembly process.

 

A truck with a $10,000 lift kit or a car with $8,000 worth of performance upgrades rarely sells for more than a comparable stock vehicle. In many cases, the owner will never recover the money invested in making various modifications. The only exception to this rule is when it comes to famous show cars and builds by renowned car fabricators.

 

Insurance and Warranty Concerns

 

Modifications can also affect insurance coverage. Some insurers require modifications to be disclosed, and certain upgrades may increase premiums. If modifications are not reported, coverage disputes can arise after an accident.

 

Factory warranties can become another concern. While manufacturers cannot automatically void an entire warranty because a vehicle has been modified. They may deny coverage if they determine that a modification contributed to a failure.

 

Think Before You Modify

 

Not all modifications are bad. Quality upgrades that are properly installed and carefully selected can improve a vehicle's appearance, comfort, or capability. The key is understanding that every modification involves tradeoffs and not to expect that you will ever get your money back for those alterations when selling the car.

 

Before making changes to your vehicle, do some research and consider how they may affect reliability, maintenance costs, insurance, resale value, emissions compliance, and legality. The most heavily modified vehicles often look impressive on social media, but they can be the most expensive and frustrating vehicles to own in the long run.