How much does a swap add to the value on average?

[shuvool]

I know there's not really a hard answer, due to all of the variables, but on average it seems like a 95 240SX goes for around 5 grand give or take. I'm looking to buy and I see several, but some have swapped the engines (SR20DET mostly) which is great, since it saves me from having to do it, but is there a rule of thumb to gauge how much this should tack on to the price? Thanks in advance

[Chaluska]

around texas a 95 240 goes for about 3-4,000 in great condition.
if there are a bunch of ebay parts tossed on and its ragged out with lots of parts missing with no a/c, they will go for about 1.5-2.500..,

an SR swap might get an extra grand, maybe.. it really doesnt add as much to the car as it costs... crappy thing about modding cars, whatever you spend on a mod will only get you about 25% of what you spent.

[MADE]

Personal opinion I dont think anymore than 1k, just for having an basic bolt on's SR. Just looking at a good percentage of SR swaps on the forums alot are thrown together or beat to ish. To me SR swap equals abused more often than not. I think the overall condition of the car plays the bigger factor the include the mods if extensive. Granted finding a good condition car not thrown together with cheap parts etc will be cheaper than DIY. Finding that car is the key. I think the overall condition of my car will hold more value than the SR which is a plus, even though its tastefully and professionally done.

[Banana_Cute]

really depends on the owners. To be honest, I think as a community we should have some kind of guidelines to balance the value of the S-chassis since even a bone stock ass car doesnt go by KBB.com or Edmunds pricing like it's rare.

[Future240]

Lol at 5K for a 95 Zenki. There is no rule of thumb. A lot of what you see is drift tax.*

From modding the marketplace I've noticed a few trends that seem to influence the price a lot.

1. Location of car- cars in Cali are cheaper a lot of the times do to more of them classic supply and demand.

2. Mods- self explanatory. The more mod the higher the price. Typically s13 SR< S14 SR<S15 SR<RB25<RB26<2JZ<LSX. As far as swaps go. Of course that is not finite as it does not take into account built engines or "needs work" engines. Or less commons swaps.

Also with other mods such as suspension and coilovers it seems the more name brand the higher the price.

Functionality also plays into it Full SPL suspension with a koni setup should sell more than full SPL suspension with Fortune Auto coils since the koni setup would probably be superior.
Aero JDM= $$$$
Wheels =$$$$-the more balling the wheels the higher the price. TE37 > Rota.*
Other mods like HIDs can also increase value.




3. Condition of car- This directly tied into the above. For example a Zenki with an s13 SR with a clean body, no rust, no mechanical issues could go for more than a Zenki with a damaged quarter panel and rust with an S15 SR

4. Age of buyer. Younger guys buy more into drift tax. Obviously not co concrete but more often than not.

5. Overall cost to put car into current condition. This ties a lot into number 4.*

Selling modded cars is usually done at a loss. The price of the car is based around that. More mature buyers realize this and try to set a fair price point. The rest try to get as close to or even exceed what they spent.

Now imagine on the above points there is a graph. As you increase or decrease one the others change.

Example. Increasing #1 (saying higher supply) lowers price on all factors except age. Same example decreasing age increases price on all factors except location.

Increasing mods makes overall cost go up depending on location and age of seller one car could be cheaper than another car with more mods

Realize none of this is set in concrete and there are always exceptions.

You wanted a rule of thumb. This is about as close as you can get.*

Your first thought should be what kind of car you want, swapped or not, how many mods etc. give yourself a maximum price and STICK TO IT.

Once the car is found try to find 3 others that are similar and compare.*

Take your time. I cannot stress this enough.

Check out the car thoroughly before buying.

Be prepared to walk away.

Good luck.

[omgRWDgoodness!]

↑ Some excellent points there, but Konis over Fortunes? I (for one) would definitely pay more for a car with quality coilovers already installed over a car with struts+springs, since they would be getting replaced with a set of coilovers anyway.

[white-s13coupe]

nice s14's seem to go for around 5k
i just got a great mint white 93 se coupe with 86kmiles for 4 even like new found on ebay...

here is one of the nicest stock s14's ive seen for sale... EBAY... again the guy who bought it stole it for 5050 looks great i would have tryed to pick it up... i'm just not made of $ tho : (

here the link.... check it its gorgeous

Nissan : 240SX SE in Nissan | eBay Motors (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SE-/170958224061?_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&forcev4exp=true#ht_)

[EnemyS15]

The quality or the work done to the car and the cars over all condition sets the tone for the price. You might have a swapped 240, but if the swap was done shitty and the body of the 240 is banged you aren't going to get much. It's common sense. It's what you feel is a reasonable price.

[jr_ss]

I paid 6k for my 95' back in 05'. It was a one owner completely stock and super clean 76k mileage car. I would only pay top dollar for a stock low mileage car. I would definitely pay less for a swapped car than a stock one depending on the condition on said cars.

Bottom line, it's your money and Future has excellent points.

[SLiDe_WaYz]

A swapped S chassis with bolt ins with sell for 5-6K that's about the going rate.

Add in quality parts, quality bolt ons, nice wheels, some aero, maybe real buckets your looking at 6-8K.

That's just for a nice SR S chassis usually you can add another 1,000 or so to those numbers for a RB. And anything with a clean LS swap your looking at 10K minimum.

Either way your going to be looking at a 6-7K investment. Buy a car for 3-4K then spend a additional 3-4K on a clean swap. Still the same as buying one already swapped with the work done.

If I was going to buy another 240 it would be already swapped just to save your own personally headache and aggravation.

[roboticnissan]

↑ Some excellent points there, but Konis over Fortunes? I (for one) would definitely pay more for a car with quality coilovers already installed over a car with struts+springs, since they would be getting replaced with a set of coilovers anyway.

A koni setup is better than if not all, then dedinitely most coilover setups easily. The reason no one does it, cuz hardly anyone knows anything about valving and correct spring rate(me included). A good valve job can run above 1000$ and kids of zilvia are chizzeap and uneducated.

[Gamma]

Key is to be patient, I just bought another coupe for 900 buck in good condition no check engine light, still strong KA, a few dings but already pulled them and its bone stock.. You can find gems in the sand if u look hard and b patient.. Cant stress it enough GLWB

[bpat]

^^ Being patient is the key. I looked around for about a year while i saved up some money and ended up getting a clean rust free 96 zenki (Being in michigan thats kinda hard) with fortune auto coils, z32 brakes, j30 rear end, ect and also came with Rota p45s and a bunch of other goodies. I payed 4.5 for it and considering how clean it was and all the extras that came on it, i was happy

[Seraphim38]

In truth it depends on the swap (answering the OP question literally). Added value from an SR swap has been well covered above. RB swaps, which can cost more than an SR swap, may or may not add additional value over an SR swap, depending on which RB it is and whether it is stock. A bigger, newer RB swap done right can add a good amount of value if it is done correctly. Jz swaps also can add a lot of value to a car if done correctly and/or built. LSx V8 swaps add thousands more than an SR it seems...as I have seen several LS swap cars trying to be sold between 12k and 20k. From an investment point of view, LSx swaps offer the best rate of return.

Cars built by a poor teenage or college kid from cheap crappy eBay parts are commonly seen on the market. Professionally built, no corners cut cars are rarer and not cheap.

[fliprayzin240sx]

A koni setup is better than if not all, then dedinitely most coilover setups easily. The reason no one does it, cuz hardly anyone knows anything about valving and correct spring rate(me included). A good valve job can run above 1000$ and kids of zilvia are chizzeap and uneducated.

Well, we have companies like Fortune Auto now that revalves their stuff with the spring rates. There's a couple other not so well known companies that does the same thing stateside now a days.

[shuvool]

Thanks for the info, all. I am eager to get into a 240, but I have learned how to be patient in the last 30 years, so I am pretty sure I will be able to avoid jumping onto the first deal I see. You've all given me some great food for thought, and I will continue looking around, hoping to find a SR swapped S14, as I have seen zero RB swaps advertised locally, although admittedly I haven't been looking very hard to find them.

[MADE]

Either way your going to be looking at a 6-7K investment.


You shouldn't use the word investment in relation with buying a Nissan 240SX. At least not in 2012.

I think all have given valid points, and waiting to find the right one is the key. Depending of what your doing to do with it the condition doesn't have to be great. i.e drifting shouldn't have to wait to find a clean chassis IMO. It also comes down to you gotta pay to play. Either you have the time and money to build it by your deadline or you only have enough to buy one as is. I'm on my "FiF" car and I always say the next one im buying built. But I just brought a stock 97 Kouki cause it had everything I wanted. :duh:

[guitaraholic]

I picked up a one owner, babied, bone stock, 98 Black Kouki, for $1,500 but then again I got lucky. I still have her too!! Though now with Coilovers, Sr, yadda yadda.