It sure looks good but does it enhance value?
By EUGENE MAHALINGAM
eugenicz@thestar.com.my
THROUGHOUT history, man has always taken pride in customising his mode of transport.
The earliest form of “vehicle mod” can be traced back to probably when horses were domesticated and individualised in every way imaginable.
Native Americans painted them, knights donned them with colourful linen and cowboys saddled them with studded silver.
Fast forward to the era of the automobile and vehicle customisation has become a huge fad – a platform for artistic automotive expression.
Rims or customised wheels are among the most popular upgrades that can help boost your vehicle’s resale value, says a tyre agent. But let’s talk about resale value. The common automobile, like almost everything else on this planet, starts to depreciate in value as time goes by.
Car modifications, as pleasing as they may seem in the eye of the beholder, generally tend to knock down the value of one’s car even further when compared to a non-customised or “stock” vehicle.
Used Autos Sdn Bhd owner Peter Wong, a Segamat-based used car dealer, explains: “The idea of vehicle modifications screams personalisation, meaning that the car is meant to suit the owner’s individual needs and no one else.
“Because the vehicle will now end up looking totally different from what the manufacturer intended, the range of buyers you can attract will be limited.”
Still, there are vehicle customisations that can actually help increase, if not retain (rather than decrease) the resale value of your car.
All souped up
Rims, or customised wheels, are among the most popular upgrades that could help boost your vehicle’s resale value, says Klang Valley-based tyre agent Vincent Pang.
“Customised wheels not only positively impact the performance and handling of any vehicle, but they can help improve its value as well. Plus, they enhance your vehicle’s appearance,” Pang says.
He, however, advises that customers should go for rims that are identical in size to the vehicle’s original wheels.
“A larger rim means more weight, meaning more effort is needed to spin the wheel and this could result in worse fuel economy. If you must go with a bigger wheel, choose alloy rims, which are lighter, as opposed to (heavier) steel ones.”
Another trick is to compensate for the larger wheel with a lower profile tyre. This is to ensure that the diameter of the new wheel and tyre is the same as the original.
“Keeping the diameter of the new wheel and tyre package equal to the vehicle’s original wheel size should result in very little impact on fuel economy,” says Pang.
“Getting wider rims are also great for handling and stability, something that a lot of buyers look for in a car. However, these wheels will require wider tyres, which can cost more,” he adds.
Jeremy Yeoh, a Kuala Lumpur-based used car dealer, says many vehicle owners are spending more on mobile electronics that help increase their car’s resale value.
“Aftermarket GPS navigation systems are quite popular with today’s drivers because they provide flexibility and mobility compared with systems installed by the car manufacturers.
“These units, which can be stuck on practically anywhere within the vehicle cabin, come with added features such as UBS and Bluetooth connectivity, which are easier to update and use,” he says.
Aftermarket stereo systems are also popular, provided the installation is professionally done and does not interfere with the vehicle’s electrical system, says Wong.
“I’ve known of car owners that installed crazy sound systems into their vehicles and the wiring job was poorly done. This caused an overload and the car caught fire.
“DVD entertainment systems are also quite popular, but it depends on the types of vehicle. These are ideal SUVs (sports-utility vehicles) and MPVs (multipurpose vehicles), which are great for carrying five to seven passengers during long trips.”
According to Yeoh, certain visual upgrades can also increase the resale value of a car if they are “not over the top” and legal.
“Given our hot climate, adding a sun-roof or window tinting, as long as it is legal, can help garner a higher resale value.”
The earliest form of “vehicle mod” can be traced back to probably when horses were domesticated and individualised in every way imaginable.
Native Americans painted them, knights donned them with colourful linen and cowboys saddled them with studded silver.
Fast forward to the era of the automobile and vehicle customisation has become a huge fad – a platform for artistic automotive expression.
Rims or customised wheels are among the most popular upgrades that can help boost your vehicle’s resale value, says a tyre agent.Car modifications, as pleasing as they may seem in the eye of the beholder, generally tend to knock down the value of one’s car even further when compared to a non-customised or “stock” vehicle.
Used Autos Sdn Bhd owner Peter Wong, a Segamat-based used car dealer, explains: “The idea of vehicle modifications screams personalisation, meaning that the car is meant to suit the owner’s individual needs and no one else.
“Because the vehicle will now end up looking totally different from what the manufacturer intended, the range of buyers you can attract will be limited.”
Still, there are vehicle customisations that can actually help increase, if not retain (rather than decrease) the resale value of your car.
All souped up
Rims, or customised wheels, are among the most popular upgrades that could help boost your vehicle’s resale value, says Klang Valley-based tyre agent Vincent Pang.
“Customised wheels not only positively impact the performance and handling of any vehicle, but they can help improve its value as well. Plus, they enhance your vehicle’s appearance,” Pang says.
He, however, advises that customers should go for rims that are identical in size to the vehicle’s original wheels.
“A larger rim means more weight, meaning more effort is needed to spin the wheel and this could result in worse fuel economy. If you must go with a bigger wheel, choose alloy rims, which are lighter, as opposed to (heavier) steel ones.”
Another trick is to compensate for the larger wheel with a lower profile tyre. This is to ensure that the diameter of the new wheel and tyre is the same as the original.
“Keeping the diameter of the new wheel and tyre package equal to the vehicle’s original wheel size should result in very little impact on fuel economy,” says Pang.
“Getting wider rims are also great for handling and stability, something that a lot of buyers look for in a car. However, these wheels will require wider tyres, which can cost more,” he adds.
Jeremy Yeoh, a Kuala Lumpur-based used car dealer, says many vehicle owners are spending more on mobile electronics that help increase their car’s resale value.
“Aftermarket GPS navigation systems are quite popular with today’s drivers because they provide flexibility and mobility compared with systems installed by the car manufacturers.
“These units, which can be stuck on practically anywhere within the vehicle cabin, come with added features such as UBS and Bluetooth connectivity, which are easier to update and use,” he says.
Aftermarket stereo systems are also popular, provided the installation is professionally done and does not interfere with the vehicle’s electrical system, says Wong.
“I’ve known of car owners that installed crazy sound systems into their vehicles and the wiring job was poorly done. This caused an overload and the car caught fire.
“DVD entertainment systems are also quite popular, but it depends on the types of vehicle. These are ideal SUVs (sports-utility vehicles) and MPVs (multipurpose vehicles), which are great for carrying five to seven passengers during long trips.”
According to Yeoh, certain visual upgrades can also increase the resale value of a car if they are “not over the top” and legal.
“Given our hot climate, adding a sun-roof or window tinting, as long as it is legal, can help garner a higher resale value.”
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