Ok, so here is my predicament... I want to mod my RS 3.0 but I want to be able to revert it back to stock so I can keep the resale value as high as I can.

So far the only things I've done are purchase some trim rings and tercel center caps for the exterior and on the interior I've installed a serius satelite mount for my mobile unit thingy-ma-bob. Also, we sadly bought the factory lighting kit so there is really no need for cold cathodes for that area.

I guess I just have some questions / need some suggestions...

1) I've been looking a lot at vinyl eyelids; do they come off easily?
2) I want to do the jesus handle LED mod also; can I easily undo that and make it so that they wouldn't know I did that?
3) Would it be worth it to replace my factory lighting kit with randodes or ozniums and would I be able to completely take it out if need be without any noticable damage?
4) Is there a way to clear-out / black-out / red-out / whatever the tail lights in a way I could just do something to make it stock again?
5) What can I do to increase the power of the engine that won't have any negative effects? I know I could remove the snorkel but some people speculate that could have negative effects, and I don't think it would be worth the risk if it did have negative effects.
6) What are some interior accent lights I could use? I was thinking something rechargable or plug in thru the cigarette lighter...


So yeah, if you guys and gals have any cool mods that I could easily return back to stock, please share. Or even if you know of some mods I could do that wouldn't hurt my resale value at all, please share.


And I'm sorry if it seems like I'm not committed to modding my xB and that I want handouts or whatever. I am just worried about the resale value taking a crap. Not saying I want to resell it any time soon; I would love to keep it forever... It's just sometimes things take a turn for the worse and I want to have a plan B.


Thank you,
Michael

 

Some of my Mods are "Stock" mods. TYC tail lights, Hotchkis strut bar and AEM intake (both Solar Yellow). These are genuine Toyota parts and no way would adversely effect the value. The only thing that would scare some potiential buyers might be a turbo or supercharger.

 

for the tails, any sort of paint or tint sray cannot come off, and the vinyl can, but can leave residue. But tailight mods usually dont hurt your resale value unless they are rediculously obvious or fugly.
power mods: intake, header, exhaust, all can be easily bolted on and unbolted as long as you keep your stoc parts.
any sort of lighting kit can be easily removed just drill holes where they cannot be easily seen or if you drill holes for a switch and decide to sell the box, leave the switch in

keep in mind a dealer will not give you top dollar for any mods, most wont give you a dime, selling independanlty helps better for modded cars.

 

Thanks to both of you for the quick response. I would do some of the toyota stock mods, but they are so expensive for things I know I could get for MUCH cheaper as aftermarket parts. I dunno, I'll have to check them out though.

 

almost all mods are reversible...lowered springs can be taken back off, wheels can be changed, tail and head lights can be swapped back, etc. Just be careful of any body changes.

 

I got my Toyota parts on Ebay from a dealer that sells below the list price. They are under Toyotamall1 and are Sullivan Brothers Toyota. They still have some RS3 parts I believe--check them out.

 

xBster, you do have a point.

OldYeller, I will check 'em out! Didn't even think about getting the official toyota items from ebay... Durr!

 

just reasearch everything, that's what i did. dont just jump on/into things, take your time and you will figure out everything you need to know.

 

You can take the snorkel off- no real risk. If water did somehow get splashed into the snorkel opening in the airbox, it's almost impossible for it to be drawn up through the filter. Even a short ram intake is little risk since it would need to be practically submerged to draw in water instead of air. Not that likely when it's 2 feet off the ground.

I wouldn't bother with an exhaust or header if you're planning to return to stock. Seems like a lot of work and you'd have some large parts to store in the meantime. An intake gives the most bang for the buck and is easily swapped out.

 

Every mod in my long list can be put back to stock.

 

Chop the top!

 

Donnie, he said CAN be turned back!

 

oops wrong thread,

 

Well I don't know but why not just leave the damn thing stock? If your just buying it to eventually get rid of it why waste the money in modding it at all? I plan on keeping my car until the son of a gun goes completely dead on me. So I don't mind dropping coin on it. That's just what I figure however I just might want to get something else so I am making sure to know exactly what it is that I am going to do before I get too far in and lose way too much money.

 

Alrighty, I'll be looking at some cold air intake I believe.


Of course you can turn it back! You just need a bit of superglue and SHAZAM!


I don't want to keep it stock because I love my car and I really want to get into modding it. I'm not saying I want to resell it, but I want to leave that possibility open if everything takes a crap.

 

Basically 80% of what you can mod real easy can be undone. Just save all the stock parts and safly store them away. I've seen far too many people scramble around trying to rebuy stock pieces they had sold off.
I doubt I'll ever put mine back to stock but it's nice knowing that it can de done relatively easy.