Depreciation Rating?

My husband thinks a 2000 Cougar [v6] won't hold its depreciation value long. is this true? esp if it has modifications to it? I'd think Cougars would hold thier value much longer since they no longer make them, and they are great cars. Someone help! Thanks

Late gen Cougars will depreciate in value. Most people would rather buy a stock cougar so they know nothing has been tinkered with and messed up. Others dont care and have intentions of modifying it anyways. Modified engine cougars generally translates to the person beating on the car as well. I mean, no harm can be done, but we dont know if its been powershifted, ebrake pulled around corners, etc. I dont see any reason why the Cougar would become a classic car in the future. The only people that might be willing to pay more than others would be they are Cougar enthusiasts.

ok well nothing has been engine wise or anything internaly as far as modifications go, and second.... body kit, sound system and tinted windows is all thats done. anyone have an opinion/fact that actually relates to this?

ok well nothing has been engine wise or anything internaly as far as modifications go, and second.... body kit, sound system and tinted windows is all thats done. anyone have an opinion/fact that actually relates to this?

Id say when it comes to mods like that, people arent willing to pay extra for modifications. Youll never come close to breaking even on what youve paid in mods, thats just the reality. Its not until you venture into the high dollar bolt on's that you might be able to recover some of that money you paid on modifications. (i.e superchargers or turbo chargers, SOME wheels, custom paint jobs, air ride suspension, etc) In my honest opinion, I dont think youll get any extra for what youve had done. It would probably be better just to sell it seperate from the car than with the car. For example, a guy just sold his 2000 SVT Contour on ebay a few months ago. Car had over $13,000 invested into engine, drivetrain, turbo kit, etc. On top of that, aftermarket wheels and tires, big brakes, $2400 Recaro leather seats, the list goes on. He easily had about $20K invested. Its the also highest horsepower contour to date. Car sold for under $10,000 in a no reserve auction.

Id say when it comes to mods like that, people arent willing to pay extra for modifications. Youll never come close to breaking even on what youve paid in mods, thats just the reality. Its not until you venture into the high dollar bolt on's that you might be able to recover some of that money you paid on modifications. (i.e superchargers or turbo chargers, SOME wheels, custom paint jobs, air ride suspension, etc) In my honest opinion, I dont think youll get any extra for what youve had done. It would probably be better just to sell it seperate from the car than with the car. For example, a guy just sold his 2000 SVT Contour on ebay a few months ago. Car had over $13,000 invested into engine, drivetrain, turbo kit, etc. On top of that, aftermarket wheels and tires, big brakes, $2400 Recaro leather seats, the list goes on. He easily had about $20K invested. Its the also highest horsepower contour to date. Car sold for under $10,000 in a no reserve auction.

i'm not expecting to get everything i've put into it back. thats a given. i'm expecting for a reasonable price. and believe it or not, some people will pay a little extra for a mod. car because they won't have to do it themselves, or whatever reason they have. so yeah.

my wife's

1999 mercury cougar V6 automatic
leather EVERYTHING
16 inch rims, 4 wheel disc brakes
windows were factory tinted
spolier, sunroof/moonroof (i forget the difference)
cd player, power EVERYTHING, remote keyless entry

basically the most expensive cougar you could buy in 1999

taking into consideration, what this car costed new, what we paid for it, what the blue book was when we got it, and what the blue book is now, i would have to say this car is holding its value quite well

as for your "modifications" affecting the value, that 100% depends on the person buying it, it could totally turn them on making them think "i have to have this car, holy fuck do i have to have this car, its soo awesome, just look at it, i mean, isnt it just sooo cool, it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine" OR they may think "oh i dont know man, i see tricked out looking cars like this all the time just getting the living shit beat out of them by 16-17 yr olds out crusin the square, is this one of those cars??"

thats just my thought