ISF values are in the high $30,000 to low $40,000 range depending on mileage and year.

The one that I am particularly looking at has about 72xxx miles and is around $50,000 with a private seller. It has a bunch of different modifications including Tom's diffuser, Lip, side skirts -- as well as wheels, Valvetronic exhaust, tune, and coilovers. I really like the build.

The value of a similar vehicle is about $36-41k.

Now, I am thinking of financing the car through a credit union if I can even get an approval for a loan.

In your guy's opinion, do you think that it is worth buying such a vehicle? Would this be a good investment? If I were to sell it in a few years, do you think I'd even get 60% of what I paid? I know the values of vehicles are jacked up right now because of the chip shortage. I'm hard stuck between wanting to buy it and doubting the worth, and want to know what you guys think lol

 

Welcome to the forum =)
The price he's asking, as you know, is high. He/she seems to be pricing around the mods done to the car which is a debatable point of increasing sale price. My opinion has always been mods decrease value. Of course, if he/she kept all the stock parts that were changed, this would change things for me. Remember too that these cars aren't necessarily collector cars just yet (even though they are to us here on the forum) so considering them an actual investment is a little tough - so few cars are. But a fairly priced ISF can certainly score 60% of what you originally paid in a resale. I know big purchases often make people's minds loop around resale. I've seen people buy homes only to immediately paint & stage them for resale vs. actually living in them. My advice is try not to think too hard about resale when making a purchase - particularly if it's a car - it can meddle with actually enjoying it. That said, the ISF is an investment in your soul because it'll put a smile on your face even on the most menial of trips. I assure you that it's added a year or so to my life.

I overpaid a bit for mine when I bought it May 1st, 2014. I set out for a black MY 2011/12 just like your private seller has but ended up with a silver 08. Zero regrets. I say ditch the private seller and find a less expensive car that wasn't tuned etc. It's hard, but your patience will pay off and you will save a LOT of money.

Got any pics of the one you're looking at?

 

Honestly, get a higher mileage ISF completely stock for 20k-25k, and then do your own mods to it. These cars are not affected in their performance from mileage but by how well taken care of they have been. The market is hot for almost all cars, and its gonna be a kick in the groin to buy a niche car like the ISF.

 

What year is it? For clarity, modified cars are simply worth less money. If it has the exact mods you want, then it may be worth a little more to you, but not the market. Oem cars will always be king in resale value.

 

I have seen ISFs on this forum earn their mod money back. I certainly agree with you and wouldn't do it myself, but there are instances where mods plus presence on this forum helps the resale of a car to another user.

 

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...415211428.html <----- I think this is the one your talking about


Personally I would find one stock, and enjoy it that way first then mod it, car is just fine stock...


Also one thing to keep in mind is getting this car smogged in CA is going to be difficult unless you know a guy

 

Buyer/OP ask if you can be grandfathered in with the sellers Smog guy.
Also, as others have said. There are other ISFs for cheaper. Would recommend checking out those listings.
https://www.lexusofsacramento.com/al...=IS%20F&trim=F

 

I wouldn’t buy a modded car….ever. You never know the quality of workmanship. And 52K is ridiculous. There are 2012 models with less miles on Carvana going for less. They only way I would pay that much for an IS F is if it was a 2013/2014 with lowish miles. But that’s just me.

 

Thank you!

Oh yes, I forgot to mention. He has all the stock parts.

 

I've actually looked into Carvana and with taxes and fees and everything it would come close to the amount that he's asking for except Carvana is stock. I've always been skeptical about Carvana as well. I understand having a stock car is nicer so you know exactly what you did to the vehicle.

In response to what you said about 2013/2014 ISF, they're are rare to find as well, you almost never see any on the market

 

In OP's defense, the seller had some decent mods completed that would need to be addressed as the car ages anyway, like the headers. Two things you'd want to also address would be 1) is the car running on 91 or 93 after he acquired the tune and 2) has the valley plate leak been addressed? If not, that WILL happen and that's easily 1800 out of your pocket.

Also this car will not pass smog currently - this will require either putting stock tune/cats back on or the other way that involves a few Benny's.

 

Yes, you found it haha. I might know a guy for smog... 2011/2012 ISF's with similar miles are priced in the low to mid 40's at dealerships. After taxes it would be close to the amount that he's asking for. It wouldn't be unreasonable for me to get this one. But I know, you personally wouldn't get one that is modded and you would enjoy the car stock first -- but I think he asking for a pretty reasonable for the mods. He didn't cheap out on mods. The wheels itself are 4k new, TOM's is crazy expensive, Valvetronic exhausts are 2-3k, and the rr racing tune kit is in the mid 2,000's.

 

Thanks, Ill definitely ask about the valley plate leak. As for smog, I think that I will go the other way. My 200t is currently tuned too but hasn't required any smogs yet fortunately.

 

That is a really clean ISF with very tasteful mods. Prices are wild right now, I bought my 2017 GSF with 39K miles in Feb. this year for the same price.

 

There are older ones that are cheaper, I couldn't find any decent priced ones that were 2011. All of the ones that are 2011/2012 are priced around $40k+, with taxes and fees it could bring the total up to close to what he's asking except it doesn't have all of these mods (which are desirable to me). If you can find 2011/2012's cheaper than 40k otd, then I would consider it.