Kyle Harty

iTrader: (17)

Why not just rebadge it before you sell the car?

oldcajun

For several years I did appraisals on used cars for a group of new car dealers. I always dropped the value on any mods on a late model car. Not only did it narrow the number of prospective buyers, but it suggested a car that had been driven agressively, usually by a younger owner. In the case of removed badges, installing new badges is not free. The badges cost something, the shop cost is something, and the scheduling of the "unmod" ties the car up for a period no matter how short. When you add the inconvenience to the purchasing dealer, that added up to a reason to depreciate the value of the car. How much? It depends a lot but easily several hundred dollars. Dropped cars with oversize wheels would be several thousand dollars.

If you want to do the mod, plan on restoring it to stock before trade-in or sell it to a private party. Be very careful about modding a leased car. That could get really expensive.

Steve

IS-SV

Too bad you are not handling it, but it should be ok. I agree there is a cost, and the cost is low when you take out the markup and profit of both the parts and labor. Selling party can get it done for reasonable cost, this would not be an insurance job.

Personally I can't be bothered to debadge.

Evitzee

Most people don't want to buy a car that is modded because the mods are usually never what they are looking for. When I see cars with all sorts of mods, especially performance related, I just move on. Why should I buy some kid's car that may well have been ridden hard and put away wet? Debadging is a bit subtler, but is usually only done by people who are more performance related. If you want to debadge it, fine, but plan on putting the badging back on when you go to sell it. Question: Would one find a CPO Lexus on a Lexus dealer's lot that is debadged? I would bet that one of the inspection points would be that all badging is present and in good condition. If I was a private buyer I'd be suspect of a debadged car. YMMV.

sailing217

I agree with OldCajun.

Just restore to original before selling. A $20 badge might cost you a few hundred at the dealer, so just do it yourself. Keep the stock springs/shocks to replace as well.

I debadged mine for a clean look. I do get asked what model it is and my reply is: "a 250 that's all show and no go". I did the mod for me, not to fool anyone. I debadged my wife's EvoX MR too. It has the opposite effect, you think you're next to a Lancer with a wing and some wheels called BBS and you find out quick it's an evo with a tune. A sleeper car is fun when you own it.

dmLsix

Isn't it just the lexus Logo that has a hole behind it?

And there is no hole behind the "LEXUS" and the "IS250" right? just held on by the adhesive?

just making sure before I begin to debadge it

dmLsix

Is it just the lexus Logo that has a hole behind it?

And there is no hole behind the "LEXUS" and the "IS250" right? just held on by the adhesive?

just making sure before I begin to debadge it

sailing217

Wrong, there are 2 holes behind IS250 and the Lexus part. They are noticeable to the trained eye.

Solarian

I would never debadge a car that has holes behind the badges. If I will debadge though, I usually go with the following, as I personally think it looks best. Eliminate all the "text" and just leave the logo. It's not just so people know what brand it is, but most logos look pretty nice, and people are used to seeing them there. Without the logo the area looks empty, and unusual, to me at least.

Genecc

do all the IS years have holes behind the "Lexus" and "IS250" badges? I prefer to remove the badges for a cleaner look and easier to wax.

Rash

iTrader: (1)

^ Yes, all of them.

Mike_1GO

iTrader: (2)

yes, all 2nd gen IS's have holes behind the emblems^

removing emblems may lead some people to believe that the car was resprayed..

KillaIS250

iTrader: (1)

Yes, all the badges have holes behind them. But the 2011+ models don't have the "Lexus" badge from the factory anymore.