Michael:
I would expect to pay a bit more to a dealer because of necessary margin
required to support overhead and expenses, plus a profit. However, that doesn't
mean you'll get a bad deal. If your car is as you described I'd say you
received very fair value. Those mods are not free, but if these were items you
wanted then you probably came out very well.
Generally a dealer will pay below market prices to acquire a car, plus he
probably gets reduced shop rates and parts discounts on work performed on the
car. I would not be surprised if you had purchased a lesser car and then did
the same work on it, that you may well have spent more than the amount you paid
for your car.
I know, because the latter way is how I did it! I bought a very solid rust
free car needing paint and an interior, plus some "odds and ends". The car cost
$8900. The bare metal repaint cost $4200, the interior probably $900, and those
nasty odds and ends probably ran me another $2000. Thankfully, my car already
had many mods, like a Spax conversion, new tires with Panasports, header and
extractor exhaust, etc. Otherwise the bill would have been even more.
I think you did just fine!
Jim
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