This thread sucks.
Less hondas at shows = way more choices now then 12-13 years ago. That goes for both after market parts for many more cars and also TONS more choices with cars.
It took how long to get a real WRX here? now we have EVOs and STIs! Lets not forget cars like the Speed series mazdas, even chevy put out some good modding choices for compact cars and dodge got in on it with the neon.
Go back to mid to late 90s there was next to nothing out side of honda civics/accords and eclipses.
You will almost never get money back out of a car unless you buy a very old car and return it to stock. any mods to a classic car can hurt the value. If you build a car the correct way and list it at the right places you can get money for a car and recap a good bit of your investment.
example for a honda.
Very clean Civic with a low mileage GSR motor and Type R LSD tranny with a mugen or other higher quality, exhaust, intake, wheels and lowering springs/struts and brakes. IF clean should bring in good money if sold in the right market.
However a civic with a random JDM swap with a random intake, random exhaust some minor head work, basic body that is clean and a cool radio/sound system wont bring money in.
When looking at civics I aways passed on any car that had an engine swap with any type of motor work unless opening the motor meant putting in sleeves and legit head work.
My civic had a fully built block, darton sleeves, after market oil pump gear, head work, turbo system that was upgraded from day one (trashed the crap parts like the delta waste gate) full custom 3" exhaust with no bends, all bends were cut/weld/cut/weld/cut/weld everthing was done right, nothing motor wise was half assed.
body was clean, wheels were basic, brakes were basic, but the motor was done right.
I traded the car for $4500 cash + an audi A4. Did I make my money back? nope, I had around 25K into the car, if I bought any car for 25K drove it for 2-3 years and sold it, I would have made about the same money off the deal. a loss no doubt, but I was happy.
Is the honda scene from the past over? It will never be back to the ways it was, but when it comes to legit modders, I know a good bit of people who are still drag racing fans who I cant see ever leaving hondas, of course those same people are making 600-700-800-900WHP in their cars. In fact my old car (with the new owner) last time down the track made just under 900WHP and ran I believe a 9.3 To this day years later he's still running hondas.