I'm not sure I like the sound of 'smashing' the exhaust.....sounds rather primitive. Or is this the norm and what everyone else has done?
See here: http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,41083.0.html
It's not what everybody has done.
Interesting that 83% would buy a standard car and some of that number would then proceed to tackle their tuning with inadequate budgets and DIY where sometimes neither the tools or the ability exist. Under these circumstances I would buy standard without a doubt. Even then you may look for the stamps in the book and think to yourself 'Oh great, FVWSH and standard' but you could be very wrong. How many return to standard sales do we see here?
It's entirely conceivable that somebody could modify (in some cases the term ameliorate is more accurate) their car and spend as much as the cost of the car again in doing so. If this is done with with new OE or better parts, advice from a respected tuner who has experience is adhered to, no cheap short cuts taken, and vehicle unique parts (ED30 or Pirelli) are retained why would you not want to buy this car?? Some are modified for show, others at an engineering level with an objective in mind. Show 'vs' track for example.
Here's an example, LSD. Circa £1400 fitted and none of it's coming back to you. Does it make a difference? YES, unequivocally . Next to stage 1 map it's the next best thing you can do for these cars (unless the 'scene' is your thing in which case you'd probably spend the same on wheels or 'bagging'). If you want to remove mods later to sell and getting big numbers is all you're interested in then this is not for you.
My point here is that not all 'modified' vehicles are the same. Some are highly desirable, others may be interesting for some to look at but drive terribly, or not.
Most of the respected tuners can keep you entertained with anecdotes regarding vehicles coming in with bodged partly finished works or owners with no mechanical empathy or appreciation wanting high levels of tune applied to a vehicle that hasn't been properly cared for. Some will actually decline to work on vehicles where this applies unless the issues are corrected.
They can also tell you about remarkable vehicles that have had the right money spent and the right parts bought.
There will be awful modified and standard vehicles and also exceptional modified and standard alike.