Depreciation can be a real b-word. For owners, it’s no good. For buyers, it’s the best thing ever, especially when it hits sought after cars. Now, the fifth-generation Camaro Z/28 has been struck with a bit of depreciation and it’s made the Zeta-platform track star a real bargain.
Road and Track was alerted to the bargain bin prices, which show some Camaro Z/28s selling for under $40,000 at auction. One Z/28 was put up for sale at $35,000 with only 13,000 miles on the odometer; another features a $36,000 price with just 952 miles. Keep in mind, the Camaro Z/28 cost $75,000 when it was brand new.
Even outside of dealer auctions, the Camaro Z/28 is averaging under $45,000 on dealership lots. Granted, that’s approaching C7 Corvette money, but the fifth-gen Camaro Z/28 is no slouch. It features a fan-favorite engine—the 7.0-liter LS7 V8—with multimatic spool-valve dampers. It’s the same trick suspension setup found on the 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE.
Naturally, the Z/28 isn’t a very good daily driver, which may lend itself to the low prices. However, if a purpose-built track car is on your radar, this is certainly the time to buy.
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With the savings you can save up for the complete brake job that will cost north of $10 grand after a few years.
That’s why you replace the rotors with normal slotted rotors. The carbon ceramics will be fun while they last, but they also kind of suck because they really need to heat up to be effective.
Just FYI most Z/28 spent a full year on the dealership lot before they sold. Quite a few landed on the two year mark, where dealerships we’re forced to sell with a massive discount or buy the car outright from GM and sell it as a “used” car. The end result was you could buy a brand new Z/28 for around $48-52k just last year. A far cry from the 75 msrp.
Unfortunately I’m one of the people who invested a great deal in the Z28 when the price was way up there. I’ve held on to it thinking there is no way they’ll ever drop below $50k but boy was I wrong. I usually trade sports cars every 2 or 3 years but I can’t upgrade to a new Camaro without loosing really bad. I’m thinking serious about moving to Ford for my next sports car. The Mustang GT seems to hold it’s value a lot better.
You’re in the wrong area if you are buying pony cars as an investment. If you’re into that, then hold on to it for 20-30 years, drive it little, garage it, make sure it has no scratches or other damage, and then auction it.
That said, all pony cars depreciate and the Camaro is actually at the top of its segment from a depreciation standpoint. The Mustang and Challenger are much worse due to the large amounts of discounts, rebates and other incentives on those models.
Couldn’t agree more with you Alex. If you’re buying a modern car as an investment, you’re playing a dangerous game. You buy modern muscle cars for the joy of them. Having said that I do believe that these will gain value in their collecting years… 20-30 years down the road. If you factor in time value of money vs the potential market value 20 to 30 years down the road minis expenses ( storage fees, insurance, gas, etc…) You’re much better off truly investing in something else, such as a rental property, or stocks.
Moral of the story don’t “invest” in a modern car expecting a quick return on investment. Buy it for the sheer joy and technical advancement of perforamce cars.
I bought my car to enjoy it for a few years and trade. Not to buy it and it loose half it’s valve in a few years. I invest in the market too. That’s a dangerous game as well.
I bought mine to enjoy it, not to make a profit.
Cars are to be driven .if you are buying it for investment then you should put your money in gold .looks good on the people that shouldnt be driving a car with that much hp anyway..
Pretty amazing but I’ve heard by many it’s not suitable for the streets as an everyday
Checking the specs, a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 with the 7.0L V8 accelerated zero to sixty in 4.4 seconds while the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE with a 6.2L V8 can do the sixty in 4.1 seconds; but what makes the 2017 Chevy Camaro 1LE special is it’s suspension which Car and Driver magazine tested it’s roadholding on a 300-ft-dia skidpad at 1.05 g.
We’ll see how kind Father Time is to a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in a couple of years.
I own a 2015 Z28 bought it brand new. I have friends with the 2017 ZL1 1LE and one with a 2106 Z06. I am the only one that can run on track for 30 min and not go to limp mode. The Z28 is the better track car. If you drive it to and from work please get a ZL1 you will be happier. If you trailer it to the race track and run all out for 30 min or more going for ever possible second of speed then the Z28 is for you. It is an amazing car and I love mine. Got it brand new with 67 miles for $42,000. I could trade it in today for more then that.