[detltu]

This is actually a fun topic. I don't have a 6th gen ZL1 but I do have a 5th gen. I don't have any quick answer for convincing your wife, but here are a few things that I think helped my wife get on board:

1. She knew what she was getting into with me. I loved cars before I loved her and she knew basically from the first time that she met me that cars were a big deal to me. My college apartment had Camaro/ Ferrari/ Corvette/ etc. posters on the walls and I had a small model car collection as well. My 89 Camaro was my pride and joy. May not be practical if you are on a compressed timeline but my takeaway from this is to let them know how much it means to you. Share your passion.

2. I had a savings account. I have always been a saver. Not long after we started dating I started a savings account for her engagement ring and wedding ring. After those were purchased that savings account became my Camaro account. The 5th gen wasn't out at the time, but the concept had hit and I knew a new Camaro was in my future. She knew about the account and knew it's purpose. I think she did occasionally get a little upset when I called it my Camaro account, but I always told her if there was ever an emergency that account was fair game. When she was diagnosed with cancer I made good on that promise. It wiped out the "Camaro account" but it made a huge difference in our quality of life while we went through that. As soon as we got through her treatments and were on better financial footing I started saving more than ever in the "Camaro account with her blessing. My takeaways: A. Cancer sucks B. Anything you can do to lessen the financial burden is helpful. Pay off credit cards, lower some expenses on things that don't affect her (don't make her sacrifice for your enjoyment), save up for a down payment. Whatever you can do will help. (My wife is doing very well now so no worries there).

3. I involved her in the process of picking out my car. I decided since our savings was decimated that giving up the idea of a brand new Camaro was reasonable. Especially since I was looking at the upper end of the price range. We looked at some used ZL1's but never found the right deal on a car that really matched what I was looking for. We decided to go to Camaro Fest to take a look at the different Models. I wanted a 5th gen SS 1LE, ZL1, or Z28 or I could wait a few more years and see what the 6th gen was going to bring for those same models. I was particularly torn between the ZL1 and Z/28. I was willing to settle for the SS 1LE if I found the right deal as well. After seeing all of them in one place, she had a clear favorite. I had a few colors that I liked as well and I let here provide input in that decision as well. In the end we decided to take advantage of 0% financing and get a new Zl1 exactly how I wanted it. The idea was that if you are going to spend that kind of money you might as well get exactly what you want. My takeaway: even though the car was primarily for me, letting her help on some decisions helps make it our purchase instead of just mine.

Bottom line, she knew how much enjoyment the car would bring to me, she knew I was aware of the financial burden the car would place on us, and she knew she was more important to me than the car.

I didn't do any of that to be manipulative and it wasn't premeditated (other than the savings part of it). It's just how it worked out and it worked out well. You can contrast it with when I bought the 91 1LE. I came home one day and said I think I bought a car. Despite being approximately 20x more expensive, the ZL1 was a much more positive experience.