[motorhead]

I would say just the fact that you are questioning it says that you really shouldn't do it. I wouldn't have a ZL1 if it was my daily commuter car, but that's just me.

[oakaro68]

Originally Posted by samsumon

I'm sorry, but if you're debating between a car or retirement, then with all due respect go talk to someone and set priorities a bit more straight. I'm ALL for buying and living in the now. But this is NOT something you need. Retirement should be (I'm assuming you are close or relatively close) 100% your main focus. Buy the car when you can drive it to the beach.

Well I just turned 30 so I have a couple more years to retirement

[oakaro68]

Originally Posted by g3ngo

I'll answer a different way, and assume that you can afford the car at MSRP already. Maybe you should consider a 3rd, more economical car for your commute. Here's some quick math:

80 miles round trip @ 20 work days per month = 1600 miles
1600 miles with ZL1 @ 20mpg = 80 gallons
1600 miles with EcoCar @ 40mpg = 40 gallons

80 gallons of premium for ZL1 at $2.75/gallon = $220
40 gallons of regular for Ecocar at $2.50/gallon = $100
(Difference of $120)

Accelerated depreciation on ZL1 = $200/month
Additional insurance on EcoCar = $100/month
(Difference of $100)

If you can get your hands on an economical car for less than $220 a month, that could be a good option.

Obviously I've made some assumptions here, but figured this could get you thinking.
If fuel goes up, EcoCar looks better. If depreciation is more aggressive, EcoCar looks better. If EcoCar gets better than 40mpg, EcoCar looks better.

Well, it makes sense where you're going with this one. Don't think the Mrs would go for that one though even if it did save a little bit per month. I guess gas prices would really have to go up for this to make my case look enticing

[Boilermaker128]

I'm in the same boat as you. 30, house is half paid, no kids, turning my future zl1 into my DD. But I work all over the country and put on around 50,000km a year. I am prepared to pay for the very fast depreciation, expensive oil changes, tires(huge $) brake work/autocar washes that comes with the territory of long hours/mileage.

Just remember there are different costs with higher tier cars. Will you be okay with a car that is 5 years old with 1/4million kilometres? That you paid 75k for and will only be worth 25k. If you ever think you'll have to sell this car don't bother. You have to keep it for a long time.

[bluHawk141]

At one point I had a 00 TA Firehawk, motorcycle, and a 09 TBSS as my DD. Through the years I had different DD but the Firehawk and bike were toys. Here in Chicago you may get to play with your toys for 7-8 months. With long work days and various other commitments for the last two years I had the bike and hawk they were only out twice each per year. It's hard to justify paying insurance on something that just takes a spot in the garage. I got myself a nice DD, 15 Sierra Denali with the 6.2. It's nice to drive to work, about a half hour each way, in something like that. My last DD was a Cruze Eco. I'm ready to make a ZL1 a DD with some snow tires and rims for the winter. Why wouldn't you want to drive it every chance you get? You think the dealer will give you any more because your car never seen salt, or rain, or under freezing temps? Absolutely not, at the same time over on the Vette forum there are guys getting rid of a 5k mile Z06 that has been tracked to death, I'd had to be the guy who buys that and thinks he's getting a pristine car that someone else took the hit on. So I'm all for making it a DD.

[detltu]

I don't daily drive mine. I had a 120 mile commute (60 miles each way) and wouldn't dare do that in the Camaro. It would handle it fine, but sitting in traffic is no fun regardless of what car you are in. And when gas prices went through the roof, having a 35mpg car to drive on the long haul was nice. My new commute is only about 20 miles round trip so I could drive the Camaro every day and get rid of the commuter but I won't. I pick and choose when I am going to drive it and make sure that I am going to have fun in it.

[mr02Z/28]

I would use a 2017 Camaro ZL1 as a DD, unfortunately I can't afford a $62,000 Camaro ....... :( ..... I'm so sad ....

[SDG23]

I'm sure a number of people DD a car cost more than $68K, maybe not in sport car form, but does it matter? I wouldn't want to drop that money on something that was just a toy that I got out every so often, it wouldn't be worth it then. On the other hand I wouldn't want to put 100K on it three years. I say get it and either keep your truck as your main DD or buy some high MPG car to put most of the miles on. Personally my round trip to work and back is about 35 miles but I'm keeping my truck to drive in bad weather and for winter time.

[oakaro68]

I agree, even suburbans are almost there expensive for crying out loud... Anyone know of a 5th gen with high mileage and how it's holding up? Or even a z/28.

[SoCal Racer]

If you can really afford to have one, I don't think you should be a person worrying about depreciation or maintenance costs. It is not a limited numbered car like a GT350R...or just GT350...or even a Ferrari, etc. GM will make as many as they can sell over the lifespan of this model which will take away the value right from the start...unless no one buys it and it strangely becomes rare...lol...that is not going to happen...or maybe if you buy #001...that is not going to happen either...so you cannot really buy this car for "future" value. The only real value you are going to get is the enjoyment of just having/using the car.

My last sports car spent most of her time in the garage, well taken care of. Used for car shows and track days only. My wife and I would argue nearly everyday about why I paid so much for it and why we continue to pay insurance and maintenance costs for her...eventually, I lost the fight and had to sell her...I was sad everyday after...always looking at the empty parking space in the garage where my baby used to sit. Then the news of the new ZL1 started getting louder and I followed the news releases constantly...I made my wife watch the Nurburgring video about 1000 times with me, finally she gave in and said I can get one...on one condition...I need to drive her...DAILY!!! no sitting around in the garage all shiny in the dark this time she said...she even threatened to take the car to her work if I did not...LOL ...that's not going to happen...

So, I have the opposite problem...I need to drive mine daily. My Boss said so

[evanescent03]

I hate my super short commute with my 1SS. Every day it feels like a waste. The thing that keeps it in my possession is the thought of my next track day so I can go really enjoy it to the max.

if i weren't going to track the car, there's no way i'd have a Camaro at all, much less a ZL1. there are much nicer commuting cars that are a still pretty quick (although not AS quick... obviously).

at the same time, if you feel like you won't be happy until you have it, buy it and sell it to someone here for a big discount a few months later!

[harmonyp]

I bought my 2015 ZL1 manual as a daily driver. Since January I've put on 11k miles. I've gotten to the point where it's the difference between hating those 2 hours a day commuting, versus really enjoying that commute. Worth every penny for me.

[reeper]

Having a ZL1 as a dd doesn't seem practical to me nor would I have 'fun' paying the much higher maintenance and operating costs. To each his own though......

[Swacer]

A ZL1 as the only car, I think it would get rough on tires as you'll be swapping them frequently, no matter how conservative you drive (but why be conservative? you bought a Z for a reason...)

Personally, I would never buy a 600hp car as a sole and only DD.