Was the Camaro Worth Buying New?

[sonnydurden]

I bought my 2012 1SS for around right under $34K in August 2012. It's an automatic. At the time I just surgery on my right shoulder from a torn rotator cuff and my wife didn't want to drive a manual. Now I want a manual after we a got 1LT in a manual last year.. I can't get the keys from her ever!!!Went to trade in my car during the 20% sale and the dealer low balled me. So I went on Autotrader and see 2010 2SS for $18-$20 with almost the same mileage as mine. Thinking about selling my 1SS, going back 2 years for a fully loaded 2SS. The only difference is the steering wheel. Now I'm wondering if I should of bought my Camaros used..look at what KBB says my car is worth:

[pincoin]

All cars depreciate from the 'new' price you paid. From a financial standpoint, used is more practical. I knew I would lose money buying mine new, but what the heck, I don't have any other money sucking vices in life!

[sonnydurden]

Originally Posted by pincoin

All cars depreciate from the 'new' price you paid. From a financial standpoint, used is more practical. I knew I would lose money buying mine new, but what the heck, I don't have any other money sucking vices in life!

True!!!.. I don't have vices either and always buy new because I want to be the first owner. But isn't $10,000+ in 2 1/2 years a large hit?? The dealer offered me $22,000..

[Angrybird 12]

I prefer buying new, especially on a car like the Camaro. You never know buying a used one how it was driven or maintained. Sure it may be two years old with less than 10,000 miles, but how were most of those 10,000 miles put on it? 1/4 mile at a time? Or even on a 2.5 mile road course? You never know.

[pincoin]

Also its a bad time of year to sell a muscle car, plus their are many Camaros for sale at all times. 10K is a big hit like you say.

[Joe M 2012 2SS]

34k is a lot for a 2012 1SS. I got my 2012 2SS for 25k with 26k miles on it Nov 2014, the dealer was initially asking 30k. They tried to low ball me on my 2011 F150 I traded in on it, I just stood firm on the "good condition" value KBB gave.
I also told them "I'd like to have this Camaro, but I don't NEED it, my truck runs perfect and I have no problems with continuing to drive it". I got the KBB value right away.
I didn't buy one new because for one I couldn't afford 40k, and the immediate depreciation when driven off the lot.
They do have some good discounts on Camaros going on now, so if you see one you like, go to KBB and enter in the info as "used" with 200 miles on it, this will give you a good idea of how much you will lose in value as soon as you drive it off the lot.

[BluePhoenix]

It is always worth buying new versus used. Not worth it if you plan to keep the car for 6 months but well worth it for a long term purchase.

If you can handle moving to a 2010 then the trade may be worth it. What I didn't like was the 2010 steering wheel compared to the 2012, but that's why I installed 2012-2014 ZL1 steering wheel and it was automatically much better. I did like the 2010's fully loaded interior over the 2012 cloth and basics. My car was driven 20k miles in one year but was in excellent condition and mechanically is perfect. Only bad is the cracked dash I'm dealing with but it's minor.

[2010SLVRBULIT]

new if you plan on keeping it, obviously.

[MBS]

As soon as you sign the paper you have lost 20% of the value , Worth it for some , Others let them take the hit .

[JLSuperfly]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

.....but how were most of those 10,000 miles put on it? 1/4 mile at a time? .....

I live my life 1/4 mile at a time.

[Dfault]

To me, yes. New car smell, knowing I'm the first owner, knowing what happens to the car mechanically and being able to just brag to my friends who are still in college going to school for many years and increasing their debt to make what i make. It was definitely worth it!

[Jsafe17]

No way..2010-2013 took a big resale hit with 2014 redesign. That was great for me because I waited to see the new body style and imo the 2010-2013 looks more retro 1 gen and l very much prefer 10-13 look. The 16 looks even worse you got muscle car in the middle and a Honda front fascia...
Anyway you will not see your car go up in value for about 30 years so enjoy the ride.
Btw new car smell costs about $100 a day for the first 30 days you drive that car in resale value... The hidden fee that real life imposes on your purchase

[Est.July.4.1776]

Yes and no. It's nice knowing that, other than people at the dealership possibly, nobody else was beating on the car... the new car smell, and putting every mile on the odometer myself... but realistically, I could've saved $10-15k. The cars are reliable, so someone else 'beating on it,' isn't really THAT much of a concern, and the money saved would've covered all the mods I've done, and all the mods I plan to do down the road, and then some. It's a trade off, but I doubt I'll ever worry about buying new again unless I win the lotto and can get a museum delivery Z06, and purchase the 'build it yourself' engine package... otherwise, it just doesn't feel like the trade off was worth it, a year and a half later... I love my car, I just wish I had been a little more "sensible" in buying it. Used would've been a little smarter...

JMHO

[6bangerBOOM]

I'd just rather pay the extra money for the security of knowing nobody has farted in my driver's seat. It's the little things y'all.