[Gearslammer]

As a Business guy, I find Chevrolet's price discounting at the end of the year helping them but hurting buyers. Take the 20% year end discounts they gave on the Z28s, for example. The 2015 Z28 has depreciated over 30% in two years! This is their premier Camaro and I would feel terrible if I bought one new. Even some of the ZL1 owners are not too happy about trade-in values.

In past years I would use a 4 year open-end lease with 50% residual on a Porsche because the market would support it. The residual values on the Camaros could never support a model like this. So you have to be very careful which Camaro you buy unless you will never sell it.

[HogsFan75]

Originally Posted by Gearslammer

As a Business guy, I find Chevrolet's price discounting at the end of the year helping them but hurting buyers. Take the 20% year end discounts they gave on the Z28s, for example. The 2015 Z28 has depreciated over 30% in two years! This is their premier Camaro and I would feel terrible if I bought one new. Even some of the ZL1 owners are not too happy about trade-in values.

In past years I would use a 4 year open-end lease with 50% residual on a Porsche because the market would support it. The residual values on the Camaros could never support a model like this. So you have to be very careful which Camaro you buy unless you will never sell it.

Buy one at the end of the year instead of running out to be the first guy in town with one!

Seriously though, this is typical. The z28 depreciation is horrendous though. I still see dealers holding on to brand new ones trying to get $76,000 for them when all over the place they can be found with just a couple thousand miles for almost 30 grand less.

[AdvanSuper]

They were sitting on lots and there was nothing they could do to move them, so what do you expect? Chevy also always has year end sales just before a new model year comes out and especially so on an updated model coming out. 5th gens were 15+% off before and after the 6th gen release to get them off the lots and make room for new inventory.

Just because there is a sale does not mean the product always depreciates quicker. The average Camaro owner doesn't care about F1 inspired suspension, recaros and being a track oriented car... There was little demand for the Z28 to the average Camaro owner who would rather get a 1/2SS, ZL1 or Vette for that kind of money...

Resale values will also go down with the release of a new updated model, but it's silly to think that a 16 going on sale to make room for 17's will plummet your value.

[cellsafemode]

I have never bought a car as an "investment" so this doesn't really bother me. I'll drive mine for 10 years and by then it'll probably be illegal for humans to drive cars on public roadways anyway.

[raptor5244]

Unfortunately, GM has conditioned their buyers to just wait for the fire sales at the end of the year. I know other manufacturers do this as well but GM seems pretty bad at it. If you went to buy a Lexus, Toyota or Honda, etc. you would not see these ridiculous 15-20% off sales and also note that the resale values for those brands are typically much higher. If I buy a Lexus IS for 45k it will be worth about 31-33k after 3 years. A 45k Camaro SS will be worth about $25-26k. However the Camaro is so much more enjoyable to drive, which is how I justify the extra depreciation.

[HogsFan75]

Originally Posted by raptor5244

Unfortunately, GM has conditioned their buyers to just wait for the fire sales at the end of the year. I know other manufacturers do this as well but GM seems pretty bad at it. If you went to buy a Lexus, Toyota or Honda, etc. you would not see these ridiculous 15-20% off sales and also note that the resale values for those brands are typically much higher. If I buy a Lexus IS for 45k it will be worth about 31-33k after 3 years. A 45k Camaro SS will be worth about $25-26k. However the Camaro is so much more enjoyable to drive, which is how I justify the extra depreciation.

I had a Toyota FJ Cruiser for several years. Bought it at 46 K miles and sold it at over 130. When I sold it I got almost exactly what I paid for it. Basically drove it 4 years for free. Should have kept the damn thing tho. Those FJ resale values are incredible.

[clanky]

Originally Posted by HogsFan75

Buy one at the end of the year instead of running out to be the first guy in town with one!

Seriously though, this is typical. The z28 depreciation is horrendous though. I still see dealers holding on to brand new ones trying to get $76,000 for them when all over the place they can be found with just a couple thousand miles for almost 30 grand less.

Yep https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...9856/overview/

There's a 15 asking full MSRP still, quite a few of them actually.
and a used 2014 one https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...5593/overview/
going for 44. That is one hell of a loss for sure. Rule of thumb wait until the clearance sale. Although I got a few grand knocked off mine and 0% apr so I am happy with my purchase considering I was going to wait for a ZL1 and pay full MSRP and probably get 2.8% or somewhere in that range.

[S!N!STER]

Originally Posted by HogsFan75

I had a Toyota FJ Cruiser for several years. Bought it at 46 K miles and sold it at over 130. When I sold it I got almost exactly what I paid for it. Basically drove it 4 years for free. Should have kept the damn thing tho. Those FJ resale values are incredible.

FJ's have one of the highest resale values! Wish I would have pulled the trigger when they first came out.

[raptor5244]

Originally Posted by HogsFan75

I had a Toyota FJ Cruiser for several years. Bought it at 46 K miles and sold it at over 130. When I sold it I got almost exactly what I paid for it. Basically drove it 4 years for free. Should have kept the damn thing tho. Those FJ resale values are incredible.

I had a similar experience back in 2005 when the redesigned Toyota Tacoma came out. I bought a new 2005 double cab SR5 Sport long bed for $24k and drove it for 4 years and got $21k wholesale.

[PinLover]

The Z-28 Gen5's are not like the Z-28's of old. I had an 87 IROC-Z Z-28 that was a very enjoyable ride in comfort, speed, and handling. The Z-28 today is just a comfort stripped down street legal racer that falls somewhere between a ZL1 and a COPA (in my opinion). I wouldn't own one today even if I could get it below 30k.

[backeddy]

I wish I still had my FJ too, damn that was best vehicle I ever owned! I paid 22k used drove for 4 years and got 21.9 back. I am on the fence about the new 1LE just because of this. I could buy a 2011 boxster spyder for 55K and get it ALL back whenever I want out...That ain't happening in chevy land.

[IOMike]

But if you buy it for the sale price it's not depreciating very badly.

EVERY auto manufacture has year end sales. GM may do 5% more than some, but they don't do year ends like Ford or especially FCA.

[Bassment]

I really don't know what you guys are talking about, the Camaro is consistently on top 10 lists for cars that depreciate the slowest. Along with the corvette.

[HogsFan75]

Originally Posted by Bassment

I really don't know what you guys are talking about, the Camaro is consistently on top 10 lists for cars that depreciate the slowest. Along with the corvette.

Lol. Not sure if serious?