New or Used? The great debate - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

PVnRT · 12-30-2010, 12:14 PM

Thanks to some student loan issues (people don't know how to change an address apparently), I am looking to get a camaro this spring, maybe March if I get impatient.

Talking with some family and friends, most have said I should look for a low mileage, used so that someone else takes the depreciation hit. I am still not completely sold on this since most used ones still sell for only a few thousand less. I am willing to spend a few extra bucks to say that I am the only one to put all the miles on the car (relatively all at any rate).

Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

SA CHEVY · 12-30-2010, 12:58 PM

IMHO I would buy from a member on here who has low miles on their car. You can get some good deals on them used, sometimes as much as $5k less than you'd pay from a dealer for a car with only 3-5k miles on it. Not to mention no other fees tacked in and if their nice could even knock a few off the price on the paperwork to save you on the taxes you'd pay on it. Heck even dealers are selling used ones for as much as new ones it seems!

coolman · 12-30-2010, 01:05 PM

AT this point I would buy a new one. The used ones are still too high. Once dealers wake up and realize they're not flying off the lots anymore, then used might get more inline. I see your from Pa so I know for a fact there are good deals to be had on new if you get away from Philadelphia. Go to the Harrisburg or State College areas. There are many dealers with a lot to choose from just sitting on the lots with pretty deep discounts.

Murph0408 · 12-30-2010, 01:10 PM

new. you don't get to buy new cars very often in your life. make it your own. go to the dealership, pick out the exact style/options/colors you want, and every mile on it will be yours.

too many people went out, bought these things, drove them real hard, then realized they couldn't afford it anymore and turned it in. now you have a used camaro that got beat on for a year or two and who knows what the future holds with it. go new, it is worth the money.

2010SLVRBULIT · 12-30-2010, 01:15 PM

whatever you can afford..

tangorover · 12-30-2010, 02:16 PM

I think my own camaro has held up extremely well and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them used to anyone. However the prices for the used models are still too high. You can easily get a new LS for the price of a Used 2LT or a 1SS new for the price of a used 2SS so I would go a lower spec new at this point OR wait slight longer. Of course if you find that one car you want coming up on the used market snatch it up.

Also Now that the Convertible is coming up I can guarantee yo that a lot of camaro owners will be trading up to the convertible (I know Im seriously considering it)

mhood · 12-30-2010, 02:18 PM

If you can afford it, you should be the one to break in your new car.

Dosin · 12-30-2010, 02:18 PM

Buy used. Save on initial cost and taxes. The one thing you need to do is do your homework on the car you buy. Talk to the owner and feel them out. Obviously do a carfax and remember that the car is under warranty. My car has every option and ground effects. Sticker was over 40k and I paid 32k with 1k for taxes in Illinois. If an extra five grand is worth having a new one to you, then do whatever makes you happy. Go StL Cardinals.

camaroitalia · 12-30-2010, 02:20 PM

I would also say NEW. You never know how the previous owner treated/mistreated the car. Servicing for it, any hidden problems or flaws. IMO it's better and a peace of mind knowing your the only person to of owned it. Plus, knowing you bought a brand new Chevrolet Camaro, makes it all worth it!

Entaille · 12-30-2010, 02:23 PM

new - but it comes at a high cost.

PoorMansCamaro · 12-30-2010, 02:25 PM

as with any big purchase, i'd do your homework. I personally would go used at this point, IF you can find the exact car you're looking for. The difference in price might be the difference between getting a v8 or v6.

Camaro54 · 12-30-2010, 02:39 PM

If you can't pay cash comfortably then I would suggest buying one of the used camaros on this site. Those payments will get REAL OLD early on. It takes a LONG LONG time to pay off a car. The less you have to borrow the quicker and easier it pays off. Some of the used Camaros are selling for great deals and have been well taken care of. Some have a lot of mods alread done to them and done very well. Those mods will come to you free with a used car. The reason some of them are selling is because they bought new and the payments have proven to be more than they can stand. Don't be like that a year down the road. Start off used and save $5000 to $10,000. If my Camaro with mods was totalled out right now I would buy one of the used Camaros listed on this site with the same mods mine had. That would help the seller and I would end up with a great car saving a lot of $$. GOOD LUCK

n116ebo · 12-30-2010, 04:16 PM

I wanted a SS bad but all the dealers I tried to do business with were crazy and unreasonable. I stayed on ebay for about 6 months and found a one owner, with 1096. miles, the factory transformer package, rs, auto, 2SS. I ran the carfax and no problems. The msrp was right at 39,000. I ended up getting it for 33,000. plus tt&l. It has 2400. miles now and has never been in for any warranty work. (picked up on 03-09-10) I am very happy with my second owner Camaro.

Rockhead · 12-30-2010, 05:08 PM

Probally not the case now but when I bought mine this spring the 2SS used with about 4000 kms was only about $1000 less than new.

12-30-2010, 12:14 PM	#1
PVnRT Drives: 2011 Ford Focus SE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 7 View My Garage	New or Used? The great debate Thanks to some student loan issues (people don't know how to change an address apparently), I am looking to get a camaro this spring, maybe March if I get impatient. Talking with some family and friends, most have said I should look for a low mileage, used so that someone else takes the depreciation hit. I am still not completely sold on this since most used ones still sell for only a few thousand less. I am willing to spend a few extra bucks to say that I am the only one to put all the miles on the car (relatively all at any rate). Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

12-30-2010, 12:58 PM	#2
SA CHEVY "HILLARY" Drives: "HILLARY" :D Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bakersfield Posts: 1,922 View My Garage	IMHO I would buy from a member on here who has low miles on their car. You can get some good deals on them used, sometimes as much as $5k less than you'd pay from a dealer for a car with only 3-5k miles on it. Not to mention no other fees tacked in and if their nice could even knock a few off the price on the paperwork to save you on the taxes you'd pay on it. Heck even dealers are selling used ones for as much as new ones it seems! __________________ 2010 Camaro SS2 L99 Aircharger, Straightpiped, DT long tubes, Dyno tune by Cal Speed 384 HP & 392 Ft/Lbs. 13.203 @ 107.13 mph at Camaro5FestII

12-30-2010, 02:20 PM	#9
camaroitalia Go Harder Than Baltimore! Drives: 2010 CGM Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 3,835	I would also say NEW. You never know how the previous owner treated/mistreated the car. Servicing for it, any hidden problems or flaws. IMO it's better and a peace of mind knowing your the only person to of owned it. Plus, knowing you bought a brand new Chevrolet Camaro, makes it all worth it! __________________

12-30-2010, 02:23 PM	#10
Entaille Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Stevens Posts: 1,005	new - but it comes at a high cost. __________________

12-30-2010, 02:25 PM	#11
PoorMansCamaro Drives: Really Slow Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: PA Posts: 56,958	as with any big purchase, i'd do your homework. I personally would go used at this point, IF you can find the exact car you're looking for. The difference in price might be the difference between getting a v8 or v6. __________________

12-30-2010, 01:05 PM	#3
coolman Guest Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: PA Posts: 4,812	AT this point I would buy a new one. The used ones are still too high. Once dealers wake up and realize they're not flying off the lots anymore, then used might get more inline. I see your from Pa so I know for a fact there are good deals to be had on new if you get away from Philadelphia. Go to the Harrisburg or State College areas. There are many dealers with a lot to choose from just sitting on the lots with pretty deep discounts.

12-30-2010, 01:10 PM	#4
Murph0408 Drives: 2LT Black '10 Camaro, 2000 Durango Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT Posts: 373 View My Garage	new. you don't get to buy new cars very often in your life. make it your own. go to the dealership, pick out the exact style/options/colors you want, and every mile on it will be yours. too many people went out, bought these things, drove them real hard, then realized they couldn't afford it anymore and turned it in. now you have a used camaro that got beat on for a year or two and who knows what the future holds with it. go new, it is worth the money.

12-30-2010, 01:15 PM	#5
2010SLVRBULIT Drives: G5(LLT) & C6(LS3) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MARS Posts: 7,527 View My Garage	whatever you can afford..

12-30-2010, 02:16 PM	#6
tangorover Drives: 2010 Chevy Camaro 2LT Summit White Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 469	I think my own camaro has held up extremely well and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them used to anyone. However the prices for the used models are still too high. You can easily get a new LS for the price of a Used 2LT or a 1SS new for the price of a used 2SS so I would go a lower spec new at this point OR wait slight longer. Of course if you find that one car you want coming up on the used market snatch it up. Also Now that the Convertible is coming up I can guarantee yo that a lot of camaro owners will be trading up to the convertible (I know Im seriously considering it)

12-30-2010, 02:18 PM	#7
mhood Orange Camaros Rule! Drives: 2010 1SS LS3 RS IOM Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,559	If you can afford it, you should be the one to break in your new car.

12-30-2010, 02:18 PM	#8
Dosin Drives: 2010 2SS RS black ground effects Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: St. Louis MO/Quincy IL Posts: 175	Buy used. Save on initial cost and taxes. The one thing you need to do is do your homework on the car you buy. Talk to the owner and feel them out. Obviously do a carfax and remember that the car is under warranty. My car has every option and ground effects. Sticker was over 40k and I paid 32k with 1k for taxes in Illinois. If an extra five grand is worth having a new one to you, then do whatever makes you happy. Go StL Cardinals.

12-30-2010, 02:39 PM	#12
Camaro54 Drives: Camaro SS2/RS orange/black stripes Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 570	If you can't pay cash comfortably then I would suggest buying one of the used camaros on this site. Those payments will get REAL OLD early on. It takes a LONG LONG time to pay off a car. The less you have to borrow the quicker and easier it pays off. Some of the used Camaros are selling for great deals and have been well taken care of. Some have a lot of mods alread done to them and done very well. Those mods will come to you free with a used car. The reason some of them are selling is because they bought new and the payments have proven to be more than they can stand. Don't be like that a year down the road. Start off used and save $5000 to $10,000. If my Camaro with mods was totalled out right now I would buy one of the used Camaros listed on this site with the same mods mine had. That would help the seller and I would end up with a great car saving a lot of $$. GOOD LUCK

12-30-2010, 04:16 PM	#13
n116ebo n116 Drives: 2010 2SS YELLOW TRANSFORMER AUTO Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SAN ANGELO TX Posts: 633 View My Garage	I wanted a SS bad but all the dealers I tried to do business with were crazy and unreasonable. I stayed on ebay for about 6 months and found a one owner, with 1096. miles, the factory transformer package, rs, auto, 2SS. I ran the carfax and no problems. The msrp was right at 39,000. I ended up getting it for 33,000. plus tt&l. It has 2400. miles now and has never been in for any warranty work. (picked up on 03-09-10) I am very happy with my second owner Camaro.

12-30-2010, 05:08 PM	#14
Rockhead Hoser. Drives: 2018 Z06 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greatest Country in the world. Posts: 1,104	Probally not the case now but when I bought mine this spring the 2SS used with about 4000 kms was only about $1000 less than new.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Great story over the weekend	roccky08	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	36	12-09-2010 05:37 PM
HOLIDAY GIFT DEAL! ~ aFe Air Intakes - Great prices and $25 Gift Cards!	Circuit Motorsports	V8 Bolt-Ons & Tunes	22	12-30-2009 12:58 PM
ADM performance !!! Great stuff!	speeflo	Vendor and Seller review / feedback / experiences	3	11-19-2009 08:01 PM
Stealth Performance--Airaid Cold Air Intakes! In Stock! Great Pricing!	Torchdvette	V8 Bolt-Ons & Tunes	0	11-05-2009 07:26 PM