(Speculation) ZL1 long term value floor

[zogster]

Have a ‘14 ZL1 with 24k miles on it. Considering selling it for $36k (was asking a bit more but got offered $36k).

I drove it 17k miles in the first couple years of owning it, and averaging very little since. It just seems like a waste to me, even though I don’t have a need for the money… it would just go into the stock market.

What does everyone think the floor price on this car is going to be? Will it ever drop below $30k?

I don’t think I’m going to regret selling but it doesn’t hurt to get some opinions…

[DirtyDirt]

i think the value will hold. Especially if it remains low miles. I bought my 13 in 2023 with 1950 miles on it. it has 8200 on it now. I turned down 5k more than i paid for it about a month ago, without a moments hesitation. I dont get to drive it as much as i would like, but i grin from ear to ear when i do. i wont sell mine until im to old to get in and out of it.

[Whisper1]

Mine has 30K miles and I have to rotate it in and out of mini warehouse. It's been well maintained and I have replaced the front struts. I don't think it's a good investment at all and I don't think we have seen the floor. But, the LSA seems to be light years ahead of current pushrod V8's in the GM line up in terms of reliability. Zero issues in 11 years and it runs OK for the "low" HP car that it is. The nightmare stories on lifter and transmission failures on late model GM trucks is eye watering. I think the Vette motor is sound but the base has transmission issues and I don't really want another Vette. Don't need the money so I'm looking for more garage space, a private pond/lake, and better proximity to a drag strip for whatever I choose to race. I would like to add another car but only if I have garage space first. I can buy a 1000 HP Plaid with 10K miles for 60K. Not an EV fan really but just a toy if I am near a dragstrip. Don't thnk there is a wrong decision. You can buy Redeyes at a much lower price than 2 years ago if you need a big HP car cheap but I already have one. Our cars seem to be limited to around 700 HP without getting too crazy on the mods or comprimising reliability but that's enough to be fun for most. Good luck.

[Dega Man]

No doubt the value will increase over time on the Gen 5 ZL1, first they were only manufactured for 2012 to 2015 with a total of around 14000 being made. As the years go by low mileage or fully restored one's value will definitely increase.

[lbls1]

It should have seen the floor by now, but irregularities in the market saved it. Even if the value starts declining again I don't believe it will go below 30k. I would just continue to enjoy it, knowing that another new camaro like it probably won't happen. Then again, life is uncertain.......we could see another revival. However the atmosphere in cars don't support this notion.

[el ess A]

Not sure where it will go. The upcoming "replacement" motorheads in the new generation are farther and fewer between. There will always be motorheads in every generation, but I don't think there will be the baby boomers looking for that muscle car they couldn't afford when they were a kid, but most of us bastages are on Medicare now. I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but when car names go to the wayside, usually so does the interest.

[Annatar]

Originally Posted by zogster

Have a ‘14 ZL1 with 24k miles on it. Considering selling it for $36k (was asking a bit more but got offered $36k).

I drove it 17k miles in the first couple years of owning it, and averaging very little since. It just seems like a waste to me, even though I don’t have a need for the money… it would just go into the stock market.

What does everyone think the floor price on this car is going to be? Will it ever drop below $30k?

It's highly unlikely, for several reasons:

• a total of only a few thousand of 5th generation ZL1's were ever produced;
• ZL1 is the rarest of trims (with metallic silver being the rarest paint);
• the power and the torque will still be competitive 30 to 40 years from now;
• the ZL1 is a collectible.

Basically, if you want to know what will happen, you need not look much further than what happened with just the regular SS Camaros from the 1960's. They are now collectible, highly sought after, and in such short supply, that builders are buying completely rusted out jalopies from Mexico, just to be able to get one.

Now imagine how much a well maintained, survivor ZL1 will be worth in about 40 years.

It's basically like buying stock: if you buy and hold it for 30+ years, it's worth a lot. Same with the ZL1. If you bought and hold, it should be worth double or possibly triple in about 40 to 60 years. You might not live that long, but if you have offspring, that's generational wealth, even when adjusted for inflation...

Still not convinced? Rememeber the crappy 3rd generation Camaros, which had almost nothing going for them? They are now going up in value, because people who were coming of age in the 1980's now want them. How about the 4th generation Pontiac WS6's?

[el ess A]

I still maintain that current younger generations do not have the same fire burning in the belly for the old beasts of their youth like we did. Aftermarket support for stock replacement parts isn't great, and GM bailed on parts quickly. This is a different era, and I don't think it's going to be the same type of scenario for future generations carrying on that torch. Also, you have to look at sunk costs of upkeep and maintenance for the next 30 years. That's a lot of money to add up. Hope I'm wrong.

5th gens may be worth something someday, or they could turn out to be the Beanie Babies of the 2010-2015 era. Time will tell.

[Whisper1]

Originally Posted by el ess A

I still maintain that current younger generations do not have the same fire burning in the belly for the old beasts of their youth like we did. Aftermarket support for stock replacement parts isn't great, and GM bailed on parts quickly. This is a different era, and I don't think it's going to be the same type of scenario for future generations carrying on that torch. Also, you have to look at sunk costs of upkeep and maintenance for the next 30 years. That's a lot of money to add up. Hope I'm wrong.

5th gens may be worth something someday, or they could turn out to be the Beanie Babies of the 2010-2015 era. Time will tell.

I see parts as the the big problem. So few made that there is no support. So many parts simply don't exist and you will be trying to retrofit an entire aftermarket assembly just to cover a couple small parts. I baby the car beccuse I don't want to break anything. If parts were available I would tune the car and make a little more boost. That would bring a rear end into question. Mine has started making a little noise since all that was corrected at 7K miles with the rear end TSB - lubricant change and and friction reducer. At 32 K now. Maybe should try another fluid change. Don't think OEM rear ends parts exist.