Buying my first and only Camaro used :) - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

AceOfRaven · 11-28-2014, 10:00 PM

So me and my wife have been saving our money since we got married. Our plan is to wait on kids for 5 years, Lord willing, which makes this the perfect opportunity to buy my dream car.

I want to buy the Camaro used, and as such I have been doing research on this car like a crazy person for the last year and a half. I have checked this website, youtube videos, kelly blue book, consumer reports, and a half dozen more websites and forums. I have things I am certain about and things I still don't fully understand. But come January with our tax refund we should have enough to put down a 10,000 deposit.

I am looking at a 2010 to 2011 SS Camaro with around 30 to 50 thousand miles on it. The prices here in Texas range from around $19,000 to $24,000. How does this sound to some of you Camaro veterans? Seems like a great deal for me and my wife since we don't want a big car payment and the V8's have great reliability.

Also I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me what to look for in terms of red flags for the engine. I know these cars are pretty solid, but is there something that is a dead giveaway for a bad first owner? Things I have thought of so far are, no premium fuel and pre-installed mods. (past obvious like transmission fluid, oil pressure, ect.)

Thank you guys so much for any help. I have been researching this for a long time but I am still a noob when it comes to buying a car. This is only my second car after my craigslist jeep.

I have always loved this website and am excited to start posting.

Also I am so sorry if this is in the wrong place. It seemed like the perfect spot for this thread.

IMPERIALBLUE2SS · 11-29-2014, 08:59 AM

I personally would not buy a modded car. Just don't know what was done to it, by whom, how much it was beat on. I've found that most, not all Camaro owners don't daily drive them me included. I could not afford new, Wife , kids , oldest daughter in Medical School. I waited till the right one for me appeared. I found my late build 2010 2SS RS M6, no sunroof, I hate sunroofs! Only had 2718 mi on it in Aug 2013. They are out there you just have to be patient and look. Recently seen a 2010 2SS RS M6 with 800 mi on it sell for 24k. Don't be afraid to travel I will travel with in a 500mi radius for the right deal.

Bad@ssCamaro · 11-29-2014, 10:00 AM

Congrats on your decision to get a Camaro

it sounds like you've done your homework and with that said, the right one will come along. My advice would be to confirm what you already know, don't buy one that has had any engine mods, tune done to it. Unless it's something that you are prepared for if you're a gearhead

and your willing to deal with the issues that crop up. Oh, and make sure it's the color you're going to love, because if it's the only one you're going to have

it might as well be your fav.

pickwithaustin · 11-29-2014, 10:16 AM

The $10,000 you have would be a "down payment," not a "deposit."

After reading on this site how many drive their Camaro, I would be very careful not to buy anything that has been modded also. I think many beat their car here pretty hard.

I was lucky (also in Texas) to find a 2011 2SS/RS Convertible with only 4000 miles on it and that had never been sold (was being used very rarely by one of the dealer manager's, apparently) and so it was sold used but "as new" for the warranty - so I got the full 5 years when I drove it off the lot six months ago... and at under $30K.

I would try to find something with less miles on it than 30k-50k). I see a lot of them with far fewer miles. As far as mods, a CAI should be fine as a mod. A more free flowing exhaust is also beneficial to the motor, but could indicate someone who liked to race it around. Ultimately, best to find one "driven by a little old lady," LOL.

AceOfRaven · 11-29-2014, 07:08 PM

Thank you for your advice guys.

How do you feel about catch cans? Big plus if I find one with it?

Bad@ssCamaro · 11-30-2014, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AceOfRaven

Thank you for your advice guys.

How do you feel about catch cans? Big plus if I find one with it?

If it has one in it, great!

If not, it's a very simple mod to do, takes all of 20 minutes to unpack a new one, quick read the instructions and install and no impact on the warranty.

ToolFan66 · 11-30-2014, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickwithaustin

After reading on this site how many drive their Camaro, I would be very careful not to buy anything that has been modded also. I think many beat their car here pretty hard.

I disagree, I think most here take care of their cars, even the guys that mod them..

Guys that track them are probably the hardest on their cars, and I would say most here don't track em..

11-28-2014, 10:00 PM	#1
AceOfRaven Drives: Not yet but soon! Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: United States Posts: 2	Buying my first and only Camaro used :) So me and my wife have been saving our money since we got married. Our plan is to wait on kids for 5 years, Lord willing, which makes this the perfect opportunity to buy my dream car. I want to buy the Camaro used, and as such I have been doing research on this car like a crazy person for the last year and a half. I have checked this website, youtube videos, kelly blue book, consumer reports, and a half dozen more websites and forums. I have things I am certain about and things I still don't fully understand. But come January with our tax refund we should have enough to put down a 10,000 deposit. I am looking at a 2010 to 2011 SS Camaro with around 30 to 50 thousand miles on it. The prices here in Texas range from around $19,000 to $24,000. How does this sound to some of you Camaro veterans? Seems like a great deal for me and my wife since we don't want a big car payment and the V8's have great reliability. Also I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me what to look for in terms of red flags for the engine. I know these cars are pretty solid, but is there something that is a dead giveaway for a bad first owner? Things I have thought of so far are, no premium fuel and pre-installed mods. (past obvious like transmission fluid, oil pressure, ect.) Thank you guys so much for any help. I have been researching this for a long time but I am still a noob when it comes to buying a car. This is only my second car after my craigslist jeep. I have always loved this website and am excited to start posting. Also I am so sorry if this is in the wrong place. It seemed like the perfect spot for this thread.

11-29-2014, 10:00 AM	#3
Bad@ssCamaro BeckyD Rocks :-) Drives: 2015 1SS/1LE Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: CT Posts: 5,781 View My Garage	Congrats on your decision to get a Camaro it sounds like you've done your homework and with that said, the right one will come along. My advice would be to confirm what you already know, don't buy one that has had any engine mods, tune done to it. Unless it's something that you are prepared for if you're a gearhead and your willing to deal with the issues that crop up. Oh, and make sure it's the color you're going to love, because if it's the only one you're going to have it might as well be your fav. __________________ 2015 CRT 1SS/1LE RS/Recaro's/NPP/Nav/Rear vision pkg./BA speaker upgrade. Stage 3 BMR cam, ARH 1 7/8 headers, CAI, BMR 1.25 drop springs, JPSS Billet Bushings, Peddars Cradle Bushings...460 whp...so far....SOLD, but not forgotten!

11-29-2014, 10:16 AM	#4
pickwithaustin Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Convertible and: Join Date: May 2014 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,863	The $10,000 you have would be a "down payment," not a "deposit." After reading on this site how many drive their Camaro, I would be very careful not to buy anything that has been modded also. I think many beat their car here pretty hard. I was lucky (also in Texas) to find a 2011 2SS/RS Convertible with only 4000 miles on it and that had never been sold (was being used very rarely by one of the dealer manager's, apparently) and so it was sold used but "as new" for the warranty - so I got the full 5 years when I drove it off the lot six months ago... and at under $30K. I would try to find something with less miles on it than 30k-50k). I see a lot of them with far fewer miles. As far as mods, a CAI should be fine as a mod. A more free flowing exhaust is also beneficial to the motor, but could indicate someone who liked to race it around. Ultimately, best to find one "driven by a little old lady," LOL. __________________ --------------------------- Currently in my Garage: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Convertible \| 1980 Corvette Stingray \| 1981 Firebird \| 1968 El Camino \| 2007 Crown Vic Police Interceptor \| 2001 Silverado \| 2001 Blazer \| 1965 Chevy C-10 \| 2007 Harley Softail Custom \| 2013 MX-5 in Copper Red Mica \| 2000 Corvette Convertible \| 2010 Corvette Grand Sport \| 2006 Audi A3 Turbo \| 2008 BMW 328i

11-29-2014, 08:59 AM	#2
IMPERIALBLUE2SS Drives: 2010 imperial blue LS3 M6 2SSRS Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Virginia beach Virginia Posts: 210	I personally would not buy a modded car. Just don't know what was done to it, by whom, how much it was beat on. I've found that most, not all Camaro owners don't daily drive them me included. I could not afford new, Wife , kids , oldest daughter in Medical School. I waited till the right one for me appeared. I found my late build 2010 2SS RS M6, no sunroof, I hate sunroofs! Only had 2718 mi on it in Aug 2013. They are out there you just have to be patient and look. Recently seen a 2010 2SS RS M6 with 800 mi on it sell for 24k. Don't be afraid to travel I will travel with in a 500mi radius for the right deal.

11-29-2014, 07:08 PM	#5
AceOfRaven Drives: Not yet but soon! Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: United States Posts: 2	Thank you for your advice guys. How do you feel about catch cans? Big plus if I find one with it?