1st time Camaro - Buying advice needed

[Steffen]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I'm even new to the US!

I recently moved from Germany, there it's quite impossible to drive anything like a Camaro SS (tax is paid per year with around 800 Dollar, insurance would be around 3500 Dollar per year, buying the car is around 2 as expensive (import, tax, registration process etc and the gas is around 2.3 times more expensive there than here…).

I've been spending some time at different dealership locations, doing my homework in checking some Mustang 2013/2014 and some awesome Camaro 2013 / 2014. Long story short: heartbeat is rising as closer I get to a Camaro!! Those Mustangs are nice cars, though, but the Camaro is the one!


The issue I'm having: I don't know anything about your (i.e. USA) local market. Buying new or buying used (topic depreciation). According to several infos (kbb, intellichoise, edmunds), the Camaro suffers by a huge depreciation in the first year!

This can be confirmed, checking dealer prices. A 2013 2LT RS (convertible) with low miles can be bought for around 27.000 to 29.000 Dollar. The 2014 Camaro 2LT RS (convertible) would be around 39.000 MSRP and around 36.500 invoice..

I guess, it's better buying used then in order to avoid the huge depreciation at the beginning?!


What do I want (concretely)?

- Summit white V6 convertible, M6 or auto (both ok), 2LT and RS from 2013 or 2014 (new), premium audio and beige/black leather seats, dual exhaust option would be fantastic, as well.


Is there anyone that can help me getting a good deal? I read things about special discounts, memorial day etc. pp..
If someone explains how I can get a fantastic deal and what to consider buying a car in the USA, first couple of beers are on me!!

Thanks in advance!
Steffen

[Steffen]

No? Anyone?
Please let me know how to get a good deal or recommend a good dealer close to Novi, MI.

[homero89]

What I recommend is go to multiple dealers and drive their price down. Basically you will have all the dealers fighting for your business. The MSRP may be 39k but if you know how to negotiate you might be able to get for 36k or even less OTD. I believe right now theres a 2k rebate to be had, and they just put it on there immediately. Also if you go to an older dealer, chances are they have lower building costs so they might be willing to discount a bit more. Also commercials where they tell you that they're giving discounts are just to get people in the door, if they want to sell you a car, and they do, they will give something that you will be happy with.

[Steffen]

Thanks for all the info. I already had to find out the last mentioned point of yours by myself in the hard way.

If you check for 2LT RS convertible 2014 in cars.com or cargurous.com, you will find offers for as low as 34.000. That's 5000 under MSRP!! If you call and ask, they come around with stuffs like that I'm not eligible for the discounts taken for this calculation… !!!
That sucks.

I'll avoid those dealerships in the future. They will not have business with me.

Seems like best price for 2LT RS 2014 (vert) is around 36.500 plus taxes and stuffs. :( :(
Considering the HUGE loss of around 7000 off the lot, I'll probably keep looking out for a 2012 or 2013 2LT RS vert…

If anyone knows someone, let me know..

[cadyshac]

Just find a few dealers with vehicles that would be acceptable to you. Contact their internet sales department by email and make them an offer. If you find someone willing to make you a deal that is acceptable to you then pursue it. Do not go to the dealership until you agree to a deal via email.

[Steffen]

Thanks for input. I'll keep that in my mind. I also posted a WANTED announcement here in the forum - maybe someone want to get rid of a nice 2LT RS convertible. :O

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by Steffen

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I'm even new to the US!

I recently moved from Germany, there it's quite impossible to drive anything like a Camaro SS (tax is paid per year with around 800 Dollar, insurance would be around 3500 Dollar per year, buying the car is around 2 as expensive (import, tax, registration process etc and the gas is around 2.3 times more expensive there than here…).

I've been spending some time at different dealership locations, doing my homework in checking some Mustang 2013/2014 and some awesome Camaro 2013 / 2014. Long story short: heartbeat is rising as closer I get to a Camaro!! Those Mustangs are nice cars, though, but the Camaro is the one!


The issue I'm having: I don't know anything about your (i.e. USA) local market. Buying new or buying used (topic depreciation). According to several infos (kbb, intellichoise, edmunds), the Camaro suffers by a huge depreciation in the first year!

This can be confirmed, checking dealer prices. A 2013 2LT RS (convertible) with low miles can be bought for around 27.000 to 29.000 Dollar. The 2014 Camaro 2LT RS (convertible) would be around 39.000 MSRP and around 36.500 invoice..

I guess, it's better buying used then in order to avoid the huge depreciation at the beginning?!


What do I want (concretely)?

- Summit white V6 convertible, M6 or auto (both ok), 2LT and RS from 2013 or 2014 (new), premium audio and beige/black leather seats, dual exhaust option would be fantastic, as well.


Is there anyone that can help me getting a good deal? I read things about special discounts, memorial day etc. pp..
If someone explains how I can get a fantastic deal and what to consider buying a car in the USA, first couple of beers are on me!!

Thanks in advance!
Steffen

Steffen,

Glad to see you're interested in a Camaro! You have an impressive selection . Be sure to also check out all potential deals and current offers. Let us know what you end up getting.

William R.
Chevrolet Customer Care

[NYCamOwner]

Originally Posted by Steffen

Thanks for all the info. I already had to find out the last mentioned point of yours by myself in the hard way.

If you check for 2LT RS convertible 2014 in cars.com or cargurous.com, you will find offers for as low as 34.000. That's 5000 under MSRP!! If you call and ask, they come around with stuffs like that I'm not eligible for the discounts taken for this calculation… !!!
That sucks.

I'll avoid those dealerships in the future. They will not have business with me.

Seems like best price for 2LT RS 2014 (vert) is around 36.500 plus taxes and stuffs. :( :(
Considering the HUGE loss of around 7000 off the lot, I'll probably keep looking out for a 2012 or 2013 2LT RS vert…

If anyone knows someone, let me know..

Why are you worried about the depreciation after the 1st year, do you plan on reselling it next summer? All new cars lose value once you drive it off the lot, but if you are planning on keeping it, then why worry about the value after 1 year? I bought my 2014 2LT Vert knowing that it loses value once I drive it, but I do not care. I plan on keeping the car for a while and storing it during the winter.
If it is what you want, they I would not worry about that aspect of it. Get what you want, and negotiate. Do your homework, and as people mentioned, go to many dealerships. Have a set OTD price (Out the Door price includes tax/title/everything) that you can deal with, and be prepared to walk out the door. Let them know that you do not NEED their car, but you would be willing to buy it from them. I walked out of a couple of dealerships before one would not let me walk out, they wanted my business.
Good luck.

[NYCamOwner]

Originally Posted by Steffen

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I'm even new to the US!

I recently moved from Germany, there it's quite impossible to drive anything like a Camaro SS (tax is paid per year with around 800 Dollar, insurance would be around 3500 Dollar per year, buying the car is around 2 as expensive (import, tax, registration process etc and the gas is around 2.3 times more expensive there than here…).

I've been spending some time at different dealership locations, doing my homework in checking some Mustang 2013/2014 and some awesome Camaro 2013 / 2014. Long story short: heartbeat is rising as closer I get to a Camaro!! Those Mustangs are nice cars, though, but the Camaro is the one!


The issue I'm having: I don't know anything about your (i.e. USA) local market. Buying new or buying used (topic depreciation). According to several infos (kbb, intellichoise, edmunds), the Camaro suffers by a huge depreciation in the first year!

This can be confirmed, checking dealer prices. A 2013 2LT RS (convertible) with low miles can be bought for around 27.000 to 29.000 Dollar. The 2014 Camaro 2LT RS (convertible) would be around 39.000 MSRP and around 36.500 invoice..

I guess, it's better buying used then in order to avoid the huge depreciation at the beginning?!


What do I want (concretely)?

- Summit white V6 convertible, M6 or auto (both ok), 2LT and RS from 2013 or 2014 (new), premium audio and beige/black leather seats, dual exhaust option would be fantastic, as well.


Is there anyone that can help me getting a good deal? I read things about special discounts, memorial day etc. pp..
If someone explains how I can get a fantastic deal and what to consider buying a car in the USA, first couple of beers are on me!!

Thanks in advance!
Steffen

Make sure you understand the differences between the 2013 and the 2014. They changed the design on the 2014 in a few different areas. This would help you decide between the 2.

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by Chevrolet Customer Svc

Steffen,

Glad to see you're interested in a Camaro! You have an impressive selection . Be sure to also check out all potential deals and current offers. Let us know what you end up getting.

William R.
Chevrolet Customer Care

William,

Thanks for these hints! According to your link, there is a $2000 discount available for a Camaro convertible.

Can this be combined with the Costco program? Or any other programs running currently?

Thanks in advance letting me know.

Steffen

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by NewCamOwner

Why are you worried about the depreciation after the 1st year, do you plan on reselling it next summer? All new cars lose value once you drive it off the lot, but if you are planning on keeping it, then why worry about the value after 1 year? I bought my 2014 2LT Vert knowing that it loses value once I drive it, but I do not care. I plan on keeping the car for a while and storing it during the winter.
If it is what you want, they I would not worry about that aspect of it. Get what you want, and negotiate. Do your homework, and as people mentioned, go to many dealerships. Have a set OTD price (Out the Door price includes tax/title/everything) that you can deal with, and be prepared to walk out the door. Let them know that you do not NEED their car, but you would be willing to buy it from them. I walked out of a couple of dealerships before one would not let me walk out, they wanted my business.
Good luck.

Thanks for your feedback.
Look, my situation is like this: I just moved to the USA, which means that I have insurance rates for cars like you can't even imagine in your nightmare dreams! I have to build up a credit history and coming down in insurance, so there is no way currently to get a convertible SS.
If I buy a new 2LT and want to switch to a SS in one or 2 years, I'll have lost a lot of money, going this way.
*Maybe*, I'll stick to the camaro (2LT RS), I don't know yet. I even never have driven a camaro - just Mustangs, but 110% sure, I want a Camaro: this was always a dream of mine, not possible to be fulfilled in Germany because of the mentioned circumstances above in first post.

I'm alone here in the USA, don't have family, don't have friends yet. No option to drive a Camaro and figure out what's best. At dealership, having a test drive for 10 mins is not the same, of course.

And yes, if I could manage to get that much of incentives to be around $5.500 under MSRP, I would go new because this takes away the initial depreciation hit off the lot.

Summit white Camaro 2LT RS, where are you… ?!???

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by Steffen

William,

Thanks for these hints! According to your link, there is a $2000 discount available for a Camaro convertible.

Can this be combined with the Costco program? Or any other programs running currently?

Thanks in advance letting me know.

Steffen

Hi Steffen,

If you could, please message me privately and I'll see what we can find out for you regarding your inquiry.

William R.
Chevrolet Customer Care

[intensifi]

search for a new '13 or '12 on cars.com