The Last Great Camaro: Which Model Year to Buy Before They All Go Electric (or Stupid Expensive)

Alright, hear me out.

You want a Camaro. A real one. Not some front-wheel-drive badge-job from the future.

But here’s the hard truth:

Most Camaros? Already overpriced, underwhelming, or about to be extinct.

Dealers are already jacking up prices on anything remotely collectible. And the moment the last ICE Camaro rolls off the line? Game over.

So if you're asking which Camaro you should buy in 2025 before they go electric, collectible, or just straight-up impossible to afford?

You're in the right place.

Let’s break down every real option that still matters—from LS1 legends to the modern ZL1s—and pick the one Camaro that still gives you the V8 glory without the EV regret.

Because if you're gonna do it, do it before it's too late.

Fifth-Gen Camaro (2010–2015): The Affordable Revival

It came back swinging in 2010, and it hit like a brick.

Retro styling, real V8s, and the LS3 motor that could still turn tires to vapor.

This car was the return of American muscle for a new decade.

After a long hiatus, the Camaro came back with a vengeance—and the world noticed.

These things are cheap now. And fast.

And in 2025, they're quietly becoming the hidden gems of the muscle car market.

They’ve aged into that sweet spot where the depreciation curve flattens, but the performance value skyrockets.

And parts? Everywhere.

Evidence:

• A 2010 SS with a 6.2L LS3 and manual trans puts out 426 hp. Quarter mile in 13 seconds flat. In 2025, you can get one for $13k–$20k depending on condition.
• 2012–2015 1LE models have factory upgrades: better suspension, gearing, and real track cred. It's a factory track rat you can daily.
• The 2014–15 refresh sharpened looks and updated interior tech. Bonus if you hate the original chunky tail lights.

These fifth-gens aren't just decent—they're practical.

Maintenance-wise, the LS3 is a tank.

The early manuals had output shaft issues, but most are sorted now.

Timing chain problems on V6s were annoying, but fixable.

What you're left with is a car that can do daily duty Monday through Friday and murder tires Saturday night.

Toss on some headers and tune it right, and you’re brushing 500 horsepower for pennies on the dollar. These cars are tuner-friendly, forgiving, and full of attitude.

Shop Story: Had a guy bring in a 2011 SS with a rattling diff.

Turns out he was doing burnouts every Saturday night for TikTok.

Axles held. Diff mount didn’t.

We swapped in poly bushings and a Truetrac while we were in there. Still runs like hell.

He's since added headers and a cam. Still drives it to work twice a week. He’s considering a supercharger next year.

Verdict: Best bang for your buck if you want modern amenities and retro muscle.

Avoid the V6 unless you’re on a tight budget or allergic to horsepower.

The 1LE is your sleeper pick. You’ll get looks, torque, and a car that still has some raw DNA in its bones.

This is the gateway drug to V8 life.

Want more speed right out the box?

Keep scrolling.

Sixth-Gen Camaro SS & ZL1 (2016–2024): The Apex Predators

Let’s not sugarcoat it.

The 6th-gen SS and ZL1 are weapons.

These cars weren’t built to cruise—they were bred to kill lap times.

The SS gets the direct-injection LT1 (455 hp).

The ZL1? That’s a Corvette Z06 motor (650 hp LT4) with a manual and track mode.

These cars are track-bred, road-legal monsters. Period.

Evidence:

• 2016–2018 SS can now be had for $25k–$30k. They weigh less than the 5th-gen and corner like a Euro coupe.
• ZL1 (2017–2024) prices are holding, but $45k–65k gets you a track monster that’ll annihilate Hellcats and give GT500s a run.
• The 1LE versions are arguably the best driver’s Camaros ever made. Think magnetic ride control, Brembos, forged wheels, and performance coolers stock.

These things don’t just go—they grip. They rotate. They slice corners and don’t apologize.

The SS 1LE might be the most underappreciated performance car of the last decade. It’s a car that rewards the skilled and embarrasses the lazy.

Early 10-speed autos had DCT weirdness, and extreme heat on track can stress the cooling systems if you don't prep.

But day-to-day? These are apex predators wearing a bowtie.

Autocross, canyon carving, track days—they thrive.

Shop Story: One customer bought a 2020 ZL1 1LE with 5k miles. Came in worried about a “whine.”

It was the supercharger doing what superchargers do. I told him it was normal. He left doing 90 in second gear. Never came back.

A year later, he brought it in for brakes and told me he’d tracked it at Willow Springs. No issues. Just smiles.

Called it "the scariest car I’ve ever felt completely in control of." That’s the kind of confidence these cars build. They want to be driven hard.

Verdict: If you can swing the money, the 6th-gen ZL1 is it.

The best performance Camaro ever built.

SS 1LE? Nearly as good, and half the price.

Get one before the collectors and influencers realize what they’re missing. It’s not just fast—it’s surgical.

Fourth-Gen Camaro Z28/SS (1993–2002): Cheap Speed, Real Muscle

Don’t laugh. These are sleepers. And they’re still dirt cheap. But they won’t be for long.

The '98-'02 LS1-powered Camaros are stupid fast for what they cost.

If you're not scared of cracked dashboards or 20-year-old door panels, these cars are one burnout away from love.

They’re the last Camaros to offer true 90s rawness and analog vibes.

Evidence:

• LS1 V8, 305–325 hp (underrated from the factory). Easily modded to 400+.
• T56 6-speed manual. Real-deal driver’s setup.
• $6k–$12k in 2025 depending on miles and trim. That’s insane value.

Yeah, interiors are brittle. Paint fades. Power window motors die like clockwork.

But if you can wrench, these are gold.

The platform is simple, the parts are cheap, and there’s a massive aftermarket.

There are still junkyards full of these things, and every major forum has a guy who’s owned five.

Shop Story: Dude brought in a 2000 Z28 with 180k on the clock.

Still running 12s at the strip.

Needed a clutch, brakes, and new shocks.

We did it all for under $2,000. Show me another car that quick and that cheap to fix.

He’s got a $300 eBay turbo on it now. Says he runs mid-11s.

His neighbor offered him five grand more than he paid last year. He said no. That’s loyalty.

Verdict: Budget bruiser.

If you want speed-per-dollar, this is the one.

Bonus: LS1s love boost. T-top weather seals don’t. You’ll need a tarp.

But if you want pure muscle fun on a used Civic budget? Nothing beats it.

And it might be the last time you can buy 11-second quarter miles for under $10k.

Fifth-Gen Z/28 (2014–2015): The Street-Legal Track Car

This isn’t just a trim. It’s a street-legal sledgehammer.

A Camaro built not for show, but for go.

505 hp LS7. Carbon-ceramic brakes. DSSV dampers. No back seat. No A/C (unless optioned). Just speed. Just attitude.

GM built it to destroy racetracks, not comfort ratings.

Evidence:

• 2015 Z/28s selling for $45k–65k in 2025 depending on miles.
• LS7 is hand-built, dry sump, 7.0L monster. Rev to 7,000, grin all day.
• These are appreciating. Collector bait. Less than 2,000 built.

Watch out: LS7 valve guides can fail if not monitored.

Oil changes every 3k are mandatory.

Brake service will make your wallet cry.

But the payoff? Massive.

It feels like a GT3 with a mullet. And unlike a GT3, you’ll never be mistaken for a dentist.

Shop Story: Buddy tracked his Z/28 monthly. Came in for an oil change.

Oil looked like espresso. We pulled the pan—metal shavings. Bearings gone.

He rebuilt it with forged guts. Came back two months later with a helmet and a smile.

These cars beg to be driven hard. It’s not a cruiser. It’s a weapon.

When it fires up, people turn around. When it launches, they move out of the way.

This is the Camaro at its most vicious.

Verdict: If you want a Camaro that could hang with Ferraris on a road course—and still turn heads at Cars & Coffee—this is it.

You’ll pay more, but you get a machine with motorsport DNA.

These will be $100k cars someday. Buy while you still can. You don’t just own one.

You commit to it.

The Last Great Camaro to Buy Before They All Go Electric

If I had to pick one Camaro to buy in 2025 that nails it all?

• Old-school muscle? Check.
• Modern tech? Check.
• Real performance? Check.
• Still affordable? Barely. But yes.
• Daily-drivable, fixable, moddable, and future-proof? Yep.

Winner: 2016–2018 Camaro SS 1LE

Why?

• 455 hp LT1 with real heat.
• Tremec 6-speed. Active rev match.
• Magnetic Ride Control + track cooling.
• Still under $35k for a good one in 2025.

You get Corvette performance, old-school attitude, and modern reliability.

It’s the Goldilocks Camaro—everything just right. And it might be the last one of its kind.

The V8s are dying. The manuals are disappearing. But this one? It’s still here. For now.

It’s fast, analog, responsive, reliable—and most importantly, still affordable. But not for long.

Runner Up: 2014–15 Z/28 if you don’t mind race car bills.
Budget Pick: 1999–2002 Z28/SS LS1 6-speed. Cheap, fast, and classic Camaro nasty.

Electric Camaros are coming. Fake sounds. CVTs. Over-the-air updates.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Buy the last real ones while you still can.

Case closed.