Chevrolet killed the Camaro in 2024 with no confirmed replacement, so you're shopping a discontinued platform with uncertain parts support ahead. The 6th-gen V8 models, SS, LT1, ZL1, are holding value at shocking rates while V6 trims crater: one 2LT owner lost $10k in equity after just 8,000 miles. The engine choice matters more here than almost any other car on the market. If you want a modern muscle car with a future, the Mustang is still in production. If you want a V8 Camaro before they're gone, buy the SS or LT1 and skip the four- and six-cylinders entirely, those are the ones dealers can't give away.
Ford's latest GT delivers everything you'd want from a V8 sports car, a 5.0L Coyote that howls, handling sharp enough to embarrass the Camaro, and a cabin you can actually live with daily. The problem is the sticker shock: a base GT that cost $33k in 2021 now starts at $50k, and the Dark Horse pushes $70k-$80k, which is GT350 territory from just a few years ago. The car itself hasn't gotten worse, it's objectively better, but Ford has priced it out of reach for the young enthusiasts and budget-conscious buyers who made the Mustang a cultural icon. If you can afford it or find a deal, you're getting a legitimately great sports car. If you're shopping on the budget this nameplate used to own, you'll be cross-shopping used Corvettes and wondering what happened to affordable V8 thrills.