The Camaro is what happens when Detroit gets muscle cars right: the 6th-gen SS and ZL1 deliver genuine track capability with the 1LE package while holding resale value like few sports cars do, one owner lost just $1,000 after a year and 8,000 miles. The visibility is genuinely terrible, you'll park by Braille, and you'll want the V8 both for the visceral experience and to dodge the V6 stigma at resale. Buy a 6th-gen SS or ZL1 now before production ends for good, skip the complaint-heavy 5th-gen unless you enjoy surprise repair bills, and if you've got collector money, a pristine first-gen remains timelessly desirable.
Quick enough to embarrass pricier metal, practical enough to haul a 65-inch TV, and genuinely fun in a way most modern performance cars forgot how to be. The Mk7 and 7.5 (2015-2021) hit the sweet spot: bulletproof EA888 engine, sharp handling, and interiors that punch above their weight. The catch is maintenance, skip an oil change or ignore a clogged sunroof drain and you'll meet your VW specialist more than you planned. The Mk8 stumbled with maddening touchscreen controls and software that occasionally forgets how to play music, though the 2026 refresh claws back the driving feel. If you're the type who actually enjoys cars and doesn't mind being on a first-name basis with your mechanic, this is still one of the best daily drivers under $40k. Skip it if you want appliance-grade reliability.