Buying a new Camaro V8

[Camelot1971]

I recently rented a 2019 Camaro SS in the US and fell in love with it. So much so, I'm seriously considering buying one when my current car lease is up later next year.

I note the UK official cars are still the 2018 model with the 8 speed auto and different styling. Does anyone know if/when the 2019 updates will head to the UK or will I be looking at a personal import?

Cheers

[Camelot1971]

I know they only sell in tiny numbers in the UK but it will be a shame if official imports end. I'm looking at next year to buy but will keep an eye on Ian Allan's website for any bargains!

I think all the current cars are 6 speed manual or 8 speed autos. Would really want the 10 speed auto.

Muscle cars seem to be going through a bit of a renaissance in the US so hopefully Chevy keep on making it at least. I've tried the Mustang, and even with LHD, the Camaro was a much more "event" experience.

I suppose if official imports end I can always personal import one - quite a few people can help arrange that although the exchange rate at the moment is terrible!

[Camelot1971]

Interior is pretty much the same, if I understand correctly. I thought it was quite nice, if a bit "coal mine" in there!

[Camelot1971]

JONSCZ said:

Camelot, bear in mind that due to the lousy exchange rate, that with importing that it's roughly £ to $ price + 10% when shipped and on the road here.
ie $50k in US would be £50k + 10% ie total = £55k

Yeah, it's really bad at the moment

I'm hoping next year, if/when Brexit is sorted, it goes back to "normal", i.e $1.50ish to the £. I did note that on the GM Canada site, the prices are the same as the US site - I presume that's Canadian $ though rather than US? If so, importing from Canada would be a LOT cheaper!

[Camelot1971]

C5RagTop said:

Ian Allan Motors have a stock of Camaros, but when they are gone, that's it. No more official imports.

Yeah, seems that's it

Looks like personal import will be it then (unless the UK cars get seriously reduced).

[Camelot1971]

MuscleSaloon said:

As much as it pains me to say it the S550 Mustang is hard to ignore if you want some Muscle in the UK. You can get a pretty new V8 relatively cheaply now and the more I drive mine the more I like it. Still prefer the Camaro or Challenger by a mile but for various reasons I still have the Mustang !

I really want to be tempted by the Mustang (and I've been a Ford man most of my life) but I just can't excited by the current model and I don't want one of the previous gen ones. Some of it is the front end styling was a serious backward step IMO, and it just seems to be trying too hard to be retro.

I was looking at the HSV Camaros that they have made in RHD in Oz, but too much money and rumours of compromise in safety puts me off (I'm sure the cars are safe but conversions are always going to have some flaws, as it was designed as a LHD car).

I wish Vauxhall still did the VXR8, as the final versions were lovely things, with the same noise as the Camaro.

[Camelot1971]

fatboy18 said:

m 100% With you on this, I too hired one and loved it, I even went into a US Dealer and asked about buying one but they would not sell me one as I did not have a USA address.
I have also been looking in Germany at the Auto.DE website.
However One big word of caution if looking in europe. There is a company based in Latvia that is importing Salvage Camaros, they are doing them up, putting in custom stitched interiors some with other modifications and selling them with clean titles.
Its not just one or two cars, there are loads of them.

After contacting the guy selling one of these cars and informing him I had done a Vin check via a carfax report the conversation turned aggressive and went down hill fast, so what ever you do, MAKE SURE YOU GET A CARFAX SEARCH DONE ON THE VIN Number IF BUYING USED
Note: even German used car dealers are selling these so called clean title cars (so trust no one).

Edited by fatboy18 on Wednesday 3rd July 13:01

Doesn't surprise me that dodgy US cars can end up in Europe. I'll only be buying new, as it will be a "forever" car and would want very specific options and colour.

[Camelot1971]

MuscleSaloon said:

The dual-mode exhaust comes with magnetic ride control on the Euro / UK cars. Not sure if that is the same as US spec cars ?

2 separate options on US cars, unless you add the 1LE pack, which has both as part of that. My "perfect" spec car is coming out around $54k list price (not sure what deals are on offer in the US market). That's about £43k (not including taxes). Edited to add the same car via Canada is £37.5k + taxes

Top spec UK cars are priced at around £45k for the coupe, but it's the 2018 car. I'm not ready to buy for 14 months, so I doubt there will be any UK official cars at that point anyway.

Edited by Camelot1971 on Wednesday 3rd July 21:20

[Camelot1971]

MuscleSaloon said:

Just don't leave it too long ….

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1123780_7th-ge...

https://en.businesstimes.cn/articles/114520/201907...

I guess the world is changing and V8 muscle cars will soon be consigned to the history books. It's a shame, because the press love the Camaro (V8 at least) but a good car doesn't always translate to a car that sells well.

This is why I want to buy when my current lease runs out, and then keep it forever. Probably won't get another chance to enjoy a glorious V8

[Camelot1971]

Jaffa123 said:

Zed Ed said:

Quite tempted by a V8 Camaro.

Any U.K. drivers care to comment on lhd practicalities of this car given the restricted rear three quarters vision.

Thinking slip roads and the like.

We have a V8 5th Gen and it can be an issue. Joining roads from slip roads can be a challenge as can overtaking. The vision is dire but TBH its so much fun you just learn ways of navigating around the issues. Oh and dont do drive throughs as its just that bit wide to not get a bit angsty and car parks where you have to take a ticket require one of those disability grabbers but tbh we tend to loud them.
The car is an immense amount of fun and every bit worth the trade offs.
Other points
: you can get 4 adults in one albeit getting in is an adventure it is NOT skirt/ dignity friendly
: allow double the time to du fuel as every man and their dog wants to chat about it, but lets face it we dont buy these cars to be discreet.
Buy it and have fun :-)

[Camelot1971]

M3ax said:

How much are they in the UK? Sorry if that’s been answered but the search function has disappeared on the mobile PH thingy

A new one is around £40k - £45k, depending on spec. Convertibles are about £5k more.

[Camelot1971]

The 10 speed auto I tried was brilliant.

[Camelot1971]

MuscleSaloon said:

I had this book arrive in the post last week courtesy of the missus

Well worth getting ….

[Camelot1971]

MuscleSaloon said:

UK advertised '19 Camaro with the 10 speed auto ….

https://davidjohnsonpartnership.com/listings/2019-...

Wonder what that will sell for?

[Camelot1971]

Yippee38 said:

Sorry to resurrect an old thread.

I had a 5th gen (2011 Synergy Green RS - V6) and loved it even after it got totalled after getting t-boned. I ended up buying a 2018 2SS 1LE in Garnet Red Tintcoat. I'm blown away by how much better the chassis is on the 6th gen. There are things I preferred about the 5th gen though: Rearward visibility was slightly better, the cluster hump was as big as it is in the 6th gen, the trunk was significantly bigger, and in the 6th gen there is no useable storage except a tiny glove box - the center console is minute. But I enjoy the hell out of the 6th gen. The looks grew on me. It's meaner look than a purely retro look. I love the 2SS with the backup sensors, blind-spot sensors, dual-zone HVAC, Bose stereo, heated and cooled seats, and heated steering wheel. The 1LE adds a great 6-speed. I didn't think I'd like the auto-blip, but I've love it for daily driving. The magnetic ride control is pretty nice too, though the difference between Touring and Track is fairly minimal. I can feel the difference in the steering more than in the suspension.

You need to post pics!

[Camelot1971]

Less than 6 months till I start to seriously plan this

Thinking of importing from Canada now as the prices are way cheaper than the US. ZL1 new for less than £40k + duty/vat etc. I'm thinking £55k total. Can't see any particular issues for Canada rather than the US - am I missing anything obvious?

[Camelot1971]

I'm planning on new (or very nearly new) so rust doesn't worry me. The speedo and odometer can be easily switched between the 2 so that's straightforward too

I expect in "normal" times, when the US$ was $1.60 or higher to the £, Canada made no sense. It's currently $1.25 US or $1.75 CA to the £!

[Camelot1971]

fatboy18 said:

Don't be tempted to look on the German used car websites.

Lots of Camaro's on there a good prices but..... Many have dubious history. Normally salvage cars, exported to Latvia, repaired and sold with clean titles.
So make sure you check the vin number on Carfax.

I had heard that. I think if i go for an SS, the UK cars are getting cheap enough now that it wouldn't be worth the effort of importing. Some of the low mile UK 2019 cars are now around £35k. The ZL1 is so rare in the UK that the odds of finding a nearly new one here at a sensible price are probably zero.

Importing one, even from Canada nearly new, for less than £55k all in is very tempting!

[Camelot1971]

essexstu said:

Camelot1971 said:

I had heard that. I think if i go for an SS, the UK cars are getting cheap enough now that it wouldn't be worth the effort of importing. Some of the low mile UK 2019 cars are now around £35k. The ZL1 is so rare in the UK that the odds of finding a nearly new one here at a sensible price are probably zero.

Importing one, even from Canada nearly new, for less than £55k all in is very tempting!

Why not just go for a UK supplied one? I don't know if Iain Allen cars still have any stock but worth speaking to Craig. Remember UK supplied cars have a three year warranty which a grey import won't and an import won't just be about the Speedo, I don't think the sat nav will work correctly nor the dab radio. If Craig doesn't gave any new cars left I'm sure he will get trade ins come up as owners swap for Corvettes

If I go for the SS, I probably will, as prices have dropped a lot, although all the UK auto cars are 8 speed rather than the 10 speed. If I ended up with a 6 speed then that doesn't matter. Finding a UK ZL1 is very tough and people want stupid money for them - £70k for a 2018 car, for example. I get a new grey import will not have a warranty but a 3 year old UK car won't either. Getting the audio swapped is about £800 I think.

There is of course the "fun" of sourcing and importing your own car!

[Camelot1971]

Gary H 2008 said:

Yup, couldn't agree more

Nice! Is that an official UK car or an import?