I'm looking to buy a 1998-2002 Camaro with the LS1 (so a Z28 or SS) and a 6-speed manual with less than 100,000 miles. There are very few for sale close to me that meet my needs, and the ones that do are usually priced well above Kelly Blue Book value. I was wondering if the "rarity" of Camaros (their not really all that rare) means they should go above KBB? Here are 2 examples:

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/1227221783.html

KBB: $7500, asking $11,000. Many mods, yes, but I don't think they should raise the value that much, especially considering the tear in the seats.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

KBB: $9700, asking $14,200. Looks to be in perfect condition, but $4500 above KBB?

They're priced so far above KBB I don't think they'd come down far enough. Is it normal to pay a premium?

Thanks.

 

I think KBB is way off but other people here seem to think it works. The highest price I could get for my car (one in my sig) was 7000. A fully loaded (except power seats) Z28 for 7000. I'd be happy if I found that deal.

That bottom one only has 23,000 miles on it. That's very hard to find one with that low of kms.. and only 9700? I'd be even happier with that deal.

And on that note, I checked a 2001 Honda Prelude, and it came out to 12,000. Even in Canada we wouldn't pay that much for one of those. I'm not sure where KBB gets its figures, but it seems to me to be VERY off.

 

KBB is an average of reported sales. It can be 6-8 months off. Now after saying that as you get away from an Average car it gets less accurate. Your first example is pretty darn far away for Average. Your second example is not really average but I do think it is over priced for non-SS. Also around us (assuming you are near Lancaster) the 6 speeds sell really well. I was down in South Carolina on Vacation and found a drivable 97 six speed with a slipping clutch for $2500. Now i regret not buying it. I have never seen anything like it around here for the money.

Becarful spending big money on 4 gen camaros. Once the factory starts to meet demand and the 5th gens start entering the used market these 8 & 9 year old cars are going to crash invalue. Many will be traded in. Just like the 3rd gens did and the 2nd gens...... A car that is truly worth 10K right now could be worth 7K in less then a year and 5K in 18 months IMO.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, I didn't think anyone was actually going to respond. I ended up buying the second car I listed, a 2002 Z28 with 26,000 miles, 6 speed. I just bought it on Friday, one day before you responded. I payed $13,500, plus I bought a set of 1 year old Torque Thrust 2 wheels with tires from him for $800. Maybe it was too much, but I couldn't find another car like that after scouring all the auto sites and all 3 major craiglist cities here (Harrisburg, York, Lancaster) for weeks.

And I freakin love it. I was driving a Pontiac Sunfire before so of course I'd love it! It's been delisted now, so all I can provide is 2 crappy pictures I took quick. Need to clean her up and take pictures outside of the garage.





I love her and I'm happy.

And I actually never drove a manual car before. Friday was my first day driving manual, with my dad with me. I was already driving by myself yesterday (Saturday, my second day on manual). I can't believe how easy it was to learn to drive a manual with this car. I LOVE THIS CAR!