Better Buy the V8: Chevrolet Updates Incentives on Camaro SS
It’s no secret that Ford routinely cleans up in the muscle- and pickup-related segments, often to the chagrin of General Motors. The Blue Oval routinely outsells GM in both fields. Eager to change a few minds, Chevrolet began offering a $2,500 discount to Mustang owners (or lessees) interested in purchasing a Camaro. That rebate rose to $3,000 last month.
This month, the General is making another offer. As part of its Black Friday Sales Event, Chevy is willing to part with the Camaro at a 12-percent discount below MSRP. The only restraint is that it has to be a V8-powered SS model, making this catch feel like more of a perk — as we wouldn’t mind seeing more of them on the road.
Quick on the trigger, GM Authority did some hasty math to calculate the savings, but it all shakes down the same. For example, the 12-percent Chevrolet Camaro discount reduces the price of the 2019 1SS model from $37,995 to $34,430 (including a $995 destination fee). That’s roughly $4,560 off and the by-the-dollar discount climbs the more you spend upfront.
It also allows the Camaro SS to be priced roughly one grand under the Mustang GT it’s trying to bury. Considering the Chevy’s 455-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 boasts specs very near to the Ford’s 5.0-liter V8, the savings might encourage more than a few to make the swap over to GM.
Since it’s really a matter of taste, you can’t truly go wrong either way. This author has found the Mustang to be easier to live with on the daily, whereas Camaro offers a certain special something (excitement) the Ford doesn’t exude at lower speeds. Personally, I’d probably settle on the comfier Dodge Challenger R/T — or splurge for the Scat Pack — so my opinion is already invalid and objectively wrong. Fortunately, you don’t have to be coming off a Mustang or Mopar to take advantage of this particular discount. Unlike earlier incentives, GM says it’s available to anybody interested in buying an SS — even someone who shares my awful taste in cars.
Assuming you’re buying within the United States, Chevrolet will give you until December 2nd to lay your hands on a discounted Camaro. Would you make the V8 swap for 12 percent off?
[Image: General Motors]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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The irony of this is that these deeply discounted Camaros make the 2020 LT1 V8 model pointless. Your upcoming "Cheap No Frills V8" model is now the same price as a discounted 2019 SS model.
Cadillac is dead last in CR's New Reliability Index (30th out of 30). Chevy and GMC are also horrid. Go Guangzhou-Guadalajara Motors! Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac among least reliable in Consumer Reports rankings https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Chevrolet-GMC-Cadillac-among-least-reliable-in-Consumer-Reports-study-564926372.html "General Motors brands Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC were among the least reliable in annual Consumer Reports rankings. By Tom Krisher, Associated Press | Posted: Thu 12:54 PM, Nov 14, 2019 | Updated: Thu 12:55 PM, Nov 14, 20"