Blog

Summary

• The Chevrolet Camaro LT1 offers a 6.2-liter V8 engine at an affordable price.
• The 2024 Camaro is available in a variety of trim levels, with the LT1 being the cheapest V8 option.
• The Camaro LT1 offers a good balance of performance and comfort with a starting price of $38,800.

Muscle cars and V-8s go together like peanut butter and jelly. Although entry-level muscle cars have gotten smaller and offer turbocharged inline-fours, there are still plenty of affordable options if you want the roar of an eight-cylinder. Of the big three, Chevrolet offers the most affordable option.

The current generation of the Chevrolet Camaro has been running for an impressive eight years. It has always been the most affordable muscle car, regardless of powertrain. The 2024 model year continues to offer excellent value, with the LT1 trim equipped with a fantastic 6.2-liter V8.

We take a look at the LT1 and see what you get for your money, focusing primarily on the eight-cylinder engine. We also find out which of the Camaro’s competitors comes closest in terms of performance per dollar. Finally, we examine what Chevrolet has planned for the future of the Camaro and what that might mean for its pricing.

To provide you with the most current and accurate information possible, the data used to create this article comes from Chevrolet and other authoritative sources, including EPA and Edmunds.

The Camaro LT1 has an MSRP of $38,800

The 2024 Chevrolet Camaro is available in a variety of trims and powertrains, but if you want to take advantage of the unbridled power of Chevrolet’s V8 engine, you’ll need to go with the LT1. In addition to improved features across the board, the LT1 offers the most horsepower per dollar on the market right now.

Pricing

The 2024 Camaro is available in a variety of trim levels. The entry-level models are the 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT, all of which come with a 3.6-liter V6 and increasing levels of equipment. The V6 makes a decent 335 horsepower while still having an impressive exhaust note. These models have a starting MSRP between $30,900 and $36,900.

If a V6 just isn’t right for you, then the LT1 is your best bet. This model offers a number of improvements, the most important of which is the incredible 6.2-liter V8 under the hood. The LT1 starts at $38,100, making it the most affordable car you can buy with a V8 engine today.

equipment

For the price, the Camaro LT1 is truly a great deal. Not only does it offer unmatched performance for the money, but it also strikes a good balance between power and comfort. In addition to all the performance features we’ll get to in a moment, the Camaro’s cabin is surprisingly elegant and handles well on a daily basis.

Compared to previous models, the 8-inch infotainment system in the 2024 Camaro feels much more modern and fills the dashboard better. Other features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard on the Camaro, and it can also be equipped with features like a wireless charger and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

A roaring 6.2-liter V8 powers Chevrolet’s muscle car

While all of the LT1’s comfort and convenience features are nice, the real reason we’re eyeing it so much is its monstrous engine. The 6.2-liter V8 under the hood pumps out a ton of power, giving the Camaro track-focused performance that’s pretty solid compared to its other competitors.

Service descriptions

The LT1 is the ultimate weapon for those on a budget. Its insane low-end torque helps it deliver some of the most impressive acceleration times on the market, especially considering how affordable it is. Even if you don’t put your foot on the gas, the rumble of a V-8 is enough to convince anyone of this car’s value. At 455 horsepower, it costs about $88.78 per horsepower.

In addition to its solid performance figures, the LT1 has another special trick up its sleeve: it’s equipped with a manual transmission. For many people, that doesn’t mean much, but for enthusiasts, it makes a huge difference. The performance that a manual transmission offers in a high-performance car is something that even the best automatic transmission can’t match.

Fuel consumption

While no one would seriously expect a 6.2-liter V8 engine to be particularly fuel-efficient, it’s important to know that you won’t be at a huge disadvantage if you choose the manual transmission over the automatic, especially if you primarily drive in the city. If you frequently drive long distances, the few extra miles per gallon you get with the automatic will eventually add up, according to tests conducted by the EPA.

It is also interesting to note that the fuel consumption figures for the V-6 and V-8 models are not that far apart. The V-6 Camaros with manual transmission actually have the same fuel consumption as the V-8 models with automatic transmission.

The Mustang GT is a price-related alternative to the Camaro

If the Camaro doesn’t quite win you over, you’re in luck. Ford also offers a fairly affordable V-8-powered version of the Mustang that’s priced pretty close to the Camaro LT1. What’s more, the Mustang’s future is pretty secure, meaning there shouldn’t be a shortage of this muscle car any time soon.

Prices and features

If you’re looking for the most affordable V-8-powered Mustang, you’ll have to go with the GT Fastback. Ford’s V-8 muscle car has a starting price of $42,460, which is a few thousand dollars more expensive than the Camaro. However, the Mustang is all-new for the 2024 model year and comes with a wealth of modern features.

The Mustang has always been a muscle car that’s quite comfortable for those who want to drive it daily, and the 2024 model is no exception. The cabin is sleek and “fighter jet-inspired,” according to Ford, but still very comfortable. A hint of the new tech in the latest Mustang is the new, customizable 12.4-inch instrument cluster.

Performance

The most important component of the GT Fastback, however, is the new generation Coyote V-8 that forms its heart. The old unit produced 450 hp and 550 Nm of torque; however, the new generation has significantly more power. Ford has also kept the six-speed manual transmission alive for a while and continues to offer it in its typical muscle car.

The Mustang has also made great strides in terms of track performance. In the past, the Camaro would have easily outdone the Mustang in any corner, but thanks to a number of improvements, it feels much more lively and able to hold its own in corners.

Chevrolet has completed deliveries for the 2024 Camaro

The Camaro LT1 still sounds like an excellent choice, and it’s a good bit cheaper than the Mustang. The problem is that Chevrolet has stopped producing the Camaro, which means they’re no longer taking orders for the car. This means that while the MSRP will remain low, actual prices will likely be much higher.

Current price

Chevrolet has ended production of the eighth-generation Camaro, and the future of the nameplate is uncertain, to say the least. While General Motors says the name won’t die out completely, we have no idea what form it will take next and when it might return.

This has actually affected pricing, as the LT1 faces significant markups. For new cars on Edmunds, the average price of a new 2024 LT1 is $50,133, over $10,000 more than MSRP. However, list prices range from $43,000 to $55,000, so you can still get a bargain. For comparison, the average price of a new Mustang GT on Edmunds is $48,873.