Ford Mustang vs. Chevy Camaro: Which Muscle Car Depreciates Faster? – Jalopnik

Two American muscle cars have been fighting back and forth for power for more than 50 years. The Ford Mustang, which has been in continuous production since its launch in 1964, regularly battles the Chevy Camaro, which went out of production in 2024, for drag strip and sales supremacy. Owners and fans alike argue about horsepower, quarter-mile times, track performance, and anything else that can be compared between the two.

What about depreciation? While this may not be the first metric you think of when comparing two vehicles, it’s worth noting that there are people on the market who are likely to buy one of these used cars, and it’s always good to know which one will depreciate more quickly. This may be the only case where being faster is not preferable.

While you can get both cars with different engine options, we’re going to focus on the V8. We’ll start by looking at the base prices of the Mustang GT and base Camaro SS in 2024 (the latter year the Camaro could be purchased new, although it could return in the future). That Mustang came with a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produced 480 horsepower. The Camaro SS had a 6.2-liter V8 that produced 455 horsepower. The Mustang started at $43,090 with the mandatory delivery fee of $1,595. The Camaro SS rang for $43,895 (including the $1,595 destination charge). Only $805 separates the two contenders, with the Camaro being more expensive for 25 fewer ponies. However, paying more upfront pays off when it comes to depreciation.

According to the consumer site AutoEdgea Chevrolet Camaro depreciates 38% in 5 years AutoEdge data suggests a Ford Mustang depreciates 57% (although this certainly doesn’t apply to the crazy 2025 Mustang GTD). Even after 10 years, the Camaro retains 42% of its original value, compared to just 34% for the Mustang. Many factors come into play when calculating depreciation, including just the number of cars that may be available. In 2024, Chevy sold only 5,859 Camaros. That number includes all finishes. During the same period, Ford moved 44,003 units. That makes the Camaro much rarer than the Mustang for that year.

Ultimately, this means that the 2024 Chevy Camaro we started with is worth $27,215 after five years, while the Mustang is worth $18,529. Going back a year, the 2023 Camaro SS had a starting price delivered of $40,695. The Mustang GT cost $39,740. According to CarEdge’s depreciation estimates, the Camaro will be worth $25,231 after five years, while the Mustang will be worth about $17,088.

Depreciation may also change in the future, but right now the Chevy Camaro is the depreciation champion, while the Mustang has to settle for second place. If you’re looking for a cheap V8, the Mustang seems like the best choice, but if you’re looking for something that will hold its value, you’ll probably want to go with Camaro. Sixth-generation Camaros should also be quite reliable.