Sexy supercars for Camaro coin

In this apocalyptic post-Australian performance car world, a saviour has been the Chevrolet Camaro – but for its $85,990 pricetag.

Just when it seemed like mostly V8, rear-drive options were nil, though, the depreciation stick arrives to whack down supercars.

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These five options were once six-figure big-dogs, most are a decade to 15 years old, and all offer similar performance to the HSV-remanufactured Chevy. At the cheapest and sexiest end of the frame, there’s a 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage manual with 60,000km showing.

With a new price 12 years ago of $242,850 plus on-road costs, the 4.3-litre V8-engined coupe has fallen to $85K. It makes 283kW at 7300rpm, and 410Nm at 5000rpm, for a 5sec 0-100km/h claim – not the quickest, but there’s no better-looking way of getting to speed.

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Even slower, but more stately, is a fellow Brit. Slightly older, and with an older buyer type in mind, a 2004 Bentley Continental GT was an astonishing $385,000 plus on-roads new, but the 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 brute in a suit now asks the same as the above Aston.

With about 80,000km showing, the quarter-price Benter all-wheel driver rocked out 411kW at 6100rpm and 650Nm at just 1600rpm, though its 4.8sec 0-100km/h was hampered by the 2385kg kerb mass. And mind the 16.1L/100km combined-cycle fuel consumption number…

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From there we jump a whole lot newer, while staying in the same territory. Check out a 2013 Jaguar F-Type S convertible, most of which packed the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine. But with navy paint and beige leather, our choice 47,000km-old example nailed in the 5.0-litre blown V8 in all its glory – with 364kW at 6500rpm and 625Nm from 2500rpm.

Allied to an eight-speed auto and driving the rear axle only, it claimed a 4.3sec 0-100km/h, and within six years its $201,945 plus on-roads price has halved to bang-on $100K.

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Similarly, for just-on six figures, a decade-old Porsche 911 Carrera 997 Series II has gone from $226,300 plus on-roads new for the PDK base model, to less than half now. And being a nine-one-one you can bet that it will go up-up-up eventually, given its past record. The 3.6-litre flat-six made 254kW at 6500rpm and 390Nm at 4400rpm, for a 4.7sec 0-100km/h. That isn’t the quickest, but this last-of-the-line, pre-electric-steer Porsche was sublime.

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Interestingly, too, an Audi R8 from the same era hasn’t stepped down towards five-figure territory yet, meaning that, yes, an Audi has held up better than a Porker.

Perhaps the biggest depreciator of all is a 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, an eye-watering $414,350 plus on-roads new, and nine years later with 83,000km it’s less than a quarter of the price at $95,000 max. Even if it wasn’t Sporty or Light, the 6.2-litre atmo V8 is an epic powerhouse with 386kW at 6800rpm and 630Nm at 5200rpm, good for a 4.7sec 0-100km/h.

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The real question now is: are those supercars making you reconsider that Camaro?