As far as great value in terms of Camaro's, you cannot go wrong with the 98-02 LS1 cars. Huge performance per dollar, good looks and mileage. The 99 model shown below ran mid thirteen's stock, presently high 11's @ 116 mph with mild mods and still knocks down 20 mpg in combined city/highway driving, and the car is worth about $8-$9K in its present condition.
My other two Camaro's are pretty far back in terms of performance, handling, braking, and mileage. But what appeals to me are the way they make me feel. The rough idle, unburned exhaust fumes, styling, rarity, ease of working on, and so so ride and handling appeal to me because it brings me back to my youth. Driving these cars and the reaction I get brings me back to my 20's when they were commonplace and no one cared if they had the proper date coded block or transmission. All you wanted to do was go fast and look cool doing it. Now, there is a desire inside of me that wants to restore and preserve these cars so that future generations can experience the fun that these cars bring. And for that, people are willing to pay top dollar for these cars now.
Paul