I totaled a 08 Dakota 4x4 QC Sport in Dec 09. I paid 21400+ tt, so it was like 22800 out the door on Dec 23 08. I had around 6500 miles on it when it met an early end. Sticker was around 28000. No trade.

Guess what the payoff value was from the insurance co? 23800..... I owed around 19500 after paying for 11 months. 4300-500 deductable = 3800 in my pocket( I got most of my 11 payments back )

The adjuster called and said the trucks where going for 21+k then he added adjustments for the low milage and couple minor upgrades I had, (trifold cover, vent guards, and also for the sport package because he couldn't find one to compare it to locally.) I just dummied up and let him talk. Mama would have been proud.

I put 3k down on my 09 Ram SLT Crew a week later, 39+K sticker, had 2 on lot after they transfered them from another dealer. Called the guy and told him I was buying that week and to give me his best deal, no trade. I was crunched for time and didn't have time to play around for 3 or 4 hours. He called back and said 27,500. Got him to 26,900 before I even stepped on the lot - 3 k from the Dakota payoff so it was around 25,200 out the door. Oh yeah, it's the 5.9 Hemi w/ 20's too.
I love this ****ty economy.

 

I live in TX where you need to get used vehicles inspected every year... new vehicles get two years before their first inspection.

In the 12 years I have lived here i have only ever had one vehicle inspected.

I am in the military and what blakeroberts is saying about military adjacent dealerships is bunk... if they do not budge get an emailed quote from a neighboring dealership, almost all dealerships will price match.

Besides the Carolinas have at least two dealerships that compete on ebay that they sell for invoice less half holdback... I almost drove all the way out there a couple years ago until my local guys price matched.

As to the OP... the amount financed is the only number you need to worry about...

The dealership can sell you any truck on the lot for a dollar as long as they give you nothing for your trade and charge you 40K for rustproofing. As was mentioned, the numbers are a shell game to convince you that you are getting a good deal, and to convince the bank that they are getting a reasonable loan to equity ratio.

 

From my military days I remember everything around the base(s) is a scam and overpriced. Lots of young people with money in their pockets. Many for the first time in their lives. If they don't get it from you, they will off the next guy.

I agree with all that matters is the bottom line. Research and understanding what the vehicle is worth is huge. I've told dealers that another dealer has a similar vehicle for cheaper and what can they do to make me buy from them. If you hear that someone else is looking at buying the one your looking at tell them you'll get one somewhere else, or the next one off the asembly line. Not the only one selling Dodges or whatever car around here. Bottom line is they'll make money, how much is yours is up to you.
I drove 2 hours recently to buy my wife a 2008 Subaru Legacy. Local dealers wanted too much to start with and all the cars where beat for a 2 year old car. Found a dealer with 5 or 6 I was possibly interested in and made the trip. Got an acceptable deal and actually had an advantage because they knew they never see me again if they didn't give it a good go that day. I had 2 more lots to visit that day and would have if needed.

Point of this story is in order to save a few grand I'd go out of market. I don't make 2 or 3 grand a day or even over a long weekend so it's worth it to me to do this.

 

Yep, last two cars I sold were a 04 Carola and a 03 Explorer. Was offered a trade in of 2k on the Carola and 3k on the Explorer and was able to sell each of them in a day on craigs list for $6500 each. Do not trade your cars in. You can give them a way and make a alot more then any trade in. I hate seeing people get robbed when they think they got some amazing trade in yet they really got taken on the price of the car.

Also don't buy cars based on the monthly payment. i laugh when I see the dealer writing numbers on a blank piece of paper and then telling them, alright let me take this to my manager and see what I can do. You want the car, they know that and they are gonna find a way to get you in it and make the most money.

You want the best deal, shop the internet. Check the internet pricing. Call up the internet sales manager from each dealership in your area and i bet you find a better deal then any guy standing in front of the dealership smoking just waiting to throw you some great weather were having line at you. Ive seen as much as 15k off these trucks at the right time of the year. In fact that time is about now. As Oldjeep said, they are over priced so they can offer a better deal. if anyone ever pays full MSRP I feel for them becuase a drive off the lot is %35-40 cha ching poof.

 

I paid 17k for my nightrunner, knowing full well they were a 30k purchase brandy new. Being that there were only 2000 made, I paid over just a tad , but made out cus, Mine is a stand out no matter where I go. I'm happy about that 51k when I purchased it btw.