Ill start by saying that im in the finance game and do car finance for a living. Competition means that dealers make less money on the actual sale of the car these days - so to recoup that, they tie it in with the finance. A person thinks he is getting a good deal on the car - and then the dealer says the repayments are only $500 per mth. What the buyer doesnt realise is that in that $500 per mth - can be $100-$200 commission. Over a 5 yr term it can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. All of a sudden that discount of a couple of grand on the purchase price doesnt seem that good!
Happy to help anyone in the market for a car - just make sure you have a job!