pipeguy wrote:Best bet IMO is what I always do.... Have a pre-approved Auto loan from a bank or Credit Union in hand before you go "serious" shopping. I have no problem letting the dealer try to beat my in hand loan, if they do I'll go with the dealer's source, but if they can't or they try to play games - the loan is already "bought" so you are covered.
In my experience, having purchased a lot of cars over the last 40 years, about 50% of the time the dealer can beat the in hand loan, and I'll also say I've never had a loan deal "go bad" after the papers are signed.
I've had this happen and its an aweful way to do business... had the loan "go bad" 2 months after we drove the car off the lot. Went in to get the towing package installed on the vehicle... left in a little small car 
If I had known what i know now I would have called the police and demanded our trade in back.
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