Several books and magazines publish dealer costs and product reviews, along with negotiation strategies. There are also services available by phone and on the WWW that will help you locate a dealer with the best prices for the model you want. Financing can come from many sources. It seems that the need for down payments has reversed between buying and leasing. Many purchases can now be made with no down payment, whereas many leases require some payment up front.
Some dealers offer incentive financing or a rebate.
If you do the math, you will see it usually pays to take the rebate or discount and arrange your own financing. The thoughts, concepts and commentary contained in this column are not meant to constitute loan advice. Readers should consult their own advisors. I'm sure you've discovered that each group may have different expectations of a project - and that each team member brings different personalities, experiences and values to the table. Of course, varying levels of competence and expectation can affect the outcome of each project.