I saw another post about Credit Unions, by all means, join one, probably the best rates you'll find for loans, credit cards etc. Plus many of them have options on their car loans where you can skip a payment a year if things get tight for you!

Also, they're very friendly and customer oriented. If you tell them what you're looking at, the loan officer will work up a Blue Book cost for you on their stationery. Then you can show it to the seller and say, 'This is what my bank will loan me for it'. Kind of hard for him to argue with that.

Prepare yourself for if he won't deal and just walk away. You can always leave your number in case he decides to come down.

Jay