Or one might blame the dealer for overly aggressive and even manipulative tactics. Or it might be stated that it's the fault of the automobile manufacturers and industry itself for insisting on marking the manufacturer's suggested retail price at levels that make it attractive to negotiate so as to sell as much product as humanely possible. And it might be said that it's the fault of segments of the automotive marketing channels and media that for years and years they have pointed accusatory fingers at the dealerships, thereby creating an air of distrust.However and no matter what in the end it's the consumer who signs on the bottom line and accepts responsibility for payment of the vehicle - be it truck, SUV or simple car, and pays for the automotive product whether in one lump cash sum or with financing and auto payments over time.

Thus the one most important element in evaluating which vehicle you are going to purchase is not even your needs or wants or the style or color of your eventual purchase but rather the simple question and questions "What can I afford?"Take the full time to do a proper and full assessment of your finances now and in a worst case scenario in the upcoming future. Have this done on paper or in a word processor computer file and firmly fixed in your mind - long before you even entertain going car shopping and certainly before you enter the doors of any auto or truck dealership , used car lot or even private seller. 

It's like going to an auction and knowing ahead of time what your maximum bid will be. This way you have a reference point of what is and what is not reasonable and affordable to you. You will have your limits drawn in your mind so you are not as likely either to get "carried away" with a product choice or enter into a negotiating battle where you ego is involved and you either semi-electric stacker feel that "you must have that car / truck /SUV" or that you must win at all costs the negotiating bidding war between you the salesman and the alleged manager behind the door in the back office calling the shots.

True some people will have a limit and allow a buffer just in case of say 10 %. Yet by doing that they have firmly set a limit in their mind of just how far they will go price wise and what point they will walk away. Its just they have given themselves a bit of leeway in the negotiating exercise just in case.In the end it can be said that you as the auto consumer and purchaser must not only like the vehicle and perhaps learn to live with the color but ultimately you are the one and no one else who is responsible for payment legally. Hence it behooves each and every auto buyer on the prowl to plan ahead by knowing their finances, financial situation and ultimate price point limit.

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