Originally Posted by NewGMan

There is no such thing as "break even" on a car actually, it depreciates the minute you leave the lot and keeps depreciating until it is crushed and worth 0 (for most cars, with exception of collectible classics). The only reason people say 3 years is that is when a typical car load payoff matches the trade in value. Financially this is really not meaningful, unless you put $0 down and your payments are the cash flow you want to maintain, and by trading the car when the trade value equals the payoff you can then have a new car and the payments are the same with out putting more money down.

Originally Posted by RYs06MT

I don't know what you guys are talking about... pay off on my car is about 35,xxx and southbay infiniti ca, offered me 31,xxx so yes I know I will lose, that's about 4k not 7k... and I've done this before when I had an 08 then got a 09. I just fell in love with the verts and wish I opened my eyes to it sooner. Was there a 2009?

Originally Posted by Foxwiz

You might get 31k on your trade but you will pay full sticker on your new car. I got $5k off sticker on my vert, so your transaction will cost you over $13k where the other $4k is sales tax you pay on the purchase, plus license and fees.

If you can afford it then it's your cash!

Dealers are in business to make money and they won't do the deal if it doesn't benefit them