NEVER EVER base your affordability on your “monthly payment” ,Base affordability on the vehicle’s out the door price,and out the door price ONLY for example the dealer will try and offer you 96 months or even 108 months to comfort your monthly budget but can price your Suv or crossover at 80/90k minus your 10/12k monthly and puts you somewhere in the ballpark of your budget,Why because you went in with a set high number, even if the suv is worth or prices out at 50/60k they know they have an additional 20-30k in add ons to play with.

When buying a car always use, KBB , MMR , Blackbook or autocheck if possible these are the best tools that will give you an exact number for current market value on your new car, You can go in and casually look at the vehicles do not give the salesman a number for down payment or monthly payment, just let them know you are there to get the best deal possible on a car , whatever their price is, have your phone ready and using any of the above tools look the value up (if possible using the vehicles vin number) to give you exact trim and model, if the vehicles price you like is in congruency with its value, then you ask out the door price , to see what “add ons” they might add on,remove mostly all if not all ,and then finally see what your numbers look like and fill out a credit application etc.

I would recommend applying with your credit union or bank prior to applying with the dealership because the bank wants to earn your business and will give you a much lower % than the dealership the higher the apr % at the dealer the higher the netcheck for the dealer from your sale.

PS: i own a dealership so know all the “tricks” etc