A woman explains what she says happened when she attempted to purchase a Ford Explorer at her local dealership.
TikTok creator Dash (@dashykins22) posted a video with her numbers breakdown. “Last week, Ford tried to shove an overpriced Explorer down my throat,” she says at the start of the video. “And here’s what the numbers came out to.”
According to Dash, the starting MSRP was $47,000, but Ford was advertising the Explorer for $39,000 with rebates. If you factor in the negative $12,000 in equity she says the dealership told her she had on her current car note, the total should’ve been $51,000, according to Dash.
What Did The Ford Explorer Actually Cost?
Except that Dash says she received a notification from a credit union stating the dealership had requested financing of approximately $60,000.
That figure is approximately $9,000 over what Dash assumed would be the out-the-door price. Dash did the math and estimated it would cost her about $69,360 to finance the loan over an 84-month period at a 3.9% interest rate, with $3,000 down. “So how the [expletive] did we get from [$51,000] to [$69,000]?” she asks.
Regardless, Dash is choosing to use this moment as a teaching opportunity for others. “Never, ever step into a dealership, especially not a financial office, without getting an offer in writing,” Dash says.
In the caption, Dash wrote, “I’m gonna bully you into NOT getting bullied.”
Gallery: 2025 Ford Explorer
What Explains The Discrepancy In Sales VS. Out-The-Door Price Here?
In the comments section of the video, several viewers attempted to explain to Dash what might account for the discrepancy between the two figures.
“When you apply to a bank for a loan, they need to request a loan amount high enough to cover all the following items,” wrote one person. “Cost of car, negative equity, taxes, titles, document fees, insurances (GAP and warranties). So that’s why they request a higher number.”
The person continued, “Now when you [agreed to] 84 months, that number is going to be higher than the borrowed amount due to interest on the loan. Simple math, really.”
Do Taxes And Warranties Increase The Price Of A Car?
In short, yes, they do. According to Northwestern Mutual, almost all car buyers pay sales tax, registration fees, and dealer fees. Individuals financing a vehicle will also have to pay interest on the loan, and the total amount of interest you pay will depend on how long the loan lasts.
And getting a car loan while having negative equity on a current one can also add to the total. According to this Consumer Advice article from the United States Federal Trade Commission, some car dealers will tell you that they’ll handle the negative equity, but what they mean by that is they’re tacking it on to the end of your loan. That costs you money in the long run.
Motor1 contacted Dash via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We will update this story if she responds.
