'Treat Car Shopping Like Dating:' Tennessee Woman Says She Got 2025 BMW X1 for $438 a Month By ‘Negotiating.’ Then She Shows How

• BMW

Just because a car has a low monthly payment doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. In fact, it could be a red flag that it’s a bad deal.

In a trending video, content creator Alyssa (@amezaing) shows off her 2025 BMW X1, which she negotiated to $438 a month.

In a follow up, Alyssa shares her best negotiating tips so you can also secure a car payment that works for your budget.

“I like to treat car shopping like dating,” she explains. “I think it’s really important to focus on yourself first before you hit the market.” 

For Alyssa, that means checking her credit score, saving money, and reviewing her budget before setting foot in a dealership.

She cautions against letting a salesperson dictate what seems affordable. 

“You do not wanna stand in your own way of getting a good deal,” she says, adding that buyers should know their limits before signing off on a long-term payment plan.

Alyssa advises visiting multiple dealerships so you can pit the offers against each other. 

And she says she pays attention not only to pricing but how salespeople treat her. She once walked out of a dealership after a salesman repeatedly spoke only to her boyfriend, she says, despite her making it clear she was the buyer. 

“You are doing business with them and you wanna make sure that you’re giving business to the right people,” she says.

Flexibility also plays a role. Alyssa notes that even if you have your heart set on one car, be open to others that may surprise you.

Once Alyssa was ready to negotiate, she got a quote from Audi for a monthly payment with no down payment. She then brought that offer to BMW.

“I need you to match this or I’m gonna have to go with Audi,” she recalls telling them. 

The dealership adjusted its numbers and offered her a payment of $438 with zero down, which was right in the range she was aiming for. The whole process took about two weeks of back-and-forth.

She emphasizes three takeaways for shoppers: don’t settle for the first offer, shop around, and leverage dealerships against each other.

“So happy car hunting,” she concludes. “I hope you get the best deal, and do not say yes to the first offer.”

Does a Lower Car Payment Mean a Better Deal?

It’s tempting to think that the lowest monthly payment is always the smartest move. But that’s not necessarily true, Consumer Reports noted. Dealerships often stretch out the length of your loan to make the payment look smaller, and that can end up costing you a lot more in the long run.

Here’s why: the average new-car loan today is almost six years. Some even stretch to seven years or longer. The problem is, the longer your loan, the more interest you’ll pay overall. For example, on a $30,000 loan, a five-year plan at a decent interest rate might cost you about $2,700 in interest. Stretch that same loan out to seven years, and you could be paying well over $5,000 in interest.

There’s also the issue of depreciation. Cars lose value fast, often about 20% in the first year alone. If you’re on a long loan, you might end up owing more than the car is worth. That means if the car gets totaled or stolen, your insurance payout won’t cover what you still owe, and you’ll be stuck paying the difference.

A better strategy is to aim for the shortest loan you can reasonably afford, ideally four years or less. Yes, the monthly payment might be higher, but you’ll save money in the long run and avoid being upside down on your loan.

Commenters React

“Ugh my husband clearly did not hustle enough!!!! I traded in my Lexus, for BMW x1 2025, and my payments are 755! Also leasing it. Next time ima take it into my own hands I’m just too shy to negotiate,” a top comment reads.

“You don’t negotiate the monthly payment! You always negotiate the lowest interest rate!” another person pointed out.

“Okay can u msg me and give me the full script bc…….,” a third wrote.

Motor1 reached out to Alyssa for comment via email and TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.