You can still go for the lower end if you sell based on the total monthly car costs. Many people see what they can afford based on the monthly loan payments rat

You can still go for the lower end if you sell based on the total monthly car costs. Many people see what they can afford based on the monthly loan payments rather than the total cost, and if they save more on fuel than what they pay extra on the loan, it's a good trade. But that doesn't work if the extra niceties push the loan value over that line.