Dealer cost is a mystery Driving for Dollars by Terry Jackson • Bankrate.com

Dear Terry,
You recently wrote that few people, besides the dealer and the dealer's accountants -- not even the salesmen -- know the dealer invoice price. How, then, would a customer know if a $250 spread is an amount he should settle for, if you are saying there is no "pure" way to make sure of the number he is working from -- that number being the actual dealer cost?
-- Tunya J.

Dear Tunya,
You're confusing the dealer invoice -- a document that shows the basic factory wholesale price of the vehicle -- from the dealer's actual cost for that vehicle, which is usually less than what that invoice shows, thanks to additional discounts from the manufacturer.

Most any dealer will show you the "factory invoice'' document, and if you can get within about $250 or less of that figure on most vehicles, you've likely got a fair deal.

This week's reader questions:

• Do economical cars really save you money? • Is it ever a good idea to roll one car loan into another? • Why can't I find a good deal on a lease exchange? • If a car's invoice price is mythical, how can I make a good deal?

If you have a question for Terry, e-mail him at Driving for Dollars.