The balance is the principle left on the loan and doesn’t include the interest, any unpaid late penalties or any prepayment penalties.

If the payoff date is in the future than the interest to that date will be included.

What is a Maryland $500 processing fee?
I’m not sure how much “negotiating” went on, it’s slightly over MSRP.

If you need the additional leg room for the back seat, the Camry is fine but otherwise get the Corolla XSE, same features, better rating (both good) and get the Hatchback.

Does the Rav4 have AWD? Will not having that be a problem, in your environment, with the Corolla?

Car dealers aren’t known for doing anything other than what the market demands. Buy used until they quit doing that.

I don’t count on any car dealer to do anything other than act in their self interest. If they go overboard and lose customers, that’s self-correcting as well.

With my car before my current model, I bought a new Corolla. The first dealer had PNW markups on top of MSRP. I saw that and left that dealership. I went to another part of town and saw that they didn’t do that. I bought a car there. I also based it on cost plus a small markup based on Consumer Reports at that time.

Recently (2 years ago) I bought a late model used Corolla Hatchback. The price listed online was reasonable (based on my research) and I sent an email saying that I would buy it. A few emails and one phone call later and I bought it and had it delivered to my house all within a few hours on a Saturday evening.

I also bought it when the weather was terrible (Seattle) in January. I controlled the process and was determined to buy it with no more hassle than buying a kitchen appliance. I succeeded. It’s up to you to manage the process.

I didn’t leave my house, I paid cash, no extended warranties. No trade in. Line up your money outside of the dealership, deal with your old car outside of the dealership. Just don’t encourage the nonsense in the first place.

You don’t negotiate with a child or a drunk. Don’t do it with a car sales/finance manager either.