Not a bad deal, really, for example, a 2001 Ford explorer is worth about $4K. You then are essentially getting the van for $26K, or a guaranteed trade in value off of MSRP ($30K) of $8K, or double the value of the trade-in. Now you don't get to take advantage of the tax difference on the trade-in unless you can get them to write up the deal making the trade-in worth more... Guessing they write it up as a $22K sale with minimal value on the trade in ($100?). If they do sell you the van for MSRP, then they have to write up the deal with an $8k trade value, so you only pay tax on that $22K.