Fred Hebert wanted to buy a Lexus sport-utility vehicle late last year with cash, but he said the dealership gave him a proposition: Finance it or it will cost you almost $2,000 more.
He felt he had little choice. Supply-chain bottlenecks were making it tough to find the white RX 450 hybrid model he wanted elsewhere, and he had an immediate need for the vehicle. The dealership arranged a loan.
