So I'm shopping for a 2013-2017 avalon hyrid or lexus es300h seem to be arond 60-140k miles. i'm 6'6" with a child seat in back row so i need a larger car that gets good mileage (already have a sequoia).

TLDR: $25k vehicles before $10k down. Preapproved @2.04% thru bank. Cars are all 1.5 hours away diff directions. going through bank means two trips (test drive, sign, go home. get paperwork to bank, bank sends check, drive back to get car different day). vs going thru dealership which most can finance thru my same bank and be done in one trip

I'm currently preapproved at my credit union @2.05%ish up to $70k which is nuts. my max budget is probably 28k before 10k down (finance around 15-18k max).

My issue is that i'm in bumfuck nor cal, every vehicle is 1.5-3 hours in different directions and i've even been looking at places to fly into. So, the thing with financing through my CU seems to be having to drive to test drive/Prepurchase inspection at mechanic "negotiate" then present the paperwork to my bank to get a check cut and sent (drive home, then drive back to get vehicle). whereas if i apply through the dealership, its all same day. I feel the dealership method is less ideal because it puts all the cards in their hand, they can fuck my rate, know what i'm approved for etc.

thoughts?

Also, all these dealers i talk to thru text/email/phone say one price and thats best they can do. the cars sell quick it seems. so am i just going to have to suck it up and pay sticker price?