I don't like car notes either, but decided to buy an '02 Explorer Eddie Bauer last month for my wife. It is a fully loaded demo with 10,000 miles and I saved thousands over the sticker, and with 0% financing, my payment is less than the '96 EB Explorer I have was.
I also skipped the trade-in game and negotiated stricly on the price. Sold my '94 Saturn SC2 with 85,000 miles on it for $4,000 cash, my asking price, which was almost 25% of it's original price.