You are the accountant for Simply the Best Fireworks. The company has been negotiating with various car dealers in an attempt to get the best deal on a new Vroom Vroom XKY. The purchasing manager provides you with a summary of three offers and asks you to analyze them to determine the best arrangement. The options available are to:

i. Pay $40,000 cash.
ii. Issue an interest-free note for $43,200 repayable in 36 equal monthly installments.
iii. Issue a 9% note for $38,000 repayable in 36 equal monthly installments.

For a car loan, Simply’s bank will charge the company a nominal rate of 6% per annum, payable monthly.

Required:
a. Analyze the offers in terms of the cost of the purchase expressed in present value terms.
b. Independent of part (a), prepare the journal entry to record (i) the purchase of the automobile assuming that Simply issued the $38,000 note, and (ii) the first payment on the loan.