Has anyone read anything about, or even predicited interest rates rising quite a bit in the near future? I play on saving about half the car price as a downpayment and then get a loan for the rest, and didn't want to cheat myself if rates are going to sky rocket in a couple months when I have the cash.

Intrest rates might rise a bit, but not much. The rate that banks get on loans from the feds was cut again last week so they probably wont up the rates more then a bit sometime early next year.