# @asotu_morethancars on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DagptmBkWzR
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68725515-asotu-morethancars-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/d8ec9d8092.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-07T23:32:03.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** More Than Cars (@asotu_morethancars) — https://gondola.cc/asotu_morethancars

## Caption

The 7-year car loan is creating a lost generation of buyers.

To solve today's affordability crisis, we've made longer loans the standard. The average term is already brushing 70 months for new and used cars.

A quarter of all finance deals are now 84 months or longer.

While it helps F&I close deals today, it systematically delays the replacement cycle for tomorrow. Customers build equity far too slowly. Many don't build it at all.

Edmunds found that 31% of trade-ins are already underwater, the highest since 2021. The average amount is a staggering $7,813.

When a customer is that far buried, they can't trade out. They can't buy their next car from you. They become a dead-end in the service drive, unable to trade up into a new vehicle with a warranty.

We are burning our future seed corn to make this quarter's numbers.

As dealer principals and GMs, we have to recognize this shift. We are solving a short-term payment problem by creating a long-term equity and retention problem.

What's the plan when a huge portion of your customer base can't come back?

Watch the full episode at the link in our bio.

## Stats

- **Views:** 563
- **Likes:** 6
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rob Downes | @designedbydownes | https://gondola.cc/designedbydownes | Graphic Designer |
| Rob Downes | @designedbydownes | https://gondola.cc/designedbydownes | Senior Social Media Manager |
| Rob Downes | @designedbydownes | https://gondola.cc/designedbydownes | Creator |
| Rob Downes | @designedbydownes | https://gondola.cc/designedbydownes | Creative |

---
Copyright (c) Gondola