re: Is it super dumb to finance a vehicle for 72 months?

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the interest in not really 0%, it is built in to the price of the vehicle.

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In a sense, yes. Usually it's something like a $2500 rebate OR 0% financing. From that point, I'd just take a quick look at the interest I'd be paying over the term of the loan (and I'd use 5 years at the most for that calculation). If the interest is higher than the rebate, then it's worth taking the rebate. If it's lower, then take the financing. Pretty simple.

Or just pay cash if that's what you want to do. But that's a lot of money tied up for not a huge reason. I believe over the life of my loans, I'm paying like ~1500 in interest (1500/5=300 a year). I'll pay 300 a year to have 10's of thousands at my disposal. And that's assuming it's all sitting in a 0% savings account. I currently have a 2% checking/savings account. I have no desire to pay cash.

Just bought a new Accord. Negotiated the price I wanted. Then qualified for 0.9%.

Did a $7500 trade in and put down enough to get the note at $300 for 5 years. Smarter to finance it all but there's something psychological about a lower note. So I found my compromise.