Buying 'Bad': Young Used Car Purchasers Want Walter White's Wheels

[slusher]

Bad" is good, at least when it comes to the old and long-reviled Pontiac Aztek.

Routinely named as one of the ugliest vehicles ever to roll off a Detroit assembly line, the quirky crossover-utility vehicle is suddenly finding a new generation of fans among millennial used car buyers, apparently as a result of its recurring role as Walter White's ride in AMC's "Breaking Bad" TV series, according to new research by the automotive data service Edmunds.com.

In fact, the Aztek is just one of several now-discontinued models to connect with millennial buyers after being largely rejected during their initial production runs. Other models, which are even more popular than the Aztek, include the Dodge Magnum wagon and Chrysler Pacifica crossover, the research found.

 

Bryan Cranston as Walter White stands in front of his Pontiac Aztek in "Breaking Bad." AMC

While much of the models' popularity derives from young buyers seeking a better price on a discontinued model, the Aztek's appeal is at least partly attributable to the wildly popular cable show which portrayed a dying high school chemistry teacher who becomes a major dealer of methamphetamine, according to Jeremy Acevedo, an analyst with Edmunds. Character Walter White, portrayed by actor Bryan Cranston, drove an Aztek during much of the show's five-year run.

The sudden interest in the Aztek is "one of those quirky purchases that we're coming to see more of with this generation," Acevedo said.

Launch at the turn of the millennium as a 2001 model, the Pontiac Aztek was initially billed by the General Motors brand as the "Swiss Army knife of automobiles," and it did win kudos for the flexibility of its seating and cargo layout.

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But while an earlier concept version also was praised for its edgy styling, the production model was routinely panned. CNBC, for one, listed the Aztek as one of its "10 Ugliest Cars Ever."

Pontiac planners stuck with the ungainly hatchback through 2005, making a series of modest tweaks that did little to win over critics. By the time production wrapped up in late 2005, Pontiac was suffering from a sharp decline in sales. It became one of four brands abandoned by parent General Motors as it emerged from bankruptcy in July 2009.

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But used versions have been gaining traction on the market. In fact, Edmund's analysis of registration data compiled by Polk found that in four of the last five years, Aztek has been one of the 10 vehicles with the highest share of millennial buyers. So far this year, it is sixth on the Gen-Y used car list.

How much of that is due to its role on "Breaking Bad" is unclear, but Acevedo clearly sees that as a strong influence. One of the Azteks used on the show, which was damaged and undriveable, recently was auctioned off for $7,800, according to the auction site Screenbid. Three of the crossovers were used in the filming of the show.

[SfanGoch]

The third paragraph nails it. The main interest is in it's pop culture connection to the show. If  a shopping cart with whoopee lights was prominently featured on a program, there'd be a run on them too. 

[Daddyfink]

This could be the Pacer of the new Generation. 

Edited September 23, 2015 by Daddyfink

[Joe Handley]

I'm amazed the Chrysler Pacifica is on that list, I still can't believe somebody would want one when they were still making them, let alone now?!  The Aztek I can see from the TV and Utility standpoints and I still love the Magnum, despite refusing to buy any Daimler-Chrysler era Mopar.

[slusher]

I read an article the the Celine Dion commercials could help the Pacifica sales..

Edited September 24, 2015 by slusher

[Tom Geiger]

When I was car shopping last year Magnum, Pacifica and Chrysler 300 were on my short list.  Just try to find a nice one that they aren't asking a fortune for!

[mike 51]

I read an article the the Celine Dion could not commercials could help the Pacifica sales..

huh?  

[slusher]

huh?  

Just a mistake, fix it thanks...

[Tom Geiger]

I read an article the the Celine Dion could not commercials could help the Pacifica sales..

But Jennifer Lopez sold my daughter a Fiat 500.... same pearl white convertible too!  

A few years ago my daughters approached me that they both wanted to buy new cars.  I asked what kind and they both said  "FORDs".  My older daughter wanted a Fusion and daughter the younger wanted a Focus.  I wondered how they came to this decision and suddenly it hit me... American Idol is sponsored by Ford.  Sure enough! They admitted it.  Brilliant marketing on the part of Ford, I can only imagine how many new cars they sold to young people.

In the end, the younger one got romanced off by Lopez and got the Fiat, but my older daughter did get her Fusion.  Both cars are 100%, neither has ever been in the shop for more than an oil change.

 

[slusher]

But Jennifer Lopez sold my daughter a Fiat 500.... same pearl white convertible too!  

A few years ago my daughters approached me that they both wanted to buy new cars.  I asked what kind and they both said  "FORDs".  My older daughter wanted a Fusion and daughter the younger wanted a Focus.  I wondered how they came to this decision and suddenly it hit me... American Idol is sponsored by Ford.  Sure enough! They admitted it.  Brilliant marketing on the part of Ford, I can only imagine how many new cars they sold to young people.

In the end, the younger one got romanced off by Lopez and got the Fiat, but my older daughter did get her Fusion.  Both cars are 100%, neither has ever been in the shop for more than an oil change.

 

Fiat pulled the plug on the Jennifer Lopez commercial i can't remember why and it was popular and selling cars. May be able to find it on the internet.  

[Tom Geiger]

Fiat pulled the plug on the Jennifer Lopez commercial i can't remember why and it was popular and selling cars. May be able to find it on the internet.  

That was a first year commercial, back when they introduced the car.  She was probably expensive!  

But she sold my daughter that car!  And that was before the Fiat dealer network had anyone in New Jersey near her.  We have a Fiat Studio right near our house in PA and we bought it there.  I had some worry about her buying the new to the market car, as well as one that had no dealer to service it near her.  Unfounded worries since the car has performed flawlessly and has never been back to a dealer!

[SfanGoch]

Fiat pulled the plug on the Jennifer Lopez commercial i can't remember why and it was popular and selling cars. May be able to find it on the internet.  

The best commercial:

[1930fordpickup]

Those old Azteks have been all over town here for a few years after the show came out. I was commenting about it at work when Ed piped up. His kid had one on lease and said they ride great and once you get past the looks they were a great car. He said with a laugh that when his kid told him what he wanted , he did not get it at all. Then he took a ride and then drove it changed his mind. 

The whole part about being cheap before the show came out is what resold most of these I would think. Young kids today are about APs and options, not 2 door sports cars. Most do not even like to drive.

[GaryR]

That's for people that are into television, NOT into cars. Different people, different subject entirely.

MOST modern cars are ugly as hell and have zero personality, cookie cutters.

Never watched the show, don't care about it. I'll keep my Mustang thank you!

That's show biz!!

Edited September 24, 2015 by GaryR

[slusher]

That was a first year commercial, back when they introduced the car.  She was probably expensive!  

But she sold my daughter that car!  And that was before the Fiat dealer network had anyone in New Jersey near her.  We have a Fiat Studio right near our house in PA and we bought it there.  I had some worry about her buying the new to the market car, as well as one that had no dealer to service it near her.  Unfounded worries since the car has performed flawlessly and has never been back to a dealer!

I could see why you would have concerns it being and no dealers around. Commercials can be entertaining. Remember Fords better ideas, Chevy like a rock commercials. Ford's quality is job 1. I remember the old Chevy Citation commercials and the diamond being cut in the back of a Ford Granada. i remember the old Aztec commercials but only remember seeing a couple..

Jennifer Lopez Fiat Commercial

[Tom Geiger]

That's my daughter's car... all $28,000 of it.  She wanted the fully loaded J-LO convertible. Wouldn't settle for anything less.  Her reasoning was that she planned on keeping it a very long time, so she should get the best one.  

Only difference... we had two of the same pearl white convertibles side by side.   My daughter thought the red top was overpowering, so she chose the car that had a beige top.  It's a very nice car.  An automatic, but still fun to drive. In three years she's put 58,000 trouble free miles on it.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Tom Geiger