Ah, the Pontiac Aztek. Where do we begin? One could say the Aztek was ahead of its time as a crossover utility vehicle, others could say it’s the ugliest vehicle of all time.
However, the Pontiac Aztek has a lot going for it when it comes to being a future collectible vehicle. That’s right, the unloved Pontiac crossover could potentially be worth something more than we’d ever imagine. Autoblog has compiled a list of 10 reasons why buying an Aztek now could be a smart move when it comes to collector vehicles, and there is some convincing evidence.
Foremost, it follows the Ford Edsel strategy. At one point, the unloved Edsel was deemed the ugliest vehicle of all time. But, now it’s worth something. Why? Because people rallied around the car in a community fashion, bringing the Edsel to heights nobody saw coming. In good condition, an Edsel fetches around $50,000 today.
Speaking of communities, the Pontiac Aztek has a huge following. Heading over to Aztek Fan Club shows tons of fans rallying around the awkward crossover. That’s normally a pretty good sign of future collectibility: people care.
Not to mention, the Aztek got so much bad press during its on-sale years, it has become a curious case for so many. Why was it so bad? Is it that bad? Has the design grown on us? It asks a lot of question and piques interest in key areas where collector cars offer similar conversations.
Add in the fact it’s been featured across American pop culture and the Aztek (Breaking Bad and American Dad) could be diagnosed with Isuzu Vehicross syndrome. The Vehicross is arguably an incredible cult classic and was also featured in the film Mission To Mars.
Millennials have taken a liking to the Pontiac Aztek, too, scooping up the dirt-cheap crossovers like crazy. Are they on to something? Are we staring at a future collectible? Time will only tell.
Comments
The Aztek will be as good of an investment as the Pacer.
It may be a novelty but it is not going to be a true collectors car that will show any real value.
Now on the other hand. I would not be surprised a PT Cruzer Turbo and Convertible or the HHR SS and LT2 in good condition may show some interest in future collector value due to the retro styling. Both could be the Nomad of the future. Same for the Prowler and SSR. These models in prime unmodified condition will show some real interest to collectors.
As for the Aztek there was no love, still is very little love and will be not much love in the future. Even the Pontiac hobby people tend to discount them. At the POCI Nationals this year one was there with the tent option. the option drew more attention than the vehicle.
I think this is just a case where someone is just speculating in hope theirs may be worth something some day.
The truth 95% of all cars built each year never see any collector values and this is just one more with an interesting story.
I just saw an AMC Pacer for sale here in Louisville for $25,000,
I liked them. I sold quite a few of them. Sold 2 to the same family with in the same month. I heard all the comments on styling then I would tell them about the great features inside and how great it drove. I would get people to drive them and once they did they liked them. The Buick Rendezvous is basically the same car just different sheet metal.
I never thought the Pontiac Aztek was an ugly vehicle. On the other hand, I think the Buick rendezvous is horrendous and unproportioned. The Buick Rainier is a much more attractive SUV than the rendezvous, in my opinion.
It is a design abomination. Now if they had built the concept, it would have sold like hot cakes.
For the time it was truly a Sport Utility Vehicle . Withe the emphasis on utility . It seemed that the vehicle was ready for anything , with all of the unique toys in the interior . Good for tailgating to throwing in a pair of skies for a weekend .
But the exterior was a just to polarizing in my view , it did look a bit better in certain body color than others .
It may be that some millennials like the fact that it doesn’t look like all the cookie cutter SUV’s on the road right now .
However calling it a future collectable is a bit of a stretch .
I honestly like the Aztek! It definitely looks like nothing out there in a swimming pool of crossovers because the design is pretty daring. I honestly think the current Lexus crossovers are more uglier than this!
Funky as it was, the Aztec looked better that the Honda Element. I had a friend that owned a black Aztec and he absolutely loved it.
Aztek – family dumpster with Rubbermaid cladding. Collectible I don’t think so. A Cadillac Allante has a better chance.
There are vehicles that have come out since this that make it look good, such as the above mentioned Element.
There are plenty of ugly cars out there. Anyone here liked the Cube?
With that said even with uglier out there it did not make this one any better.
The bones under the skin were fine for the time. The utility was never in question. As for being daring Ruepaul is also daring but I would not want to have that around the house either.
Here is the plain facts as they are. Pontiac was the Performance division. They did a lot with what was given to them from GM because much of it was forced sharing with Chevy and Chevy got most of the call on how far they could take things.
From the 60’s through the 80’s they did much with so little given. The engineers and designers assigned to them learned from Delorean and took chances like the 455 SD, Fiero and even the Turbo GTA Pace car. They broke rules and would go till they got slapped down which they did many times once they pissed Chevy off. I have been lucky to speak to many of these Pontiac staff over the years and learn just what was really going on.
GM just never appreciated Pontiac and never knew what to do with them. When someone did they got busted down.
By the time the Aztek rolled around Pontiac was in the hands of brand managers who were not car people. GM was hemorrhaging money and Pontiac was on its final decline to death. They knew the TA was going away but made no effort to have any kind of RWD performance till Lutz arrived about 5 years too late to save them.
Many of the engineers who did all the good over the prior 30 years were retired by this point so there was no one to fight the battles anymore.
Lutz arrived and there was no time and very little money to fix anything but he did a lot with nearly nothing with the GTO, G8 and Solstice. The G6 was well on the way and only could get a few changes and the GTP was so bad he reoreder a redesign in the late hours before production. I saw a rare photo and if you hated the last GP then you should be glad they redesigned it.
Pontiac was not a CUV or SUV division. The people running Pontiac wanted to make them a life style division which unless you count racing they were not a life style division.
So if you all want to get misty eyed over this abortion then were were you when it was for sale? I bet none of you owned one new let alone old and none here would put the money down on one now for anything other than a snow beater.
I wrote to Pontiac after seeing the prototype when I was told it was going production I told them “What the hell are you thinking”. I found out later many insider Pontiac also felt as I did and they really did not want it.
You may think the Element was worse looking but it sold much better over the years. It was no looker but at least it did not become a punch line.
Polarizing styling is either a home run for a limited time or a complete strike out. Seldom do they translate into long term high volume sales. You get half the people loving it and half hating it at best but many times like in this most hated it.
I had considered buying one. We could get a new loaded AWD for $16K new on a $25K sticker ed priced Aztek. We drove it and liked the inside and it drove well though not with much power. But we got out and just could not buy it even at slashed prices.
This car is the proverbial old made that never got the looks. She was sturdy and had a nice personality but that hunched back and unshaven legs are just was too hard to over look.
So if anyone thinks this will be a real true collectors car lets see you put some real money down on one. Any volunteers?
This car was a mistake from the start and failed miserably. It was one of the final nails in the Pontiac coffin. In place of reminiscing on this like lost puppy it should be treated for what it was the symbol of where Pontiac went wrong and never returned from.
You like to blame GM for killing Pontiac well here was the symptom of what caused its death.
Really good post here with a lot of validity and truth. 🙂
For those who here loved the Aztek lets see some photo’s of your investment in one?
How about a good old G3 to go with it.
I can not believe how many of you sit here and complain about the loss of Pontiac and then get sentimental over one of the models that help deliver the killing blow.
If I was in charge of GM, I would keep Chevy the way it is, make Buick and GMC entry level/affordable luxury (Chrysler, Mercury, Acura), Cadillac would become an ultra luxury brand like MB or RR (not sports luxury like BMW) and Pontiac would make a return as a pure sports/performance/sports luxury brand (cad. V-series, Camero, mustang, viper).
Got mine for free, a 2003 with 150k kms on her, runs like a top, and could care less if it’s fugly or collectable. So far, it’s a great runner.
I bought my first Aztek in 2000. I still own it and it has 387,000 miles on it. It is Aztek Yellow. This is the best car I have ever owned. I also own two 04 Azteks, a bronze one and a white one. On my original I had to replace the head gaskets at 175,000 miles and the heads at 300,000. It was cheaper than buying a new car. My car drives just as smooth as it did when she was brand new. I like having three of these great cars and I drive all three. My dog loves them too. Hell, I just might buy another one but it will have to be red!
My wife tells me regularly how much she loves her aztek. We’ve had it seven years now, and she’s driven newer crossovers but doesn’t like them as much. It’s been a great runner and we sure can fit a ton of stuff in it. I suspect most folks how go out of their way to rag on them are just ignorant.
Miss my Aztec as my husband would say!! Kidding of course!! But I love it!! That’s What I tell haters about my Aztec. I have a 2003 Pontiac Aztec same color as in Breaking Bad. I bought it brand new and I still absolutely love it. It’s had its ups and downs just like any car or SUV. But thank goodness it was under warranty. I think one day it will be an awesome collectors item! I’ve always had Michelin tires on my SUV, It has made a wonderful traveling vehicle.I love always taking it to Home Depot or Lowe’s because of how big the interior is I can fit a lot of items in it. And all you haters of the Aztec can just kiss my Aztec!! Ha!!Ha!!
Only vehicle I ever factory ordered and drove off the dealer lot in December 2001. In July of 2024 I’m still driving it, and it does everything I need it to. My last three vehicles have all been Pontiacs–Aztek, Grand Prix and LeMans.