Buy This, Not That: Jesse Pinkman’s Vehicle of Choice
You can find a personal finance lesson in just about anything (if you look hard enough), and sometimes they just jump right out for you, like this one from Season 2 of Breaking Bad.
Jesse Pinkman, Albuquerque’s most famous meth dealer, needs a new car since Captain Cook, his hydraulics-equipped red Monte Carlo was shot up in the desert during a showdown between Tuco and Hank. (I highly recommend watching the show if you haven’t seen it already, but it’s not important for your financial edification if you haven’t). Anyways, Jesse’s down at the lot where he stores his meth lab/RV, and he spots his possible replacement vehicle.
Having recently lost about $67k of cash and convincing Walt to split his half with him, Jesse’s slowly realizing at this point that he needs to be a little bit more cautious with his money. Hmmmm.
He spots a second car.
So which car did Jesse go with?
BAM! None other than a gently used mid-1980s Toyota Tercel in his favorite shade of red. I’m guessing it set him back about $700. Considering that in a few episodes, he’s about to start making some serious “stacks”, I’d say our Jesse Pinkman is setting himself up to be quite the millionaire/drug dealer next door. Way to go Jesse. Now if he would just stop spending his money on those over-sized, gaudy Affliction hoodies, he’ll definitely have his expenses under control.
(Side note: Breaking Bad is about the terrifying world of meth and violent drug trafficking, but one that exists nonetheless. Even though it is the darkest show I have ever seen, it is also one of the best. Every scene and every character bears closer examining. If you like the show, check out this awesome post about what each character’s car says about them. Jesse’s Tercel? “Ultimately Jesse accepts that he’s not really a bad guy (regardless of what he says) and he gets a dependable, boring family sedan – a Toyota – because all that Jesse really wants is to love and be loved. He craves a normal, dependable, suburban family life.”)
Bonus: Can anyone name the car in the first scene? Looks to be a Chevy…is that an Impala?
This post is so gonna end up costing me money. Now I will have to go searching for Season 1 of Breaking Bad and because it will be an import (and probably Blu-Ray) I am going to be saddled with the choice of whether or not to spend $60. Actually buying TV series like that is a much better deal than imported movies, but still it’s a lot. The show better be good or I’m sending Jesse after you
I highly recommend Breaking Bad too. Great show. It is quite a mature decision for Jesse to be making, one which I wish I had made too. I blew my money on a nice car, but then the ‘fat stacks’ coming in started slowing down.
Good point Jeremy. I think that’s another lesson you can learn from Breaking Bad…whenever the cash starts rolling in, you can be sure something will disrupt the flow very soon. Be prepared with cash on hand
This show is worth buying! But considering the first season is only 7 episodes, it’s kind of pricey at $60. But if you like tense, crazy drama and a lot of metaphors, you’ll love it.
Looks like an El Camino almost, but I’m not a car guy. Most of those cars shared platforms so they look similar.
I’m a big fan of beater cars and can’t wait to get one when my 2005 Chevy Cobalt craps out.
That is indeed an El Camino. Somewhere from 64-70.
Nice, yes, I looked it up after John mentioned it. I kind of love those cars but I would never want to own one and throw money at it every day.
I’m totally not a car guy (thank the money gods!). I drove a 1997 Geo Metro until June 2009
Definitely an El Camino. Unsurprisingly, C loves both Elkies and Breaking Bad. It’s one of the few shows he misses now that we don’t have cable.
Breaking Bad is the best show on TV. After Mad Men and The Walking Dead. I cannot wait until the last season comes out on amc. I want to see where it all ends. The show is not just about drug trafficking and dealing meth. It is also a story of one man’s decent into evil.
As far as financial lessons go, you nailed it!
Love the reference to Breaking Bad. Definitely my favorite show I never though I’d learn a finance lesson from Jesse Pinkman.
Aloysa- I love Mad Men but have never seen Walking Dead. I really dislike zombies but I know everyone raves about it. It is definitely about Walt’s descent into evil, but I also think he had so much anger latent inside him from everything that happened in his career. It’s such a good show, I can’t stop watching and re-watching it.
Katie-I know! You wouldn’t think so but you can always learn from these crazy characters. It’s “Kafkaesque”
I really want to get another old Beetle, but I don’t have even a spare $2k that one that still runs will cost.
So when my Camry died last year, I spent $500 on a 95 Geo Prizm. I plan on running that thing into the ground.
Where was Breaking Bad when I got my car?? I just realized that with the gas mileage it’s taking, my car will only be good for as long as it takes to pay off the car… should’ve done the math. =/
I love finding financial wisdom in pop entertainment. For example, you can learn a lot about entrepreneurship from watching Ghostbusters.
I think that’s an El Camino right?
I have not watched this show, but I agree that every show has some financial wisdom, good or bad, they are there. We don’t have TV so I only watch crime drama and comedy online. We went to Vegas for a conference in late Nov and watching the HGTV, the first time home buyer show. It was fascinating. What people want in their first home, what they compromise on and what they fight about… don’t know if it real, but it was illuminating to say the least.
There was a very interesting article about how House Hunters is nearly 100% staged: http://hookedonhouses.net/2010/06/02/the-truth-about-house-hunters-on-hgtv/
But lessons are definitely to be found in many places.
@Shaun: Always get an EPA permit for your ghost storage facility?
@Shaun What about the valuable lessons of what NOT to do in business brought to you by Tabatha’s Salon Takeover? Also enlightening
It is a great lesson – go with the cheap frugal car so you will have more money later on! It is always usually better to buy used than to buy new and lose a bunch of value overnight.
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