Jimmy McGill’s beat-up 1998 Suzuki Esteem had a life beyond the screen: according to the WHEELS Museum, Sony Pictures sourced four Esteems for Better Call Saul, and the wrecked car from season five is now in the museum’s collection. The other production cars had different outcomes, so the on-screen car’s fate is not the whole story.
What happened to Jimmy McGill’s Suzuki Esteem?
Jimmy’s recurring car is identified as a 1998 Suzuki Esteem in the Internet Movie Cars Database’s series vehicle listing. The series’ battered-looking sedan became a memorable part of the character’s image, but the fictional car and the real cars used on set have separate histories.
The WHEELS Museum says the Esteem that met its fate in season five is now part of its vintage-car collection. That identifies the fate of one production vehicle; it does not establish a complete episode-by-episode account of what happened to Jimmy’s fictional car.
What happened to the four production cars?
The WHEELS Museum’s exhibit says Sony Pictures obtained four 1998 Suzuki Esteems for production. The museum describes their different fates as follows:
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- One car was adapted into a camera process car.
- One was scrapped.
- Sony kept the best-condition car as the “hero car.”
- The car that met its fate in season five became part of the WHEELS Museum’s collection.
The museum does not identify the hero car as the one in its collection. The account also makes clear why an on-screen wreck should not be taken to mean every car used in filming was destroyed.
Why did the Esteem look so mismatched?
The mismatched red door and other color choices were deliberate, according to the WHEELS Museum’s exhibit. The museum says the design drew on a 1970s Ford Pinto owned by Dennis Milliken’s college roommate. Milliken was the show’s transportation department head.
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The exhibit says Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould asked Milliken to find a car “in the mid to late 90’s range.” Describing the search, Milliken said: “in my almost 40 years in this business, I have never searched so far and wide for multiples of the same vehicle.”
What kind of car was a 1998 Suzuki Esteem?
“1998 Suzuki Esteem” does not describe a single universal configuration: the model came in different body styles, trims and powertrains. For two examples, Cars.com lists:
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| 1998 configuration | Engine and power | Historical starting MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Esteem GL sedan, manual transmission | 1.6-liter four-cylinder; 95 horsepower | $11,999 |
| Esteem hatchback, manual transmission | 1.3-liter four-cylinder; 79 horsepower | $9,099 |
These are model-year figures for the specific configurations listed by Cars.com, not current used-car values or specifications for every Esteem. The show’s car should not be assigned one of these engine or trim combinations without evidence identifying its exact configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before buying Esteem parts
A parts listing for the 1998 Esteem is organized by trim, but a model-year match alone does not establish that a part fits a particular car. Before ordering, confirm the body style, trim, engine, transmission and exact part fitment. The Suzuki Automotive Parts 1998 Esteem category is a starting point for checking the model range, not confirmation of current stock or fitment for a specific listing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
