Just saw a 4-door Brute at my local Jeep dealer (Bob Baker in Carlsbad) with a price tag of $96k! I had never been to a dealer that sold cars approaching the $100k mark before today. I certainly didn't expect to see my first one at a Jeep dealer. It IS pretty bad-azz, but not 96k bad-azz.

I know, I know. Pics or it didn't happen. I'll get pics when I go back to pick up my Jeep... if the Brute hasn't sold already (yea right).

 

Just googled the dealer name and "brute" and found them on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...0592645&type=1

They're saying it's the first and only one in California. Now I feel a little privileged to have seen it in person. I wonder if my landlord will let me mortgage his house I'm renting from him so I can bring this thing home. Haha.

 

That can't be the first one and it sure isn't the only one in CA

 

Anyone that spends $100k on a Wrangler has some sort of mental disorder.

 

Or a shitload of money. More power to them. They are still basically custom so not going to be cheap.

 

Ridiculous, for about 1/4th of that you could get a used H3T Alpha that can do everything the brute does:

2009 HUMMER H3T Sportsman Concept - Rear Angle - 1280x960 - Wallpaper

 

I think they mean the first and only 4dr Brute

 

I hope you aren't being serious...

 

It's tough to take anyone seriously when comparing a Jeep to GM parts-bin vehicle badged as a Hummer.

Let's get drunk with the idea for a moment.

Let's do this the cheap way. A H3T is pretty much a GMT 355/360 platform underneath. Take the cheapest iteration of that platform, the GMT355 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab. 4 doors and a 5'5" truck bed, body on frame. With a set of tires, they're a pretty competent offroader, save for a few weak parts. In their most expensive form, because you'd want the 5.3 V8, they were about $34,000. That leaves us $62,000 to play with before we reach the Brute price tag.

Let's leave the internals, but beef up the cooling on the steering and transmission, reinforce the axles, upgrade shocks, put in a 2.5" lift, a winch. Swap gears, if we're feeling crazy and add an air locker. Custom-fab some bumpers with a winch, throw some tires and wheels on there, and do it up with about a grand in aftermarket lighting. Simple, not crazy. Let's say with a set of 35" tires and wheels, that runs us $27,000 installed.

We're still $35,000 ahead. Add some AEV stickers. We're still $35,000 ahead.

The weakest parts are the transfer case (electronic switching Isuzu unit) and potentially the axles themselves and the driveshafts.

Then, let's stuff it down a trail, with an AEV Brute. The Brute can help us out if we get stuck. Let's get wild and total the thing, bury it up to it's 76-Antenna ball in mud and water.

You're still $35,000 ahead. Pay the $3,000 tow bill. Assume it's not insured and you get nothing out of the vehicle in parts or salvage value.

Now you're $32,000 ahead.

Proceed to Jeep Dealership and buy a 2-door Rubicon, or buy an entry level Sport and throw $10,000 worth of tires, wheels, lift, lighting, all AEV parts where possible. Now you're net-even. No, you aren't driving a Brute, but if you didn't total the Colorado, you could presumably have a nice 4-door Brute-like truck AND a brand new Jeep Rubicon to play with.

Point is, there are alternatives and while a Brute is awesomely cool, most people are paying for the 'unique' factor. The functionality can be accomplished otherwise, arguably better in some cases (not saying that is the case with a Chevy Colorado), but it's possible. They're selling a concept and a name, and at the end of the day, it's a $30,000 Jeep underneath with some really awesome parts on it.

The scenario changes slightly when we're talking about the non-marked up price of a Brute (what do they go for, north of $60k?). I would still have a hard time paying $60k for that, but it would be cool to own.

 

Unless that $100K was spent building the jeep, not just buying it