cvalue13
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Thinking about the value-proposition of the Cyberbeast, at $100K before out-the-door costs, and asked myself what other vehicle (truck wise) I might purchase with that money. An alternative that would cause me to think on it, money no object and if looking to spend on an absurd vehicle toy truck.
Brought me back to daydreams about AEV's Prospector XL.
It should be obvious, but around here bares saying outloud, that obviously the Prospector XL isn't a BEV (in fact it's a diesel), so as an alternative would do nothing to scratch the itch being hydrocarbon-free in fuel type. And, obviously the Prospector XL wouldn't have the sort of straight-line speed and acceleration of a Cybertruck. They're two very different trucks, in many respects.
But the two trucks do share two core buying prerogatives:
(1) YOLO: nobody needs a truck that does 0-60 in 2.5sec, or what the Prospector XL can do
(2) The Cybertruck pitch is heavily geared towards the Cybertruck being an offroading vehicle, for people to get to the backcountry, etc.
As for item (1), YOLO, I'm going to ignore it as essentially even for present purposes: whomever wants to spend six figures+ on any sort of super-truck, shouldn't quite pass the red face test of judging some other buyer's preferences for their conspicuous consumption.
Instead, it's item (2), the offroading / overlanding sort of proposition - at the relative price-point, that I find more interesting to consider.
First, for those not familiar, here's AEV's Prospector XL - and upfitted Ram 2500 or 3500 (player's choice):
Basically, AEV has for years been building these things to be absolute overlander monsters, that are pretty dialed in rock-climgers/mud-boggers.
Among the main inclusions in their XL up-fit, how I'd configure one at least:
AEV bumpers
a 3.0-inch suspension lift
hydraulic-assist steering upgrade
AEV/Bilstein 8100 external-reservoir shocks
AEV wheels ( 10- x 17-inch black Katla 10 wheels)
40 x 13.50R17 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires (that require the fender and rear quarter openings to be expanded by about 3.0 inches)
On a 3500, a max payload capacity of 6,390 pounds (7K pounds if you go with the 37" tires)
Power Wagon power train (to get diff lockers)
Warn 16.5ti with synthetic rope
$3K worth of auxiliary LED lamps front, and rear
bed-mounted matching spare wheel and tire on a vertical mount ($1,736)
A bed rack with crossbars provides a mounting point for a rooftop tent, axes, Jerry cans, etc.
hardened differential covers front and rear
a breathable intercooler skidplate
auto-level rear suspension
All-in price of $119,194.50 (at Laramie trim in base vehicle).
(The base Prospector XL up-fit costs $20,999, then other bells and whistles added above)
If at this point someone is suddenly crying foul, and suddenly worreid about money when talking about six-figure super-trucks, here's a price-comparable configuration:
strategically optioned 2500 Tradesman Cummins
Auto Level Rear Air Suspension
37s
retractable steps
AEV's leather and Cordura seat upgrade
the smaller light bar, plus the winch, intercooler skidplate, diff covers, and a few doodads
out the door for $93,941 with the same suspension, a bit more payload capacity, a quieter ride, and a slightly lower climb, than the no-holds-barred version above, and 5K less than the cyberbeast
For me the take-away here is this: if I were looking to pay six figures for a truck I primarily wanted for offroading/overlanding, and I was flexible on ICE/BEV, the Prospector XL would absolutely eat the lunch of a Cybertruck offroad. The only advantage of the Cybertruck would be the smaller trail footprint, and so needing a bit more attention to exit strategies. And the Prospector XL would out-tow, out-payload, etc., the Cybertruck by a good, wide, margin. (Please no one confuse Tesla's sled pull marketing here.)
Of course none of this matters if instead you have an absolute priority for BEV, a Tesla-branded product, or on-road straight line speed/acceleration.
Instead that, when it comes to folks attracted to the Cybertruck for offroad/overlanding applications on a fuel-agnostic basis, the Cyberbeast really gets you into the price territory of some absolute monster offroaders.
For that matter, one could take an AWD Cybertruck, and after up-fitting for getting near to a Prospector XL spec'd above, be likely within spitting distance of price but a good wide margin from trail capabilities.
Though the Cybertruck you can also drive to work with a different level of comfort/capability. Though, probably an equal amount of 'hey look at me' attention-grabbing as a Prospector XL.
In any event, given all the comparisons of the CT to the Rivian and Lightning, etc., thought it interesting to take a quick glance at a comparison given price to offroad alternatives.
Brought me back to daydreams about AEV's Prospector XL.
It should be obvious, but around here bares saying outloud, that obviously the Prospector XL isn't a BEV (in fact it's a diesel), so as an alternative would do nothing to scratch the itch being hydrocarbon-free in fuel type. And, obviously the Prospector XL wouldn't have the sort of straight-line speed and acceleration of a Cybertruck. They're two very different trucks, in many respects.
But the two trucks do share two core buying prerogatives:
(1) YOLO: nobody needs a truck that does 0-60 in 2.5sec, or what the Prospector XL can do
(2) The Cybertruck pitch is heavily geared towards the Cybertruck being an offroading vehicle, for people to get to the backcountry, etc.
As for item (1), YOLO, I'm going to ignore it as essentially even for present purposes: whomever wants to spend six figures+ on any sort of super-truck, shouldn't quite pass the red face test of judging some other buyer's preferences for their conspicuous consumption.
Instead, it's item (2), the offroading / overlanding sort of proposition - at the relative price-point, that I find more interesting to consider.
First, for those not familiar, here's AEV's Prospector XL - and upfitted Ram 2500 or 3500 (player's choice):
Basically, AEV has for years been building these things to be absolute overlander monsters, that are pretty dialed in rock-climgers/mud-boggers.
Among the main inclusions in their XL up-fit, how I'd configure one at least:
AEV bumpers
a 3.0-inch suspension lift
hydraulic-assist steering upgrade
AEV/Bilstein 8100 external-reservoir shocks
AEV wheels ( 10- x 17-inch black Katla 10 wheels)
40 x 13.50R17 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires (that require the fender and rear quarter openings to be expanded by about 3.0 inches)
On a 3500, a max payload capacity of 6,390 pounds (7K pounds if you go with the 37" tires)
Power Wagon power train (to get diff lockers)
Warn 16.5ti with synthetic rope
$3K worth of auxiliary LED lamps front, and rear
bed-mounted matching spare wheel and tire on a vertical mount ($1,736)
A bed rack with crossbars provides a mounting point for a rooftop tent, axes, Jerry cans, etc.
hardened differential covers front and rear
a breathable intercooler skidplate
auto-level rear suspension
All-in price of $119,194.50 (at Laramie trim in base vehicle).
(The base Prospector XL up-fit costs $20,999, then other bells and whistles added above)
If at this point someone is suddenly crying foul, and suddenly worreid about money when talking about six-figure super-trucks, here's a price-comparable configuration:
strategically optioned 2500 Tradesman Cummins
Auto Level Rear Air Suspension
37s
retractable steps
AEV's leather and Cordura seat upgrade
the smaller light bar, plus the winch, intercooler skidplate, diff covers, and a few doodads
out the door for $93,941 with the same suspension, a bit more payload capacity, a quieter ride, and a slightly lower climb, than the no-holds-barred version above, and 5K less than the cyberbeast
For me the take-away here is this: if I were looking to pay six figures for a truck I primarily wanted for offroading/overlanding, and I was flexible on ICE/BEV, the Prospector XL would absolutely eat the lunch of a Cybertruck offroad. The only advantage of the Cybertruck would be the smaller trail footprint, and so needing a bit more attention to exit strategies. And the Prospector XL would out-tow, out-payload, etc., the Cybertruck by a good, wide, margin. (Please no one confuse Tesla's sled pull marketing here.)
Of course none of this matters if instead you have an absolute priority for BEV, a Tesla-branded product, or on-road straight line speed/acceleration.
Instead that, when it comes to folks attracted to the Cybertruck for offroad/overlanding applications on a fuel-agnostic basis, the Cyberbeast really gets you into the price territory of some absolute monster offroaders.
For that matter, one could take an AWD Cybertruck, and after up-fitting for getting near to a Prospector XL spec'd above, be likely within spitting distance of price but a good wide margin from trail capabilities.
Though the Cybertruck you can also drive to work with a different level of comfort/capability. Though, probably an equal amount of 'hey look at me' attention-grabbing as a Prospector XL.
In any event, given all the comparisons of the CT to the Rivian and Lightning, etc., thought it interesting to take a quick glance at a comparison given price to offroad alternatives.
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