Automophoto.com
Suite Rides
June 1, 2007
There’s a reason this thing costs north of a half-million
dollars. "The components are absolutely the finest that can be found," Meyers
says. "We challenge engineers to look at this and find anything that can be
built better, or with better components."
The cabin gives off a businesslike vibe, but there are some
understated luxe touches, such as the radiant floor heating system, and the hot
and cold exterior shower, nestled under the rear overhang. Outside, I point to
the brackets flanking each side of the body and ask what they’re for, and Meyers
replies, "Speaker hookups. You’ve gotta’ have tunes."
The Unicat is certainly impressive from a technical
perspective, but the truck itself is merely the piece of hardware that opens the
door to a unique brand of gonzo tourist lifestyle. On one end of the traveler
spectrum, you have the package-deal person, who wants someone else to prearrange
their entire vacation—no surprises. And, on the far opposite end, you have the
Unicat buyer, a person who actively seeks surprises, good and bad, by venturing
outside the international tourism infrastructure. Meyers had his Sahara dinner
with the Touareg, and he also once had bandits in Morocco attempt to break in
through the rooftop air vents. Good or bad, the Unicat provides an exposure to
culture that you simply can’t get without breaking the geographic shackles of
hotel lodging.
It’s true that many formerly remote reaches of the planet are
now commercialized and tourist-centric. The good news is that plenty of places
still aren’t, and if you want to get there while maintaining a high standard of
living, there’s only one way to travel.
Unicat Americas
650.793.9009
www.unicatamericas.com
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