2006 Overlanding Land Rover Defender review
Manuel Schmidt’s Landy is ready to ride around the world – we have a go
By Imthishan Giado
Click below now to watch out video review
You’re looking at the last ‘real’ Defender. Manuel Schmidt’s 2006 Defender is the optimal shape for offroading – an ultra-short wheelbase 90 – and is also the last one to feature a Land Rover specific engine, the mighty TD5.
Normally these five-cylinder turbodiesels output a fairly underwhelming 122bhp; with the help of a high-tech hybrid turbo and a tune, this Defender puts out closer to 180bhp and a ton of more torque, making it far more lively both on and offroad. Much better than the Transit 2.2 van engine that ‘graced’ the last Defenders to roll off the line.
Speed isn’t what his car is about, though. Schmidt’s Defender has been built for overlanding with plenty of clever touches: mounted sand ladders that double as a cooking/workstation, a built-in shower, on-board air compressor, a full drawer system for storing man-cave tools and er, Harissa spices.
Stock LR suspension has also made way for a full Dobinson setup for load carrying, there’s a roof rack for extra storage (though he rightly prefers to keep as little as possible up top for better centre-of-gravity) and the interior is stuffed with all manner of GPSs, charging points and inverters for the busy business overlander.
The seat rails have been modified to allow the 6”6’ Schmidt to sit comfortably in his custom Recaro racing seat.
Usually, the more you modify, the worse your offroader gets. Not so with this Defender. The suspension is compliant over deep ruts, the extra power helps the car climb well (as long as you don’t stall it constantly like I did) and the Defender’s excellent standard agility remains intact, even with all the additional weight.
Defenders remain an acquired taste. The car is violently noisy, the clutch and transmission truck-like, the performance on-road bordering on glacial, the cabin cramped..I could go on and on. It’s a driving experience straight from 1948.
But in a world where offroaders are increasingly being laden down with luxuries and software, I wouldn’t trade this Defender for any of them. Supremely characterful and surprisingly charmy, next you see Manuel on the roads of Dubai, you’ll know why he smiles all the time.
