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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10381

United Kingdom 
Did the tour today...
It makes you realise 'why' they are stopping to make the Defender...though I think they should just suck it up and carry on paying, fix the issues (airbags for e.g)..they could afford to.

I saw lots and lots of Autobiography and Adventure models, though my favourite was a 110 Double Cab, in Keswick/white roof/white Wolf wheels, orange indicators.....basic and rare...loved it.
Post #491821 13th Jan 2016 3:11pm
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RRUK
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Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 2025

United Kingdom 
pictures? Or was it banned? 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol
Post #491822 13th Jan 2016 3:12pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7905

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
I was on the tour yesterday and was so impressed. I felt just the same, you can see why it had to end. Basically since BMW took over they have been manufacturing on borrowed time and hence no investment/modernisation.

After the tour I actually feel quite privileged to drive what is extensively a completely hand built vehicle! So sad it is coming to an end but positive for the future!?!


Last edited by JOW240725 on 13th Jan 2016 3:56pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #491825 13th Jan 2016 3:20pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
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Absolutely hand built...not exactly a Morgan, but damned close!!!

Pictures, not allowed Crying or Very sad
Post #491829 13th Jan 2016 3:24pm
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Vintagepaul



Member Since: 20 Jan 2015
Location: Rye, East Sussex
Posts: 482

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Santorini Black
Very sad but as you say it can't be cost effective to essentially hand build it any more.

One of the most surprising things for me was how they paint the Defender.

Basically one of the production line guys bolts all the unpainted panels onto a jig arranged in roughly the same shape as a Defender and then the jig is put through the paint shop, (the same paint shop that all the Range Rover/RRS's go through) and then the Jig is fork-lifted onto an articulated lorry and driven round to a seperate building which is the beginning of the production line proper where it is fork-lifted off the truck and wheeled round to commence final assembly! Shocked

I can't think of too many cars which are built like that in the 21st century. Smile 2015 Defender 90XS HT


Last edited by Vintagepaul on 13th Jan 2016 4:46pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #491830 13th Jan 2016 3:31pm
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Tiger



Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Wales
Posts: 2265

2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
Also makes you realise *why* they let in water....
Post #491831 13th Jan 2016 3:35pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10381

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Oh.... we hit the tour guide with some light hearted 'abuse'...

Tourguide: '' This is where they test for rattles and squeaks''
Me: ''Do all the testers have earplugs in?''
Luke ''Is this where they test to make sure they have rattles and squeaks?''

...and so on!!!

They fixed the water ingress with a big mallet...go figure Shocked
Post #491840 13th Jan 2016 3:52pm
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Vintagepaul



Member Since: 20 Jan 2015
Location: Rye, East Sussex
Posts: 482

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Santorini Black
Tiger wrote:
Also makes you realise *why* they let in water....


Having seen the way it's built I'm amazed that they don't leak more! 2015 Defender 90XS HT
Post #491842 13th Jan 2016 4:04pm
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RRUK
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Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 2025

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Vintagepaul wrote:


I can't think of too many cars which are built like that in the 21st century. Smile


I remember as a kid watching the Sir John Harvey Jones programmes and he visited the Morgan factory to prevent them going into liquidation. Their production line was laughable and sounds as ridiculous as the Defender line. No Taylorite theory there either!

It's the right time for the Defender production to end in the UK, let's face facts, it will still be built somewhere else. I'm really excited to see what the modern, nice, comfortable, dry version is going to be. 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol
Post #491848 13th Jan 2016 4:24pm
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discomog



Member Since: 09 May 2015
Location: Notts/Lincs Border
Posts: 2526

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
GREENI wrote:
Absolutely hand built...not exactly a Morgan, but damned close!!!

Pictures, not allowed Crying or Very sad


I've owned and driven both Land Rovers and Morgans for fifty years and I can agree with Greeni that there's not a lot of difference. Chassis, aluminium body, somebody else's engine, rattles, water leaks, a mix of good old fashioned mechanics and modern electronics (not a particularly good combination), no two are alike, lovable, infuriating but full of character. Defender 90XS SW
Mini Countryman Cooper S
Morgan Plus 8
Post #491870 13th Jan 2016 5:20pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10381

United Kingdom 
Here's 20 minutes of how the Morgan Aero is made.

Post #491890 13th Jan 2016 6:18pm
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adafish



Member Since: 30 Mar 2009
Location: atherstone
Posts: 1382

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 110 300 Tdi DCPU Stornoway Grey
GREENI wrote:
Absolutely hand built...not exactly a Morgan, but damned close!!!

Pictures, not allowed Crying or Very sad
..................

I took some today from behind closed doors....for history purposes. No one about ( working nights ) in BiW and the fact that they have put up bloody big screens around the line know. Chatting to another lad at work whilst there only to find out he has a S2 . Putting Dreams on Drives at JLR Solihull..
Post #491900 13th Jan 2016 6:33pm
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strang



Member Since: 16 May 2012
Location: Happy Valley
Posts: 1380

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
RRUK wrote:
I'm really excited to see what the modern, nice, comfortable, dry version is going to be.


Yes but it will never really replace the Defender. There is no other vehicle like it, and never will be. I bet your leg won't rub up against the hand brake in the new version, and nor will your arm be trapped against the door - it just won't be the same anymore! Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond.....
Post #491951 13th Jan 2016 8:05pm
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discomog



Member Since: 09 May 2015
Location: Notts/Lincs Border
Posts: 2526

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
Not to mention the water cooled cockpit! Defender 90XS SW
Mini Countryman Cooper S
Morgan Plus 8
Post #491968 13th Jan 2016 8:37pm
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Pickles



Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3784

Australia 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green
RRUK wrote:
Vintagepaul wrote:


I can't think of too many cars which are built like that in the 21st century. Smile


I remember as a kid watching the Sir John Harvey Jones programmes and he visited the Morgan factory to prevent them going into liquidation. Their production line was laughable and sounds as ridiculous as the Defender line. No Taylorite theory there either!

It's the right time for the Defender production to end in the UK, let's face facts, it will still be built somewhere else. I'm really excited to see what the modern, nice, comfortable, dry version is going to be.

"It will still be built somewhere else"??!!.....If you mean the "current" Defender, I don't think so.
Pickles.
Post #491992 13th Jan 2016 9:07pm
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