 | Home > Defender Celebration Series & Classic Works > Did the tour today... |
 
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025  
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pictures? Or was it banned? 2016 D4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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13th Jan 2016 3:12pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7906 
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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 |
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13th Jan 2016 3:20pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10383
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Absolutely hand built...not exactly a Morgan, but damned close!!!
Pictures, not allowed  |
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13th Jan 2016 3:24pm |
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| Vintagepaul Member Since: 20 Jan 2015 Location: Rye, East Sussex Posts: 482 
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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! 
I can't think of too many cars which are built like that in the 21st century.  2015 Defender 90XS HTLast edited by Vintagepaul on 13th Jan 2016 4:46pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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13th Jan 2016 3:31pm |
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| Tiger Member Since: 06 Jul 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 2265 
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Also makes you realise *why* they let in water....
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13th Jan 2016 3:35pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10383
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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 |
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13th Jan 2016 3:52pm |
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| Vintagepaul Member Since: 20 Jan 2015 Location: Rye, East Sussex Posts: 482
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Having seen the way it's built I'm amazed that they don't leak more! 2015 Defender 90XS HT |
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13th Jan 2016 4:04pm |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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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 |
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13th Jan 2016 4:24pm |
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| discomog Member Since: 09 May 2015 Location: Notts/Lincs Border Posts: 2527 
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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 |
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13th Jan 2016 5:20pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10383
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Here's 20 minutes of how the Morgan Aero is made.
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13th Jan 2016 6:18pm |
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| adafish Member Since: 30 Mar 2009 Location: atherstone Posts: 1384 
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.................. 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.. |
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13th Jan 2016 6:33pm |
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| strang Member Since: 16 May 2012 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 1380 
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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..... |
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13th Jan 2016 8:05pm |
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| discomog Member Since: 09 May 2015 Location: Notts/Lincs Border Posts: 2527
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Not to mention the water cooled cockpit! Defender 90XS SW
Mini Countryman Cooper S Morgan Plus 8 |
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13th Jan 2016 8:37pm |
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| Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3785  
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"It will still be built somewhere else"??!!.....If you mean the "current" Defender, I don't think so. Pickles. |
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13th Jan 2016 9:07pm |
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