Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Any LR Defender Owners?

What is it with Morgan owners and Defenders?

I've always liked the Defender - definitely an iconic vehicle - and would love to own one; however, I've heard I may struggle to fit and may have to assume the 'Defender pose'... i.e. window down in all weather, with elbow sticking out.

The 2 have in common to be almost unchanged since their creation.

Very few vehicles have such longevity in their exterior form: landrover (now defender), trad' morgan, 911, jeep (willis, then wrangler).


Their are lighthouses in such a frightening changing world...

So let me get this straight: we are traditionalists that fear change and need a giant light to find our way home?

Joking aside, I get your point and agree that certain designs transcend fashion trends and are all the better for it.

No, we are wise and we know that Time is the key to know which is good or not.

The "lighthouse" was just a kinda maritim poetry, nothing to do with a cataract syndrom.

That is food for thought.

Do the 2000 and later models still suffer from rust?

Hi, Having a Land Rover/Morgan is a bit like marmite-you either love or hate it!!!! and I love them both! stay away from early TD5s. my ecu went on my 2000 hi-cap, best bet is a late mint 300 and they all rust! Nick

I live in a tropical island, 85% humidity, minimum, all year long and a salty atmosphere (as in a island you are never far from the sea, obviously).

The underneath of the def was sprayed from the factory with what I suspect to be waxoyl (or similar).

Since 7 year I noticed very few rust spots, but no rust on the chassis or other important parts.

If you def' gets a reasonable attention, it will not rust more than any other car.
Maybe less as it's simple, without many "water traps" in the bobywork and a aluminium body.

But if you park it in a wet barn after a day in the woods full of mud underneath, it will.

You only need to worry about rust on the chassis really - and only if it's been knocked about. The chassis is huge and tough but it is is steel. Most of the body work is alu (another thing in common with my Mog) so little to rust there. I think the 90s have a bulkhead (?) behind the front seats which limits how far back the front seats can tilt and slide - the 110s (Station Wagons at least) don't have this.

The rear seats are good enough for squaddies so should be good enough for the rest of us! Get the fold up ones like in your first link - I've got benches in the back which don't fold up and sometime get in the way of stuff you want to chuck in.

If you're gonna use it for hauling junk around get a dog guard to go behind the front seats so nothing comes hurtling through when you stop suddenly and the whole vehicle pitches forward!

300Tdi engine is tough, reliable and home servicable (I'm lazy and don't though) - TD5 has more electronic gizmos but has proved to be better than people expected.

I suggest you look at condition rather than age - spares are pretty cheap and you can get just about anything for any age and they're easy to fix.

Look for mud in the nooks and crannies of the chassis and piled up in the coil springs as signs of off-roading - you don't want to get one that's been knocked about unless you plan to knock it about some more then fix it as as hobby.

Good luck - and be prepared to wave at other LR owners in Defenders, Series, and tricked up Disco's, RRs and Freelanders just as enthusiastically as you'd wave to another Mog owner - but be prepared to wave more frequently.