Rusty chassis on 2001 TD5

Looked at a 2001 TD5 Disco today, which was pretty straight with 120k on the clock. It was only when I looked under her, that I discovered that the chassis, was very rusty, especially the rear half and around the rear cross members, and parts of it felt a little soft.
The black original paint was flaking off, every where including on the axels, and looked alot worse than my old 87 Defender.
Does this sound normal on an eight year old disco, that doesnt look like it has been waxoyled.

Depressingly normal,most of them are like it.A girlfriend of mine has a 2005 Disco 3 and the thing is as rusty a hose shoe.Waxoil is about all you can do,but if they are too rusty to start with then you will struggle to slow it.

I saw a defender for sale on ebay (think it was at least 2001, definitely TD5) a few months ago that was from Jersey where the air is really salty and there is no MOT - it was dirt cheap and they were struggling to sell it, but there was a photo that showed part of the chassis and crossmember and you could have strained yer veg through it!

That sounds alot like my 2000 TD5 chassis. I don't have any holes, just surface rust pretty much everywhere, also flaking a bit in places. The factory rust proofing ****e is comming off everywhere that doesn't have oil leaking on to it. I just passed the MOT last week and am starting my waxoyl job soon.