Why are old cars like stubborn teenagers??

Hi all, it's been a while and i hope everyone's well!

 Since overheating at its recent MOT, the Golf has been on the naughty step with only the occasional trip to the other end of the garden to get my bike out of the garage, as much as i want to love it, it's making it very difficult.

  I've had three of the engine / 'box mounts changed at the garage when they did my steering rack but typically the one which is causing the vibration is the one they couldn't do, something to do with the bolt passing through the chassis and it being siezed. From what i can see that's not true, i'll have to do it when i do the cambelt and tensioner, something i'm not looking forward to as i'm up to my neck in yet another engine rebuild.

 The cambelt was last changed when a previous owner also changed the steering rack, this literally nearly killed me so based on this i decided not to risk driving it, especially as the new belt and tensioner is here on my coffee table and would make the pain unbearable should the clatter then eery silence of valves meeting pistons happen for the sake of a lottery ticket and bag of mini eggs.

 Anyway…… whilst getting the bike out of the garage i decided to throw caution to the wind  :roll: and take the shiny but incredibly frustrating Golf out for a blast, sure she vibrates a bit and seems to have a very strange handling characteristic of pitching but other than that i was starting to feel a bond, it's only taken a couple of months. Half an hour and about 20 miles later i pull up on the drive thouroughly chuffed it was still in one piece, i open the bonnet and admire how smooth a well serviced engine can be at 138k+ miles before switching off the ignition and shutting the bonnet. Knock knock pop pop pop fizz gurgle, bonnet open, clouds of steam and that lovely sweet smell of an old car holding out its hand asking for yet more money.

 Once the steam clears i start her up, she runs fine for a few mins so i switch her off. Pop pop fizz you get the idea. So she likes to overheat with the engine off?? I'm guessing there's a hotspot somewhere or the head gasket is on its way out. Wouldn't it be nice if it was just the coolent cap with a weak spring, yeah i know, fat chance.

 Just as we started to get along she asks for money, goes out and then comes back and pisses herself on the drive. Hang on, she's nearly 30, surely she should of grown out of this behaviour!

  Rob.

I feel your pain brother...you ARE NOT alone !!

Mine is far from a teenager, the body and running gear are far from new and reliable  8)