The winter was long – and we finally had snow again.

Actually, perfect conditions for the Vitara. But as you noticed last summer vacation, we had some problems with the steering. And unfortunately, they couldn’t be fixed quickly.

In order to get to the affected parts, a lot had to be dismantled. The idler pulleys of the V-belt were also on the agenda – and to get to them, the radiator had to be removed. However, it was so seized up that it gave up the ghost. So a new radiator went straight in.

A few months later, the good news: Adrian has worked his magic again.

The steering shaft was replaced and the Vitara steers like it did on the first day. The old shaft was still lubricated at the top, but was as good as solid at the bottom – this also explains the stiff steering and this slight “click”.

So technically everything is tip-top again? We’ll see.

In any case, we have resolved to move the Vitara regularly now. A so-called moving drive – simply driving so that everything keeps moving and no damage occurs.

No sooner said than done. We set off on a frosty day – on one of my classic motorcycle tours towards Köterberg. Through Minden-Lübbecker Land, past Hessisch Oldendorf, through Hameln and Bodenwerder, into “Rühler Schweiz”.

The weather was rather average. Where normally wide views invite you to linger, there was fog in the air on this day. The snow-free flatlands slowly turned into a wintry landscape with snow-covered roads around Holzminden. Not spectacular – but somehow just right.

On the way, we had coffee and homemade muffins before continuing up the Köterberg. We are familiar with weather conditions like this from our vacations – but we are usually high enough there to drive above the clouds. Here, at just under 500 m, we were right in the middle of it. Still: almost no wind, a calm atmosphere, a beautiful moment.

So back down from “Monte Wauwau”, through the serpentines back towards home.

And then – suddenly – a loud, metallic noise. Short, hard, unidentifiable. I stopped immediately, checked the outside of the car – nothing suspicious. So we drove on.

A few days later, at the TÜV, we found out that the right spring on the rear axle was broken. You drive over the wildest tracks on vacation – and the spring breaks on a normal country road in the Weserbergland of all places. In hindsight, however, it was a stroke of luck.

Without this movement, the spring would probably have broken later – perhaps at a higher speed or somewhere on the highway. So we knew immediately what was going on.

The rear springs were renewed and the leaking exhaust clamp replaced. TÜV passed. The little monster is ready for new tours again. And the best thing: The Vitara was expressly praised by two TÜV inspectors. Well maintained, well preserved – a great car. I think we will enjoy it for a long time to come.

Or maybe not? Because the next “little thing” is already looming: The high-pressure pump seems to be leaking slightly …

And what is the old lady actually doing?

It is currently still in hibernation. But the electronics problems we had last year in Switzerland and France were anything but normal. There is also an ABS issue that we still need to address.

Old technology has its charm – no question about it. But it also takes its toll. Anyone can sit on a new motorcycle or get into a modern car. But if you continue to live with technology from the 2000s today, it’s a different world – an honest one, but sometimes also an expensive one.

I’ll tell you what happens next with the Vitara and the old lady in the next post. And I can already say this much: it’s guaranteed not to be boring.