Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Nick's Two-Car Detached Vdub Garage

[Denwood]

Nick that experience at the dealer to deal with the suction pump, *****! Oh, and damn you for sending me down the HA rabbit hole. The sound of a toilet flushing is very much present in my cranial area now, daily Joking, aside, it's pretty cool so far, and I'm literally just tickling the surface at this point.

Now, on the rust issue. No car that I've worked with has any significant OEM prep or treatment for rust. Seam sealer, some paint...that's it. The one exception I would cite is finding some waxoyl in the chassis rails of my 84 Scirocco! I'd only say it's getting worse as most OEMs have stopped plating fasteners altogether on the chassis. On the aluminum bodies of the newer F150s, the frames have definitely been dialed back for thickness likely due to FE analysis, and they rust. The aluminum oxidizes too. I would argue that ANY vehicle in the rust belt needs to be treated from day one, unless you're leasing and don't care...

Pretty much every vehicle with a windshield has a weak point for corrosion at the rear of the front fender liner. Water, leaves, needles etc. are carried in the water drains out from the right/left corners of the windshield lower cowl, and directed down into the fender. It invariably clogs up the drain holes in the fender liner, and that area stays wet. I saw variations of this on my Audi, Toyotas, Subaru, and Nissan. This is why I remove fender liners when doing corrosion management. It's also not a bad idea to block those areas at the top of fenders (with some eavestrough foam) in summer and just vacuum that area regularly to clean it. That way the seeds/needles/leaves can't drop down and repeat offend. You could try a combination of water fed in at the top, and a wet dry vac at the drain holes to try and clear some of that crud out.

To fix that area, for sure the fender will need to be removed. If you do decide to jump in DIY, at least the paint work will all be low, and not that noticeable. For now you may want to just (carefully) brush in some Ospho, let it dry, and then follow up with woolwax or similar to at least slow it down until you fix it. I would remove the fender liner too (easy job) and see how nasty things look on the inside. I had a long chat with the Canadian distributor for Waxoyl and his honesty was refreshing. On new (as in zero rust) cars, they do recommend Waxoyl's hard wax/cavity wax products, but he was very clear that on existing rust, you're better to stick with a product like Woolwax, as it's not going to have adhesion issues. This plays out with what I'm seeing with Noxudol 300 (the heavier, black chassis wax) over existing rust. Their cavity wax (Noxudol 700) is great inside panels, and from what I've seen, over existing rust. But the heavier 300 on existing rust does not adhere as well is it should.

 

[nicholam77]

You still do a better job than probably 90% of the general public. My car is lucky if it gets run through the auto wash once a month.

I used to, but admittedly I've let things slide. I used to wash regularly, hand wash, clay + seal twice a year, keep up on interior cleanings, and at least treat the suspension and underside with Fluid Film... but sadly as my kids were born and job has ramped up, I've done less and less. There have been long periods without washing, and I probably haven't even clay or waxed it for a couple of years now. Add in my back problems and house projects and getting older and I just don't do as much as I did when I was young and kid-free and the car was new-ish. But that's life.

idk how attached you are to that particular GTI, but it would be much better overall for you to find a southern example and sell yours.

Yes, I'm fairly attached to this particular GTI. Firstly, I will admit I am somewhat sentimental about objects in general. Second, I have between $6-7K in parts on this car (including the wheels). Maybe it's OCD or snobby but this is my GTI and I enjoy the personalization, and starting over with a stock one would be much less appealing to me. I'd have to fully unbuild and rebuild all the parts and coding. A lot of work. I know it's not a flashy 'build', but there are a ton of electronic and European part mods, like the tail lights + harness, power folding mirrors, auto-dimming Homelink mirror, rear fog light switch, as well as mechanical + cosmetic things like stainless clutch line, custom bleeder block, catback, short shift bracket, shift cable bushings, shift knob + boot, motor + trans mounts, dogbone bushing inserts, the suspension, spoiler, intake, upgraded radio screen, etc etc.

Aside from all the mods, to find the same trim / equipment (performance package R brakes + VAQ diff, leather seats, sunroof, manual, lighting package) with less than 60k miles that hasn't been abused or beaten up or modded by someone else... is a very tall order. I've been doing some searching and cars with more miles and lesser equipment are still pretty expensive. I'd for sure take a hit on it I think.

Question is... is that hit more than fixing what I have + the effort to transfer all the parts over. And if I got a new car... would I even get a GTI again?

Nick that experience at the dealer to deal with the suction pump, *****! Oh, and damn you for sending me down the HA rabbit hole. The sound of a toilet flushing is very much present in my cranial area now, daily Joking, aside, it's pretty cool so far, and I'm literally just tickling the surface at this point.

You're welcome. You're going to love it!

Pretty much every vehicle with a windshield has a weak point for corrosion at the rear of the front fender liner. Water, leaves, needles etc. are carried in the water drains out from the right/left corners of the windshield lower cowl, and directed down into the fender. It invariably clogs up the drain holes in the fender liner, and that area stays wet. I saw variations of this on my Audi, Toyotas, Subaru, and Nissan. This is why I remove fender liners when doing corrosion management. It's also not a bad idea to block those areas at the top of fenders (with some eavestrough foam) in summer and just vacuum that area regularly to clean it. That way the seeds/needles/leaves can't drop down and repeat offend. You could try a combination of water fed in at the top, and a wet dry vac at the drain holes to try and clear some of that crud out.

That's pretty much the story. I had some debris in there, but not big pieces. Don't think the drains are clogged. However the foam acoustic blocks that VW put in there hold moisture at the bottom. Same effect I guess.

To fix that area, for sure the fender will need to be removed. If you do decide to jump in DIY, at least the paint work will all be low, and not that noticeable.

I took it apart this past weekend and the fenders would need to be fully replaced. It's of course worse than I thought.

You can see from the outside that both the rocker and fender are contaminated.



I popped the wheels off and removed the fender liners. Well more like undid the 20 Torx screws.




This is the foam block I keep mentioning:



This is looking towards the rear of the car. The foam rests right on the bracket of the fender wing where it attaches to the rocker.

Viewed from the cockpit looking at the driver's door hinge area:



It gets wet like a sponge and retains water.



I removed the foam, and it's not looking good.



I started poking around with my fingers and a wire brush trying to clean it up a bit, and the extruded edge started falling apart and disintegrating.

And I discovered that the paint flaking and bubbling on the exterior was actually masking an actual hole.



Passenger side looks much better from the outside, but after getting in there it was a similar situation.



You can see the actual rocker panel has an end cap, and the part the fender bracket attaches to is actually just an extended sheet metal contour of the rocker with some mounting holes. That hole part is toast on both sides.

Idk how someone could fix this... possibly fab a bent piece like that to weld in? Not sure if that's even possible.

Here's some video I took to document:

Not sure it this was a good move or not, but I had a panic attack and cleaned it as best I could to remove the debris, and then sprayed the affected areas with Fluid Film.



Maybe that was dumb, but it's what I had on hand with the car apart that day and I felt helpless doing nothing at all.

@Denwood if I can get it fixed you better believe I'll give it the Noxudol treatment, and probably retire it to non-winter duty.

ALSO — I finally got a body shop to agree to take a look at it, and I had them look in person and take some pics on Sunday. And I also sent them my own pics (pretty much what I posted here). They are supposed to get back to me with an estimate after discussing. Haven't heard yet.

Will update when I know more, but for now I'm even more bummed than before seeing the extent of the rust. It's either going to cost me $$$ to fix or I might have to kick the can down the road and I'm sure if I get a new vehicle whatever that would be would be a $$$ hit as well.

 

[Denwood]

I think you need that body shop to give a really good assessment, and inspect the rest of the car. Once it gets structural, viability is a question. But if the issue is confined to what you’ve shown there, it’s fixable. Then it’s a question of cost …

EDIT: After looking at the video, I've seen far worse. It does not look structural at all. That looks quite fixable either by welding in a cut section from a donor car, or some custom metal fab. I would want to assess that rocker panel along it's full length though. I have replaced a rocker panel before and it's not a quick job as you have drill out all the spot welds. A shop comfortable with metal work could fix the fender as well. On the cheap, I have used epoxy and glass which has the advantage of never rusting and is easy DIY stuff. Body filler and polyester is not water proof.

If you do value the car and want to keep it, a proper metal repair and respray by a pro is the way to go. Then stay on top of it yearly with Woolwax, FF etc. There looks to be lots of metal repair parts (surprise!) available for your car as well.

 

[bdbecker]

...I used to, but admittedly I've let things slide. I used to wash regularly, hand wash, clay + seal twice a year, keep up on interior cleanings, and at least treat the suspension and underside with Fluid Film... but sadly as my kids were born and job has ramped up, I've done less and less. There have been long periods without washing, and I probably haven't even clay or waxed it for a couple of years now. Add in my back problems and house projects and getting older and I just don't do as much as I did when I was young and kid-free and the car was new-ish. But that's life...

Still better than 90% of the general public...

After Smasher was born (our second), I really struggled with that lingering, low-level guilt that always seems to be hanging around when you can't find time to get all the things done you need to. It's frustrating when the only thing you were able to accomplish over a weekend was to mow the yard and get caught up on house chores. Sometimes that doesn't even happen and you go into the workweek further behind.

As you said, that's life.

When Sis (our daughter) turned 9, the thought that she was halfway to turning 18 hit me like a ton of bricks, and I finally comprehended how fleeting this stage of life is. The first 9 years went by fast and I expect the next 9 years will go even faster. Right now, the most important thing you can do is be a good Dad to them. Be present when you are with them - don't let yourself be preoccupied with all the things "should" be doing. I know it's easier said than done. When I'm with my kids, I have to constantly remind myself that the thing I should be doing is what I'm doing in that moment - putting together legos, playing catch, drawing, etc.

Cars come and go. At the end of the day, they are just inanimate objects... assemblies of metal, plastic, and electronics that will betray you despite your best efforts. When the kids are grown and out of the house there will be plenty of time for vehicle maintenance, but there won't be any more time for legos, catch, and drawing with that 5 year old who just wants to spend time with their Dad.

 

[legenddc]

As your kids get older they start playing at friend's houses or have their friends over. My wife and I will look around sometimes on the weekend and wonder what we're supposed to do while 4-6 kids are playing at our house.

Maybe it's time to rethink the GTI. Cut off the rocker, weld in some rock sliders and go exploring.



I'm all for keeping cars for a long time, but rust seems to get them down here too. Not as bad as you have it but to the point where I think I need to start coat any new car with some sort of rust-prevention. Good luck getting your car fixed.

 

[Trapps]

Ahh, parenthood.

Long days short years. And, the toilet paper analogy:

• The Concept: When a roll is full (your youth), each pull spins the roll slowly to dispense 4 or 5 sheets. But as the roll shrinks, it takes less paper to complete a full rotation. By mid life the rolls spins a bit faster for the same 4 or 5 sheets. By the end of the roll (life?), that roll is humming and those same 4 or 5 sheets come off the roll at an alarmingly fast rate.
• The Meaning: A single year feels like an eternity to a child because it is a massive percentage of their entire life experience. As you age, each passing year becomes a smaller fraction of your total life, making weeks and months blur by much faster.
• The Takeaway: Because time seems to speed up as you get older, the analogy serves as a reminder not to defer joy, wait for "someday," or take your days for granted. If you've a goal, get after it as soon as possible.

I really have no idea how we did it with to very active kids and two parents working demanding jobs. I wondered how we got through it. Looking back, Infant through middle school was a long haul, high school was a blur and college a blink of an eye. During that time, I took two decades away from motorcycles. I postponed or gave up certain 'things' (cars, trips, etc.). I don't regret a single practice, game or banquet; I do regret missing a few though.

If I had it to do over, I'd probably make the same decisions at the same points in time. The exception, for me, would be the Porsche; I wish I'd done that when I wanted to as opposed to when I felt I could/should.

Tomorrow isn't promised, so feed your passion if you can.

 

[jon72vega]

Ahh, parenthood.

Long days short years. And, the toilet paper analogy:

• The Concept: When a roll is full (your youth), each pull spins the roll slowly to dispense 4 or 5 sheets. But as the roll shrinks, it takes less paper to complete a full rotation. By mid life the rolls spins a bit faster for the same 4 or 5 sheets. By the end of the roll (life?), that roll is humming and those same 4 or 5 sheets come off the roll at an alarmingly fast rate.
• The Meaning: A single year feels like an eternity to a child because it is a massive percentage of their entire life experience. As you age, each passing year becomes a smaller fraction of your total life, making weeks and months blur by much faster.
• The Takeaway: Because time seems to speed up as you get older, the analogy serves as a reminder not to defer joy, wait for "someday," or take your days for granted. If you've a goal, get after it as soon as possible.

I really have no idea how we did it with to very active kids and two parents working demanding jobs. I wondered how we got through it. Looking back, Infant through middle school was a long haul, high school was a blur and college a blink of an eye. During that time, I took two decades away from motorcycles. I postponed or gave up certain 'things' (cars, trips, etc.). I don't regret a single practice, game or banquet; I do regret missing a few though.

If I had it to do over, I'd probably make the same decisions at the same points in time. The exception, for me, would be the Porsche; I wish I'd done that when I wanted to as opposed to when I felt I could/should.

Tomorrow isn't promised, so feed your passion if you can.

WELL STATED!

 

[nicholam77]

EDIT: After looking at the video, I've seen far worse. It does not look structural at all. That looks quite fixable either by welding in a cut section from a donor car, or some custom metal fab. I would want to assess that rocker panel along it's full length though.

That's what I'm hoping for. Just need to find a place that is willing and capable enough to do it right. I appreciate your experience and opinion, Dennis.

If you do value the car and want to keep it, a proper metal repair and respray by a pro is the way to go. Then stay on top of it yearly with Woolwax, FF etc. There looks to be lots of metal repair parts (surprise!) available for your car as well.

For sure. And if I can get it fixed professionally, I've been toying with the idea of getting a winter beater and trying to keep it out of the salt.

There looks to be lots of metal repair parts (surprise!) available for your car as well.

Fenders are of course readily available and only $200 a piece unpainted. By metal parts do you mean 3rd party pieces for the rocker? I only found a few in the US such as these. I don't think they are an exact OEM part, but just metal that follows the shape and profile to make a patch job easier? I found a YouTube video of someone completely replacing the rockers on a Jetta with a replacement part like this, but it still involved a number of patch and fab pieces.

I can't find any exact OEM part numbers for the rocker sill itself. I didn't even realize it was replaceable, it seemed integrated with the unibody.

Cars come and go. At the end of the day, they are just inanimate objects... assemblies of metal, plastic, and electronics that will betray you despite your best efforts. When the kids are grown and out of the house there will be plenty of time for vehicle maintenance, but there won't be any more time for legos, catch, and drawing with that 5 year old who just wants to spend time with their Dad.

Don't worry, I've got my family priorities straight. I spend a ton of time with my kids (probably even more than my wife due to her work schedule), so no regrets there. It's not like I want to be doing more vehicle maintenance or dealing with this rust problem, I more meant that I've let the vehicle (and other projects) slide because I'm always doing family stuff. I'm not regretful of that at all... it's super important to me, but it is challenging to fit in everything with such a busy schedule. When the kids were babies, especially with my first, it was a bit of an adjustment as expected of course. It's hard not to feel a bit stir crazy when you have a project-oriented brain. But that's all faded away at this point. My daughter is going on 8 yrs old (so not too far behind you!) and she seems so old now, I've had the same thoughts recently about time collapsing inward.

I think I'd care less about the car if I hadn't personally done a lot of parts installs on it. I feel like I've been through a lot with it. And yeah, it's not a sports car or anything, but it is 'sporty' and has that fun factor that I don't think I could easily replace without a good chunk of change.

I'm all for keeping cars for a long time, but rust seems to get them down here too. Not as bad as you have it but to the point where I think I need to start coat any new car with some sort of rust-prevention. Good luck getting your car fixed.

Thank you. I think there's two ways to go, probably both valid. Either keep getting new cars within 5 years, when your current one still has trade-in value, possibly still in warranty, and you haven't needed to sink a bunch into repairs yet. Yeah, you'll take a hit on a new car, but you avoid long term maintenance, potentially expensive repairs, get to recoup resale value, and get to drive the latest new thing more frequently. Or... maintain it / repair it mostly yourself, and drive it into the ground. Might not be worth much in the end but you're not buying new all the time. I've always kind of planned on doing the latter.

Ahh, parenthood.

Long days short years. And, the toilet paper analogy:

• The Concept: When a roll is full (your youth), each pull spins the roll slowly to dispense 4 or 5 sheets. But as the roll shrinks, it takes less paper to complete a full rotation. By mid life the rolls spins a bit faster for the same 4 or 5 sheets. By the end of the roll (life?), that roll is humming and those same 4 or 5 sheets come off the roll at an alarmingly fast rate.
• The Meaning: A single year feels like an eternity to a child because it is a massive percentage of their entire life experience. As you age, each passing year becomes a smaller fraction of your total life, making weeks and months blur by much faster.
• The Takeaway: Because time seems to speed up as you get older, the analogy serves as a reminder not to defer joy, wait for "someday," or take your days for granted. If you've a goal, get after it as soon as possible.

I really have no idea how we did it with to very active kids and two parents working demanding jobs. I wondered how we got through it. Looking back, Infant through middle school was a long haul, high school was a blur and college a blink of an eye. During that time, I took two decades away from motorcycles. I postponed or gave up certain 'things' (cars, trips, etc.). I don't regret a single practice, game or banquet; I do regret missing a few though.

If I had it to do over, I'd probably make the same decisions at the same points in time. The exception, for me, would be the Porsche; I wish I'd done that when I wanted to as opposed to when I felt I could/should.

Tomorrow isn't promised, so feed your passion if you can.

So what you're saying, Mark, is that I should get a Porsche???

---

In seriousness, well-stated and I think about this a lot.

My wife and I were really adamant about doing some world traveling together before we had kids, and I'm super glad we did that. You never know what curveball life is going to throw you, or when. You shouldn't postpone your dreams, or simply living life the way you want. Obviously we're all beholden to our individual circumstances, but it's so easy to get stuck in a pattern just because 'your supposed' to do things a certain way. I think having some ambition is good, and really the only way to make your dreams a reality. I'm only 38, but my life could be half over. Or even more than half over, you never know. That gives me a sense of urgency to make things happen for myself and my family.

But at the same time, I think there is a lot of value in slowing down and appreciating what you already have (whether it's tangible or otherwise). I think it's harder to do that in a rat race capitalist society like the U.S., at least in a major metro area. But it's a side of the whole 'time is fleeting' argument I wrestle with as well. Do I spend my time and efforts taking action to try to get what I want (or think I want) out of life? Or do I slow down, potentially have less, and achieve less, but potentially enjoy more.

Turns out this rust problem is way more philosophical than I thought! Here I just wanted to fix the hole in my car, but now I am contemplating my life decisions from here until death!

 

[bdbecker]

...Turns out this rust problem is way more philosophical than I thought! Here I just wanted to fix the hole in my car, but now I am contemplating my life decisions from here until death!

In true GJ fashion...

 

[fouckhest]

I can't speak from experience on the newer cars, but I'd be surprised if the rocker is not available. I know people still get them for the mk4 platform b/c they are prone to the same rust issues, due to debris getting **** behind the fender liners.

If you know anyone at a dealer, or anyone that has access to ETKA that will answer the question. If you don't have anyone, hit me up, I've got a couple buddies that work at our local VW/Audi dealer

 

[nicholam77]

I can't speak from experience on the newer cars, but I'd be surprised if the rocker is not available. I know people still get them for the mk4 platform b/c they are prone to the same rust issues, due to debris getting **** behind the fender liners.

If you know anyone at a dealer, or anyone that has access to ETKA that will answer the question. If you don't have anyone, hit me up, I've got a couple buddies that work at our local VW/Audi dealer

Sent you a PM!

 

[fouckhest]

Sent you a PM!

Replied!

 

[Trapps]

So what you're saying, Mark, is that I should get a Porsche???

TL;DR - YES!!!

If you're passionate about it and can swing it financially, yes. Buying a Porsche at your age hits the ultimate sweet spot: you have the financial stability to afford one without extreme risk, and you're young enough to fully enjoy its visceral and exciting driving dynamics. It serves as a fantastic daily stress-reliever improving mental health. Even on days I do not drive mine, it still brings me joy.

And a few of the Garage Journal Persuasion Arguments:

• Money is renewable: Time is not. If you don't do it this year, you'll be another year older when you do and you'll have missed a whole year of joy.
• Do it while you can: From their deathbed, no one ever said they wished they'd waited longer to get their first 'insert adult toy here.'
• Financial Earning Power: At 38, you are likely at a stage in your career where your disposable income allows for 'want based' purchases without jeopardizing your long-term retirement or financial health.
• Everyday Usability: Unlike many exotics, Porsches (like the 911 or Cayman) are renowned for being perfectly comfortable as daily drivers. They handle grocery store runs and highway commutes just as beautifully as they tackle winding roads.
• Exceptional Resale Value: Porsches notoriously hold their value better than almost any other luxury or sports car brand. Their reputation for durability makes buying pre-owned or new a much more sound financial decision in the long run.
• Childhood Dream Realization: For many car enthusiasts, a Porsche is the quintessential childhood poster car. Reaching the age where you can finally put one in your own garage is a deeply satisfying milestone.
• The Community: Ownership grants you access to an incredibly welcoming and active community, such as the Porsche Club of America. You'll instantly have access to track days, rallies, and local meets.
• Stress Relief and Mental Health: After navigating the daily grind of your late 30s, the mechanical purity, tactile feedback, and exhaust notes provide a highly therapeutic escape.
• Bulletproof Engineering: Porsche prides itself on race-derived, high-quality engineering. With regular maintenance, these cars are known for their incredible mechanical longevity.
• The "Driver’s Car" Experience: You are paying for the way someone obsessed over the last 10% of engineering so you could enjoy the first 90%. The steering feel and cornering capabilities are unmatched.
• Timeless Design: Porsches feature a classic, evolutionary design language that never truly goes out of style. A decade-old model still turns heads and looks right at home on the road.
• A Mark of "Having Arrived" without the Pretense: A Porsche speaks to an appreciation for precision engineering, mechanics, and heritage. It celebrates your personal achievements while maintaining a sophisticated, tasteful image.

Porsches for sale near you from $20k

Hope this helps!

 

[gearhead1960]

TL;DR - YES!!!

If you're passionate about it and can swing it financially, yes. Buying a Porsche at your age hits the ultimate sweet spot: you have the financial stability to afford one without extreme risk, and you're young enough to fully enjoy its visceral and exciting driving dynamics. It serves as a fantastic daily stress-reliever improving mental health. Even on days I do not drive mine, it still brings me joy.

And a few of the Garage Journal Persuasion Arguments:

• Money is renewable: Time is not. If you don't do it this year, you'll be another year older when you do and you'll have missed a whole year of joy.
• Do it while you can: From their deathbed, no one ever said they wished they'd waited longer to get their first 'insert adult toy here.'
• Financial Earning Power: At 38, you are likely at a stage in your career where your disposable income allows for 'want based' purchases without jeopardizing your long-term retirement or financial health.
• Everyday Usability: Unlike many exotics, Porsches (like the 911 or Cayman) are renowned for being perfectly comfortable as daily drivers. They handle grocery store runs and highway commutes just as beautifully as they tackle winding roads.
• Exceptional Resale Value: Porsches notoriously hold their value better than almost any other luxury or sports car brand. Their reputation for durability makes buying pre-owned or new a much more sound financial decision in the long run.
• Childhood Dream Realization: For many car enthusiasts, a Porsche is the quintessential childhood poster car. Reaching the age where you can finally put one in your own garage is a deeply satisfying milestone.
• The Community: Ownership grants you access to an incredibly welcoming and active community, such as the Porsche Club of America. You'll instantly have access to track days, rallies, and local meets.
• Stress Relief and Mental Health: After navigating the daily grind of your late 30s, the mechanical purity, tactile feedback, and exhaust notes provide a highly therapeutic escape.
• Bulletproof Engineering: Porsche prides itself on race-derived, high-quality engineering. With regular maintenance, these cars are known for their incredible mechanical longevity.
• The "Driver’s Car" Experience: You are paying for the way someone obsessed over the last 10% of engineering so you could enjoy the first 90%. The steering feel and cornering capabilities are unmatched.
• Timeless Design: Porsches feature a classic, evolutionary design language that never truly goes out of style. A decade-old model still turns heads and looks right at home on the road.
• A Mark of "Having Arrived" without the Pretense: A Porsche speaks to an appreciation for precision engineering, mechanics, and heritage. It celebrates your personal achievements while maintaining a sophisticated, tasteful image.

Porsches for sale near you from $20k

Hope this helps!

@Trapps Shame on you for being an enabler....those arguments would fall on deaf ears around here....I was only allowed to spend $70...see below....

 

[Trapps]

Mark, I prefer the terms 'instigator' and 'persuader' instead of 'enabler.' Also, those arguments were not meant for Mrs. nicholam77 - it would be a much longer list and include far more tangible emotional, physical and financial justifications, a plethora of quid pro quo items, and all out bribe materials.

No, in this case I recommend the 'ask for forgiveness instead of permission' approach. Admittedly, it's not the right approach for everyone or every situation. But sometimes.....

/thread hijack

 

[fourmotioneer]

I think I'd care less about the car if I hadn't personally done a lot of parts installs on it. I feel like I've been through a lot with it. And yeah, it's not a sports car or anything, but it is 'sporty' and has that fun factor that I don't think I could easily replace without a good chunk of change.


But at the same time, I think there is a lot of value in slowing down and appreciating what you already have (whether it's tangible or otherwise). I think it's harder to do that in a rat race capitalist society like the U.S., at least in a major metro area. But it's a side of the whole 'time is fleeting' argument I wrestle with as well. Do I spend my time and efforts taking action to try to get what I want (or think I want) out of life? Or do I slow down, potentially have less, and achieve less, but potentially enjoy more.

Turns out this rust problem is way more philosophical than I thought! Here I just wanted to fix the hole in my car, but now I am contemplating my life decisions from here until death!

I’ve read two books that I’d sheepishly admit are self-help books this past year.

One is Die With Zero, which in short advocates for planning the events and purchases for each decade of your life and making sure that you hit those targets. Giving to others and your children can be part of that (the title is misleading). The book advises thinking decade by decade. It seems like you and your wife have done a good job with that with your travel prior to kids.

The other book is The Happiness Files, which is just some pop science that summarizes some decent studies on happiness and meaning. I think your comment about slowing down and appreciating those fits the general theme of that one.

On the GTI, if it’s bumming you out too much there are externalities to that. Your family can pick up on it. I think you’re on the right track taking action and seeking out a shop to repair. Do what you can to get it fixed and accept it for what it is.

I was in the “buy a southern car” camp at first but I think there’s a healthy way to bond with a car. The thing to watch out for with cars is that they can only deteriorate from new. A project car sort of reverses that process, which makes them refreshing. Your car is somewhere in between, but maybe reframing it as a project to improve summons some optimism.

What I like here is your willingness to outsource the work when you could save a buck in exchange for 10 weekends of learning to weld and paint. You’ll have time for that when the kids are grown and your priorities shift. For now your money is powerful in buying you time to do the things that you want to be doing.

TL;DR - YES!!!

If you're passionate about it and can swing it financially, yes. Buying a Porsche at your age hits the ultimate sweet spot: you have the financial stability to afford one without extreme risk, and you're young enough to fully enjoy its visceral and exciting driving dynamics. It serves as a fantastic daily stress-reliever improving mental health. Even on days I do not drive mine, it still brings me joy.

And a few of the Garage Journal Persuasion Arguments:

• Money is renewable: Time is not. If you don't do it this year, you'll be another year older when you do and you'll have missed a whole year of joy.
• Do it while you can: From their deathbed, no one ever said they wished they'd waited longer to get their first 'insert adult toy here.'
• Financial Earning Power: At 38, you are likely at a stage in your career where your disposable income allows for 'want based' purchases without jeopardizing your long-term retirement or financial health.
• Everyday Usability: Unlike many exotics, Porsches (like the 911 or Cayman) are renowned for being perfectly comfortable as daily drivers. They handle grocery store runs and highway commutes just as beautifully as they tackle winding roads.
• Exceptional Resale Value: Porsches notoriously hold their value better than almost any other luxury or sports car brand. Their reputation for durability makes buying pre-owned or new a much more sound financial decision in the long run.
• Childhood Dream Realization: For many car enthusiasts, a Porsche is the quintessential childhood poster car. Reaching the age where you can finally put one in your own garage is a deeply satisfying milestone.
• The Community: Ownership grants you access to an incredibly welcoming and active community, such as the Porsche Club of America. You'll instantly have access to track days, rallies, and local meets.
• Stress Relief and Mental Health: After navigating the daily grind of your late 30s, the mechanical purity, tactile feedback, and exhaust notes provide a highly therapeutic escape.
• Bulletproof Engineering: Porsche prides itself on race-derived, high-quality engineering. With regular maintenance, these cars are known for their incredible mechanical longevity.
• The "Driver’s Car" Experience: You are paying for the way someone obsessed over the last 10% of engineering so you could enjoy the first 90%. The steering feel and cornering capabilities are unmatched.
• Timeless Design: Porsches feature a classic, evolutionary design language that never truly goes out of style. A decade-old model still turns heads and looks right at home on the road.
• A Mark of "Having Arrived" without the Pretense: A Porsche speaks to an appreciation for precision engineering, mechanics, and heritage. It celebrates your personal achievements while maintaining a sophisticated, tasteful image.

Porsches for sale near you from $20k

Hope this helps!

This was an enjoyable read and I agree with most of the points but from a much different perspective. To be frank, I couldn’t care less about a dream car, but Mark is on to something.

I’m around your age at 36. To me financial success has meant doing the things I want to do (and none of the things I don’t want to) with the people I love or enjoy.

I think your GTI satisfies a lot of the points above aside from bulletproof engineering and the having arrived. The point is, drive something that you deeply enjoy. And really, let that attitude permeate your life as I notice it already does with your careful design and decoration of your home. Cooking. Entertaining. Your work. Parenting. Do it all with passion

I would push back heavily against the milestone aspect of a Porsche or the mark of having arrived. And I would argue that it takes owning a Porsche to understand if owning a Porsche would bring you joy even when not driving one. There is certainly a large group of people for whom that is true - Porsche owners, we call them - but I can’t imagine falling into that camp myself. I don’t find a lot of value or meaning in a brand, even one as historic and impactful as Porsche.

Don’t worry about showing anyone that you’ve arrived. No one is really paying attention. Except us. The garage journal is paying attention. And I fear I’m outnumbered by Porsche owners!

 

[gearhead1960]

I think I'd care less about the car if I hadn't personally done a lot of parts installs on it. I feel like I've been through a lot with it. And yeah, it's not a sports car or anything, but it is 'sporty' and has that fun factor that I don't think I could easily replace without a good chunk of change.

No doubt our love for a car presents issues. I'm still a gearhead (sans the handle), but learned perspective years ago with a new car. I had bought a 99 Civic Si when the Si was one of the cars to have if you were into rice runners. It got caught in a hail storm only three weeks old. It made me realize that it was only a car. It was fixed....never was 100% cosmetically, but did I ever enjoy it for 17 years! It was always driven hard, put away wet.... Sold it to buy my Mini Clubman which again I enjoy every time I get in it. When I find the next car that can replace it, I won't regret letting it go....

 

[Trapps]

I’ve read two books that I’d sheepishly admit are self-help books this past year.

One is Die With Zero, which in short advocates for planning the events and purchases for each decade of your life and making sure that you hit those targets. Giving to others and your children can be part of that (the title is misleading). The book advises thinking decade by decade. It seems like you and your wife have done a good job with that with your travel prior to kids.

The other book is The Happiness Files, which is just some pop science that summarizes some decent studies on happiness and meaning. I think your comment about slowing down and appreciating those fits the general theme of that one.

On the GTI, if it’s bumming you out too much there are externalities to that. Your family can pick up on it. I think you’re on the right track taking action and seeking out a shop to repair. Do what you can to get it fixed and accept it for what it is.

I was in the “buy a southern car” camp at first but I think there’s a healthy way to bond with a car. The thing to watch out for with cars is that they can only deteriorate from new. A project car sort of reverses that process, which makes them refreshing. Your car is somewhere in between, but maybe reframing it as a project to improve summons some optimism.

What I like here is your willingness to outsource the work when you could save a buck in exchange for 10 weekends of learning to weld and paint. You’ll have time for that when the kids are grown and your priorities shift. For now your money is powerful in buying you time to do the things that you want to be doing.



This was an enjoyable read and I agree with most of the points but from a much different perspective. To be frank, I couldn’t care less about a dream car, but Mark is on to something.

I’m around your age at 36. To me financial success has meant doing the things I want to do (and none of the things I don’t want to) with the people I love or enjoy.

I think your GTI satisfies a lot of the points above aside from bulletproof engineering and the having arrived. The point is, drive something that you deeply enjoy. And really, let that attitude permeate your life as I notice it already does with your careful design and decoration of your home. Cooking. Entertaining. Your work. Parenting. Do it all with passion

I would push back heavily against the milestone aspect of a Porsche or the mark of having arrived. And I would argue that it takes owning a Porsche to understand if owning a Porsche would bring you joy even when not driving one. There is certainly a large group of people for whom that is true - Porsche owners, we call them - but I can’t imagine falling into that camp myself. I don’t find a lot of value or meaning in a brand, even one as historic and impactful as Porsche.

Don’t worry about showing anyone that you’ve arrived. No one is really paying attention. Except us. The garage journal is paying attention. And I fear I’m outnumbered by Porsche owners!

+1 on Die with Zero. I especially like the concepts of 'giving with warm hands' and affording yourself 'experiences.' For a couple of years now my wife and I have been chasing 'experiences' - those impactful ones we'll recall fondly during our twilight years.

You're 100% on, Graham, regarding arrival.

I tried to qualify that sentiment; the message of arrival was about me reaching a goal, not others seeing the goal I had reached. Looking back, it reads very much like the arrogant Porsche/porcupine analogy I so want to avoid being labeled as. As for 'milestone,' after four decades of lust, my car is one for me.

We can disagree on 'dream cars,' I have several. Should I ever attain them, I will have arrived, metaphorically at least.

 

[bdbecker]

TL;DR - YES!!!

If you're passionate about it and can swing it financially, yes. Buying a Porsche at your age hits the ultimate sweet spot: you have the financial stability to afford one without extreme risk, and you're young enough to fully enjoy its visceral and exciting driving dynamics. It serves as a fantastic daily stress-reliever improving mental health. Even on days I do not drive mine, it still brings me joy.

And a few of the Garage Journal Persuasion Arguments:

• Money is renewable: Time is not. If you don't do it this year, you'll be another year older when you do and you'll have missed a whole year of joy.
• Do it while you can: From their deathbed, no one ever said they wished they'd waited longer to get their first 'insert adult toy here.'
• Financial Earning Power: At 38, you are likely at a stage in your career where your disposable income allows for 'want based' purchases without jeopardizing your long-term retirement or financial health.
• Everyday Usability: Unlike many exotics, Porsches (like the 911 or Cayman) are renowned for being perfectly comfortable as daily drivers. They handle grocery store runs and highway commutes just as beautifully as they tackle winding roads.
• Exceptional Resale Value: Porsches notoriously hold their value better than almost any other luxury or sports car brand. Their reputation for durability makes buying pre-owned or new a much more sound financial decision in the long run.
• Childhood Dream Realization: For many car enthusiasts, a Porsche is the quintessential childhood poster car. Reaching the age where you can finally put one in your own garage is a deeply satisfying milestone.
• The Community: Ownership grants you access to an incredibly welcoming and active community, such as the Porsche Club of America. You'll instantly have access to track days, rallies, and local meets.
• Stress Relief and Mental Health: After navigating the daily grind of your late 30s, the mechanical purity, tactile feedback, and exhaust notes provide a highly therapeutic escape.
• Bulletproof Engineering: Porsche prides itself on race-derived, high-quality engineering. With regular maintenance, these cars are known for their incredible mechanical longevity.
• The "Driver’s Car" Experience: You are paying for the way someone obsessed over the last 10% of engineering so you could enjoy the first 90%. The steering feel and cornering capabilities are unmatched.
• Timeless Design: Porsches feature a classic, evolutionary design language that never truly goes out of style. A decade-old model still turns heads and looks right at home on the road.
• A Mark of "Having Arrived" without the Pretense: A Porsche speaks to an appreciation for precision engineering, mechanics, and heritage. It celebrates your personal achievements while maintaining a sophisticated, tasteful image.

Porsches for sale near you from $20k

Hope this helps!

That is an annoyingly good post. I need to update my personal goal list and make this happen sooner than later.

 

[nicholam77]

Thanks for the comments everyone, definitely some interesting insights!

---

TL;DR - YES!!!

If you're passionate about it and can swing it financially, yes. Buying a Porsche at your age hits the ultimate sweet spot: you have the financial stability to afford one without extreme risk, and you're young enough to fully enjoy its visceral and exciting driving dynamics. It serves as a fantastic daily stress-reliever improving mental health. Even on days I do not drive mine, it still brings me joy.

I won't lie, Mark, it's crossed my mind. I've never driven one, but was a passenger in a 1st gen Boxter S a few times. It was fun. I enjoyed your list of persuasion. I'm perhaps not the biggest fanboy in the world (don't hang out on Porsche forums and have every model detail memorized), but I have always liked them, and I'm sure it would make me happy for all the reasons you laid out.

At the same time, there are so many reasons not to.

• It wouldn't be a GTI replacement: I need a daily driver. I need two car seats in the back. I need more practicality than a small grocery run. I need a car to drive through harsh MN winters. Which makes it a 2nd car... not a one-and-only car.
• Winter: Being in MN, I can only use it 6 months of the year. Need to find storage the rest of the year. Unless I want it to end up like the GTI.
• Roads: No great driving roads around me. No mountain twisties. Just flat city pot-hole grid with traffic. Doesn't stop people here from having sports cars, but finding a nice engaging road would be a full day trip that I rarely have time for.
• Money: Despite being 38, and my wife and I both working full-time with decent jobs, I don't have as much 'fun money' / expendable cash as you'd think. Doesn't feel like it anyways. I still have one kid bleeding me dry in daycare, and one in school after care / summer care. Everything is expensive in a major metro area. I'm doing well at my job but I don't have a lot of upwards mobility or options in town in my field — I'd have to switch careers entirely I think for a big boost, and I have no idea where to start with that or if I'd even want to, because I like my job. But salaries are not keeping up with the cost of living, not for most people. Now if I totaled up my daycare bills alone for the past 6 years, I could buy almost any car I wanted. There's always a responsible place to put more money — retirement funds, college savings, etc. We are financially responsible and stable, and while I wouldn't call it an extreme risk or anything, my wife would definitely need a different list, and at those prices it's not an ask forgiveness situation.
• Other goals: I haven't given up on a different house yet, at some point in my life. I don't know if it will be possible, but that's a larger dream to me than a sports car. Currently I'm stuck, though, with a good interest rate, in a market that has exploded. And our house has some expensive ticking time bombs like the roof, sewer main line, and honestly the garage might need to be replaced eventually, although that's not pressing.

Like I said, it's crossed my mind. I think it would have to be a bottom-of-the-barrel Cayman for $25-30k, plus another winter beater of some sort, if I were to ditch the GTI. I know that's not much for a car these days, but it's not insignificant either, especially when if rust-free I could probably keep my GTI going another 10 yrs easy. And yes, I know I'll have to shell out for something eventually.

I think your GTI satisfies a lot of the points above aside from bulletproof engineering and the having arrived. The point is, drive something that you deeply enjoy. And really, let that attitude permeate your life as I notice it already does with your careful design and decoration of your home. Cooking. Entertaining. Your work. Parenting. Do it all with passion

I agree! I am happy with the GTI. It's not a perfect car (I always like to call it the 'compromise car', because it's good at everything but not great or the best at anything). But it suits my needs, I like the way it looks, and it's engaging enough as a daily driver. The manual transmission alone makes it more interesting to me than 99% of the cars on the road, and at least to me the mods make it unique.

No doubt our love for a car presents issues. I'm still a gearhead (sans the handle), but learned perspective years ago with a new car. I had bought a 99 Civic Si when the Si was one of the cars to have if you were into rice runners. It got caught in a hail storm only three weeks old. It made me realize that it was only a car. It was fixed....never was 100% cosmetically, but did I ever enjoy it for 17 years! It was always driven hard, put away wet.... Sold it to buy my Mini Clubman which again I enjoy every time I get in it. When I find the next car that can replace it, I won't regret letting it go....

For sure! That is a good story. I think two things with my situation... first, I don't think the car would make it another 17 years if I don't get it fixed! Secondly, I did have a previous car (Mk4 Jetta), but this is more-or-less my first real car I've cared about. So I haven't gone through the transition process yet of getting rid of a car I like or am forced to get rid of.

---

The latest in the saga is the body shop that was willing to quote me, quoted $2,800. Which honestly was less than I was expecting. This was over the phone. I am confident they would do a good job I think, but when I pressed them for a written estimate outlining exactly what parts would be replaced vs. repaired, vs. metal patched in, they kinda ghosted me. I didn't follow up right away because I am simultaneously pursuing VW's corrosion warranty.

@fouckhest Mike helped me find the parts for the 'rocker panels' (thanks Mike!), which are actually uni-panels that go around the door frames and are basically one big side piece to the car. They are about $1k a side for the parts.

Then I got in touch with a shop in Minneapolis called Further Performance that installed my springs originally a long time ago. Someone there suggested pursuing VW's corrosion warranty. I was aware of this (it's a 12-yr unlimited mile specific warranty against corrosion that develops on the inside and perforates a hole through to the exterior). Can't be from surface rust. I hadn't acted on this yet because everything I've read said it can take a super long time to get the claim reviewed by VW, and more often than not they deny it and blame it on rock chips etc. BUT... this employee said he got 4 panels covered on his Sportwagen, and gave me a contact at the dealership he used to work at (Westside VW for my MSP peeps). So I got in touch, dropped his name, and got the process started.

I got the car all cleaned up before taking it in for their pictures, so they hopefully could see it's otherwise well-maintained.



And in the process of doing that I realized how badly it needs a clay bar and seal.

Got the winter mats out and did deep clean of the interior, too.



So yeah, I guess next step is VW is supposed to call me with whether they approve or deny the claim. I'm crossing all fingers because typically they fix it right, and do full panel replacements, which would be so amazing to have it fixed properly, and for free. Wish me luck!

The crappy part is I have no idea how long it will be to get a response, could be months. I feel like I need to get this sorted before next winter and the clock is ticking.

If VW denies my claim, I'll likely just go back to the body shop and beg them to do it their way for around $3k. I guess.

 

[fouckhest]

Glad to hear the guys at Further helped you out!

 

[loganb]

Remember....the light you're seeing at the end of the "daycare" tunnel is approaching and you're close to getting out of daycare for the younger! I'm super excited to get my younger to kindergarten this fall and have both kids in the same building. Don't fully get rid of the "care bill" as they'll both be in before/after school program that will be about $200/week for both kids, but that's cheaper than the $375/wk it's been for the before/after school program for one and full day daycare for the other

 

[Denwood]

Good luck with that claim! I'll be super interested to hear how that one turns out. I think the pics you took inside the fender may help your case too. All sorts of companies offer "corrosion warranties" and I don't think I've every heard of one actually being paid out. Fingers crossed for you. If this is something other folks are seeing, and it's considered common, I'd collect some of those pics/anecdotes and see if it might help.

 

[bdbecker]

I'm a few years older than you, but we are on similar timelines when it comes to kids/daycare/finances. At 38, I was very much in that daycare/preschool/wrap care money-**** spiral. Now coming up on 43, I'll finally be past that starting this fall. I think you've got your priorities in line... trying to find a different home being the bigger priority. We couldn't have swung the new place had Smasher still been in daycare, but since he was in kindergarten last fall, we were able to redirect the money saved towards the new mortgage.

I also took Mark's commentary as a "insert whatever car you're into" here more than it having to be a Porsche. Me? I've got my sights set on a Nissan 370Z (at a minimum, 6-speed manual w/Sport package) because I've wanted a Z car since before I could drive. Maybe your GTI is the car (for now) and you should consider getting a beater with a heater so you don't have to drive it in the winter?

Is it going to happen for me tomorrow? Nope. But it is a 3-5 year goal for me. I'm going to have to make sacrifices in other areas leading up to the purchase? Yes. I'm going to look at ditching the '64 F100. It's clear to me that I do not have time to do a full restoration on vehicle. If I had that time, do I want to spend it wrenching, or would I rather be out driving? Right now, I'd rather be out driving. I'm also going to trim back on tool and equipment upgrades and try to stay focused on the goal. So that new 3D printer I've had my eye on is also not going to happen, and that's okay.

You'll find a way to make it work. Start planting the seeds now and see what grows.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Hopefully, VW will take care of your issue for you. The car still looks fantastic, cleaned up especially on those great BBS wheels. Just sits perfectly.