There is a lot to be said of a clean, daily driven, stock bug. There is also a lot to be said about non-stock, daily driven, bug and today we see the latter. I see these beetles on the way to my local 7-11 when I need a break from editing and the computer. Since they are parked in front of two neighboring houses, I always wonder if they belong to the same person? With the inclusion of the Jetta in the driveway, I am inclined to believe that they probably do. Unless the sickness has spread amongst neighbors which happens often.

As much as I love a clean vehicle, I very much admire patina or even rust. Anything that denotes a car that is used and driven gains my utmost respect. I am sure that it may bother(the temptation to use bug was strong) some people but for me mismatched panels, rust, dings, and dents all hold a special place in my heart. It is like a well worn floor or leather, sure it may be discolored in some places or have scratches in others, but it signifies history and a journey. It could be the journey of sourcing parts and fixing your car, the journey your mind takes when you sit in a certain car(vintage BMW leather will always take me back to my E12), or even the journeys your car takes you on. There is something to be said about stock or non-stock, clean or rusted, and hopefully as collective automotive enthusiasts we can agree on one thing, that we can see that passion abounds in all circles of this automotive life.