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Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:37 pm

I know it would be sacrilege to drive in the snow when salt has just been spread over it. But would driving a decent/near mint Ghia on rainy days be harmful to the car? I doubt I'd drive it everyday, but I would consider it to be my daily driver just because it'll be sitting outdoors due to my residence. I live in New Orleans. At least the car will be there soon.

If there is ever any concern, should I worry more about the floorpans and everything else under the car getting wet? Would practices and products such as undercoating spray help hinder a potential rust problem?

Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:46 pm

Maybe you could advise of your general location? This would help us to understand what the overall conditions will be...

I personally like undercoating. It helps with sound deadening and stone/rock chipping etc.. but make sure the pans are free of rusting or have been treated for that before applying it as it can hide further oxidation...

I also don't have any problems with driving these cars in any weather - rain, snow, whatever. It's your car.. I love driving in snow in a Vdub of any kind. They have the perfect combination - rear wheel drive, rear engine and ebrakes.. WhooHoo!

Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:48 pm

I live in New Orleans. Yes...

Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:55 pm

gecko@revolks.com wrote: I also don't have any problems with driving these cars in any weather - rain, snow, whatever. It's your car.. I love driving in snow in a Vdub of any kind. They have the perfect combination - rear wheel drive, rear engine and ebrakes.. WhooHoo!

I'd do the same, except for snow conditions. Thank god I'll be limited to either dry/hot or wet days. But the car would still see the outdoors 24/7. You think it'll be okay?

Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:16 pm

I believe the biggest thing one can do to help their Vdub when it's an "outdoor" or "daily driver" is to be vigilant about keeping the drain holes clean.
Along the bottoms of the car along the heater channels and most all fender lip areas are small drain holes (the doors included) and do not forget the rear inner fenders (behind the Ghia's sound deadening insulation) - there is a potential "fish bowl" with small drain holes.

All of these drain holes fill-in with small dirt/debris eventually and this hastens the oxidation. A smaller dental-type pick is very useful to keep these cleaned out and ensure the car's body drains off excess water as was intended.

Other than this, maintaining the body with regular cleaning, waxing et cetera is all that should be needed. Pay particular attention to keeping the chromed parts cleaned on a regular basis and wax them too if you can since that'll help preserve their water-proof-ness (a new word!)

Also if the car is new to you, then have a peek behind the door panels to ensure that the vapour barriers are in fact there. Most times they have been neglected or not re-installed when PO's replace their interiors. Failure to provide moisture barrier will lead to early failure and ugly interior panels as they will get wet from behind.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:43 am

If its outside anyway, might as well drive it. Driving the car in the rain might actually be better overall than letting it sit. Its more likely that driving will drain water from places where it would normally sit when standing still.

X2 on the drains. The first time I washed my car after buying it, I opended the passenger side door. I heard a sound like water in a jug. I pulled the door panels. The drain holes at the bottom of the doors were completely clogged and water was just laying there. I cleared the holes.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:56 am

It rained today and I drove my ghia :D .Hell I drive it every day. :wink:

Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:02 pm

I think New Orleans is the best place to have an old car especially if it is a cabriolet. I live in Arizona now and hate it, but was born and raised in New Orleans and miss her terribly!! I have a '62 Cabrio and dream of driving down St. Charles Ave on an early spring or fall day and stopping by Loyola under the oak trees.

Do it for me!!!! LOL!!!!

Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:09 pm

Bunch of Ghias driving in the rain in this video (including mine):

Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:51 pm

absolutely NOT!!!!! the car does fine in rain but other drivers seem to morph into idiots!!!!! my ghia is not a daily driver so I just don't want to risk it getting smacked.

Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:11 pm

When our KG was new to us, it was a daily driver; hence, rain was never an issue then. Now, I'd drive another car (J.J. or Japanese Junk), during the rainy days.

Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:19 pm

Only if the brakes consist of new all german parts, are adjusted properly and the tires have plenty of tread on them, and never when it's the first rainy day in weeks.

Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:29 pm

one of the few good things about giving up my vert is driving in the rain. i don't go out in it but if i'm caught, and central florida summers catch you frequently, i don't mind....except for having to wash it. ain't it fun?

Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:52 am

Right now my ghia is my daily, but I'm currently looking for a rabbit or older jetta or something to replace it. Until then, I don't really have a choice, but I agree with some others on here that it's more for the fear of other drivers on the road now that I've had some brake work done. :D It's like motorcycles. For the most part (not some of these teenage crotch rocket idiots), I think bikers are educated drivers, but the bottom line is, they have no protection when someone hits them. When I'm able, I'd rather not put my ghia out there subject to bad conditions where people tend to panic. I'm not as concerned about rain as I am snow. When it snows here in Maryland, people get stupid like they've never seen it before. I personally like driving in snow, but you ought to see the ditches around here when it happens! I don't even want to park on the street then! Also, my father just explained to me yesterday about RWD and how the ghia would be just as good as my other cars (this is my first RWD) because the engine is in the back, but I definitely DON'T want to take it out when it snows! I'm really hoping to get another DD soon and so I can get antique insurance too. I've already put twice as much as blue book into this car. But since some brake work and a camber compensator, driving it is a lot more fun!!

Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:37 pm

When it rains Karmann goes in the garage and takes a nap.

Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:05 pm

execk2 wrote: When it rains Karmann goes in the garage and takes a nap.

That is cool! And let the Japanese cars gets cold in the rain. LOL

Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:14 pm

Older VW's didnt have all the rust treatments now available. Being that they were stitched together with spot welds I'd seal it up as much as possible underneath if it was a Daily Driver. I used about 2 tubes of seam sealer and went over the entire car looking for areas that could hold moisture etc then undercoated. Never had issues with undercoating cracking and holding moisture. A good quality flexible type would probably be a good idea to cusion stones being thrown from the tires and things like that. With that and an occational wash with high pressure water under wheel wells & inspecting for problems should preserve your Ghia.

Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:58 pm

Life is too short to have to tiptoe around rain. Roll it.

That being said, make sure all the drain holes are clear, seams sealed, gaskets and seals in proper order, waxed up, safe tread and wipers, etc.

You are right, snow, or rather the salt, is a different issue. Park it then...

Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:45 am

I drive mine every day to work. Its been one of the wettest years on record in Ireland so far this year. Luckily, I replaced all of the rubber seals on my car in June, so it has remained nice and dry inside the car.
The brakes are one area that I would like to improve on. I think I need a total brake overhaul...master cylinder etc.

Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:07 am

I got caught in a rather large down pour in my 57 Ghia...no door glass, no quarter glass...no floorpan/body seal...no door rubber, no lid seals, no wipers. I had to drive about an hour to get home...had about 2 inches of water swooshing about in the floor pan...guess what.....the car is fine...it survived, it didnt melt. I just got it home and took the seats out of it dryed the water up. Later the sun came out so I was able to set it out in the sun with it all opened up and let it dry out...car is fine.

JGW