Photos by: d.tek
My name is Eric Johnston. im from la crosse, wisconsin and work in healthcare. Just got married in october of 09 and born and raised here.
How long have you owned this car?
I bought this car in march of ’08 i believe. best day of my life! besides the above mentioned wedding day… : /
Is there anything unique about the history of this car?
Tthere really isnt much imprtnace to the history of the car. Bought it from a duder named tim in georgia, got it here and made my own history.
What other cars did you consider?
I did not consider anything else. i owned a mk4 jetta vr6 that i did some things with and tried to get out a loan for a JB 20th a year or so before i got this one. i worked at walgreens at the time (baller i know) and couldnt afford it. the day after i got my first paycheck from my current job, i went to the bank and got her. obvuiosly not with one paycheck, but making more money = car for eric.
What was your objective with this car?
At first i figured this was just going to be the car i would keep forever. so i didnt want to do any sort of big things with it. i tried sooo long to get it, i didnt want to break anything, or mess anything up. didnt last long
What tuning style would you describe this car as?
I dont know what tuning style i would describe it as. i didnt really feel the want or need to fit in anywhere. i just did what i liked. went from low, to clean, to color, to whatever i was feelin at the time really.
Who helped you build this car?
I built this car myself. Everything done was done by me.
What makes your car special?
What makes the car special is that this is really the only car i could ever see myself in. I waited so long to get it and worked so hard to finally afford the things i have. thats what makes the car special. to me anyways.
What is your favorite part/feature/function?
The jazz blue color will always be my favorite part. In my opinion its the best color for a vehicle hands down. It makes the car.
Who or what inspired the direction of modifications on this car?
I guess that would be me as well. it was basically just what i was feelin at the time. i didnt buy the car with a timeline of things i wanted to do. i would just get an idea and go with it. when it came to the air ride i got into that game with the help of jeff jacobson (moacur on vortex). he is semi local and i watched his build thread and just shot him over a call one day and shot the breeze about what all is needed. from there i studied up and got my stuff. when it came to the current wheels there wasnt anyone i thought really pulled off sawblades. so i got them with the only intention to see if i could pull them off.
What don’t you like about this car?
I always wanted to see what the car would look like with different wheels. its not that i dislike the sawblades, its just i wish i could have seen what some nicer wheels would have looked like. in other words, there is nothing i dont like about this car 
What was your biggest obstacle in building this car?
Well, i live in wisconsin. the car gets stored in the winters. Winter is also the only time i have to do upgrades to it since in the spring/summer i daily it to shows and such. If you have never been to wisconsin in the dead of winter i will tell you its not uncommon for the temperature to be -30 to -60. With an unheated garage and a single propane heater, life sometimes sucks… a lot. So to do the bay (which would take me maybe a weekend in the summer) took me about a month to do in the winter because things would literally freeze and crack just by touching it. ask mr. mike olson, hell tell ya haha
On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with the outcome of this project?
I’m gonna go with a 7 on that. no ones car is ever done as far as im concerned, so no one has a 10. anyone with a 9 doesnt own a volkswagen. to give myself an 8 wouldnt be right since i can still finish some things on it. i feel like a 7 is a nice round number. its come a long way, but not quite there yet. that sound logical?
What would you do to the car if money were no object?
If money were no object? i would shave the bay completely with maybe the addition of a 35r, hardlines done by my good buddy sav in the bay, full internals, go with full accuair digital management, find some wide ass 3 piece stepped lip wheels, respray some jazz blue here and there, and drive it everyday. im a simple man
Who has been your biggest critic of this project?
Since everything was done by me, i am a perfectionist. i have no problem tearing things out and doing them over completely if i feel i can do it better. the car gets a lot of attention wherever im at, but i know where all the imperfections are.
Who gets to drive this car?
If the car wasnt on air, i would let some close friends drive it. my wife has driven it a couple times (she hates it…). otherwise its just me, myself, and i
If your car had a motto, what would it be?
buy me, im for sale 
If you had to name your car, what would you name it?
I have never gotten into the naming of cars really. i have had people tell me about their cars by introducing them with a name… thats kinna lame. BUT if i have to id go with something rich like chesterton liverworth III, and the interior would smell of rich mohagony.
What one word best describes your car?
mine!
Vehicle Information: hmmmm, im gonna miss some, but here goes.
2003 20th anniversary gti #1587
wheels: pearl white sawblades 8.5s front 9.5 rears stretched tires, the usual
air: bagyard fronts, firestone rears, 8 valves, eai 7 switchbox, analog gauges, 5 gallon tank, dual 400 compressors, dual watertraps, etc. etc.
inside: stock! its the 20th interior, what needs to be done? recaro seats, 3 spoke wheel, brushed aluminum trim, golf ball 6 speed knob… c’mon now. i have added pioneer in dash double din navi unit, and a boost gauge. i spurged i know
outside: stock jb 20th! again, its a 20th, its perfect.
under the “bonnet”: 50% wire tuck thus far. deleted basically anything i didnt need. (ie: evap, sai, washer res., coolant ball, etc.), ecs race n75 valve, forge 007 dv, k&n filter, pearl white bits, shaved valve cover. i cant think anymore, check out the pictures.