I made it a whole two weeks into the new year without buying a new project… and then I blew it 😆. This episode kicks off with the story of how I ended up with "Pookie's Dream," the iconic VW Trends August 1991 cover car. We touch on what that car meant to the hobby back then and why it still matters today.

But the real heart of this episode is The Great Engine Debate. A recent dyno session sparked a massive discussion after comments posted by Ross Wolf revealed an engine that didn't deliver the expected results. What followed was an explosion of opinions—over 65 comments deep—covering engine specs, dyno expectations, real-world performance, and long-standing air-cooled engine-building philosophies.

We get deep into the weeds on what numbers really matter, why expectations don't always match results, and how different builders approach power, reliability, and intent. To balance the conversation, we bring in feedback from both sides, including insight from Jared Winton and a direct take from Pat Downs Performance on the topic.

This is one of those discussions that never really ends in the VW world—but that's what makes it so good. Grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy another episode of Let's Talk Dubs, where history, opinion, and air-cooled passion collide.