you’d be suprised where the rust is hiding. pull the carpet up someday. ive had a mk2 tub stripped to nothing. it looked pretty rust free, but what hides below that undercoating and seam sealer will suprise you
shift linkage is all rubber and nylon bushings. Techtonics tuning sells a linkage rebuild kit, which is available through German auto parts in halfmoon.
timing belt and waterpump is about 34$ in parts.