Personally, if the floorpan is rotten, scrap the car. Or keep for as long as it continues passing an MOT.
I wouldn't spend any major money on the vehicle at this point. Drive it till it dies.
Wipers were orginally on the wrong side. Its not that VW didn't think it wouldnt sell, its just that they were plain lazy. The change was mid way through E plate cars on the first major facelift.
What is disgraceful is that 2003 Clios STILL have the wipers on the wrong side! Or hadnt anyone noticed?
Tin