We have an Accura (=Honda), a Nissan and a Subaru in the family. We've owned other cars (Toyotas, Ford, Volvo, Saabs, hoopty Scamp) and have done most of the work on them. Worked on many others as favors to friends and family.
Recently I was given a beetle because I was interested in making that a project car -- did you notice how I didn't select any of the above as a project car and those cars I know relatively well. So why did I do it?
I am not looking to make the bug into a daily driver.Nothing is more frustrating than _having_ to work on a car on a perfectly good sunny weekend to take you back to work that monday. The bug will be a car to drive around on the weekend for fun.With its quirky heating system, I'd imagine that it won't be used in winter.
This being my first bug, I am a total bug newbie but I like its design -- everything seems to be made so anyone can service it. You don't need an engine hoist. The engine is relatively small and light. It is a simple car, does not take a lot of space, does not take expensive special tools, parts are available. It is so ugly, it is pretty. :) Whenever I see a bug being driven, it makes you smile.
If you were looking for a good project car, a bug is a good choice. Mine was given to me, but from what I hear you can get project cars and project-project-project cars. Some are worst than others, so you'll want to be careful as to how much work you want to get into. Mine for instance will take engine work, welding, body work and interior work. Mine is a project-project-project-project-project car :) It will not be cheap to fix, I am sure -- ebay is your friend :)
One last plus: If you see someone driving a bug, you immediately assume he/she must know the car intimately, so you get immediate bragging right (you don't get that with a project Civic, for instance).
Sorry for going on and on -- others will have a lot more to say, I am sure. Hope to see you here with your bug. Remco