We want to retire on a dime. We have several thousand to spend on a car. Do you agree if we buy a classic beetle (probably from individual) that already has floor pans, minimal rust, newer engine--we can then have cheap A to B transportation and be able to repair our own vehicle cheaply? Lots of parts and books and YouTube's. We are very novice mechanics but we can read. We will have very little in our retirement budget for car repairs.
You are not likely to find a classic VW bug in good condition for just a few thousand dollars. Something in that price range is going to be a fixer-upper mechanics' special. A really nice example can easily reach into the 5 figure range. Also note that if you're going to be retiring in an area that has cold winters the heaters in those things are a joke and the defroster all but useless. (VW owners used to carry ice scrapers to use on the inside of the windshield.)
Although bugs are pretty easy to work on and parts are still available, if you do run into a problem you can't fix yourself it might be tough to find a mechanic willing to touch it.
