i want to buy a fun car that i can use as a daily driver but still be able to upgrade it to go offroad. dunes/mudding/etc. what exactly should i be looking for? is there a certain year/model that has a shorter wheelbase and easier to modify for my purposes?

i want to buy a fun car that i can use as a daily driver but still be able to upgrade it to go offroad. dunes/mudding/etc. what exactly should i be looking for? is there a certain year/model that has a shorter wheelbase and easier to modify for my purposes?

Wheel base is pretty much the same for all years.

For the best durability for off-road, I'd look for a 1965 or earlier. The link-pin front end is sturdier and can stand up to the abuses of off-road better than the ball joint front. Stay away from Super Beetles and the McPhearson front end. The suspension on those will self destruct after a few outings in the dunes.

I wouldn't mess with wheelbase on these. They are short enough as it is, and shortening will make it more prone to roll-over. Although most bugs that were made into the Manx style dune buggies were shortened, they all had lighter fiberglass bodies, with a lower center of gravity.

You could probably find a turn-key Baja, or something that just needs a little work on The Samba (www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds))

If you do get a '65 or earlier, make sure it's been converted to 12 volt, or plan on converting it yourself. That'll make it more dependable for the daily driving.