'79 super beetle

My mom is interested in buying a '79 super beetle and I was wondering if this a good, reliable car. Anyone have any information on this year? Just want to make sure she is not going to buy a bad model of the beetle. Oh yeah, it has a new engine and tranny but needs the top replaced and a paint job. It's going for $3500. Anyone with any info please write! Thanks.

Check that bug out for rust!

$3800 for a bug with new engine and a new tranny? Not a bad deal if the body is in good shape.

Check the heater channels really good. Sometimes they rust where you can't see until later on and the whole thing rusts out ->($$$). Also take the back seat out and check around the back (around the firewall) and the battery pan. Also take a small magnet with you to check for Bondo, some bugs have lots of bondo work. Not that bondo is that bad, but if not done right it will start failing later on.

Have fun and be carefull :)

If there is bondo in structural areas (heater channels...etc) the car is a total loss.Minus a steel top,there is little strength left to the body,this is why VW put those metal rails under the heater channels.....losing more metal in these areas means less support and trouble down the road.Check the sills for rust or bodywork,as well as behind the running boards (this is the heater channel area still).The 1975-up cars use cat cons and egr valves and fuel injection.All these things are expensive to replace if they go bad.A pre-1975 model wouldnt have this stuff and would be cheaper if major repairs become necessary.

If there is bondo in structural areas (heater channels...etc) the car is a total loss.Minus a steel top,there is little strength left to the body,this is why VW put those metal rails under the heater channels.....losing more metal in these areas means less support and trouble down the road.Check the sills for rust or bodywork,as well as behind the running boards (this is the heater channel area still).The 1975-up cars use cat cons and egr valves and fuel injection.All these things are expensive to replace if they go bad.A pre-1975 model wouldnt have this stuff and would be cheaper if major repairs become necessary.

Darn,I hate those double posts....gotta love that server speed...