Burned up the engine one month after I bought the car. didn't know valves needed adjustment.
Car refused to run on any rainy day. what a pain!
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with your Beetle. However, when buying an older car, doing a bit of research ahead of time is important. Valve adjustments, as you learned, are vital! And yes, if you're looking for air-conditioning, then maybe an old Beetle as regular transportation isn't for you. The air-cooled engine works very hard in the heat, and an air conditioner only aggravates that. The stalling in the rain is a common problem that a new distibutor cap and points should fix. Better yet, upgrading to electronic (pointless) ignition is inexpensive and will boost reliability.
All said, I've had a number of Beetles over the years and have fully enjoyed them. They don't have all the amenities of modern cars, however, they have a lot of character. They are simple, and because they're the best-selling car of all time, parts are plentiful and inexpensive. However, generally they are an older vehicle, so before you buy, do a bit of research. Having some mechanical ability (or being willing to learn) is also not a bad idea.
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