Dear Tom and Ray:

My college roommate, Kathryn, and I are avid fans of your column and radio show, and now I have a question. I have always been interested in purchasing a pre-1998 VW Beetle convertible. Is this just a dumb idea, or do you think I can find a reliable old Beetle that I can love and take care of? I was wondering if you could give me a few pointers on what I should look for in an older Beetle and what to avoid. Thanks! -- Charli

RAY: What should you avoid? Well, the first thing that comes to mind is a pre-1998 Beetle, Charli.

TOM: Yeah. I hate to burst your bubble here, but the old Beetle was a dangerous little heap. Even on the day it rolled off the assembly line, it had lousy brakes, lousy handling and barely any crash protection. So, an older Beetle is not a car I'd want my college-age daughter driving around in, Charli.

RAY: We should explain to everyone else that in the case of the Beetle, pre-1998 = 1977 or older. The original Beetle was sold in the United States from 1949 (two were sold that year) until 1977, when the Beetle was phased out -- its spot in the lineup having been usurped by the more modern VW Rabbit.

TOM: Then in 1998, in a fit of nostalgia, VW introduced the New Beetle, which looks like the old Beetle but is really a modern VW Golf with a cuter, rounder body. It has front-wheel drive, air bags, disc brakes, reinforced doors, a ventilation system, etc., etc. Basically, it has everything the old Beetle lacked. If you're going to get a Beetle, I'd strongly suggest that you get a New Beetle.

RAY: I know it's not as cool, or as historic, Charli. But you're too young to have your obituary read "Crushed by a Daewoo."

TOM: If you look for a 1998-2000 model, you can certainly find one for less than 10 grand. And if you don't quite have that much, isn't that what student loans -- and parents -- are for?