I've had interactions with 4 VWs over the years.

My father's friend Jerry had one of the first, with split read window. The directionals were little arms that swung out of the doorpost to tell the [hopefully] alert public which way you intended to go. We crowded two adults and a mess of kids into that one. [Yes, he bought it new.]

My friend John Dring, who was a fellow grad student at the University of Maine [US], had a split windshield van that constantly needed alignment. That was probably because of the way we did it. We would take a stick and hammer two nails into it to act as a reference mark and start adjusting toe in with the van up in the air. We both left Maine after that year. I understand he lives in Ireland now.

I was a rallye navigator during the 70's and was invited to run in a friend's VW. That was a "once." After 4 hours, I could barely straighten up. Of course, I had a similar experience in an E Jag. The seats were hideous.

My best VW experience belonged to my writing partner Mark Lovewell, who now works for the Vineyard Gazette and is still a folk musician. He had a Porsche powered van with a pop top. We did an engine transplant in under an hour once. Took that thing to festivals and parties all over the place. Once I borrowed it for a couple of weeks while my Citroen was in the body shop. Good vehicle. Painted with dragons on the sides to honor his wife.