They're not hard to maintain, it's more like a stream of constant maintenance. But aside from fixing rust, which does require a lot of skill, the mechanicals are simple and parts aren't terribly expensive. Definitely fun vehicles, but I wouldn't get one if I wasn't mechanically inclined or unwilling to learn how to work on it, or lacked the time and space to work on it. They're 40 year old vehicles that have taken a lot of abuse over their lives, so more often than not they're total basket cases that require a lot of attention. It really makes you appreciate how maintenance free a modern vehicle is. It's a slow sort of revival with mine. I'm stuck in an apartment for a year, and can't find a space to work on it, so I can only do so much. Eventually I'll really be able to tear into it. On a more positive note, there are few things better than wandering leisurely down the coast in a VW bus on a sunny day. :)