My first car was a VW 1303S Beetle. My first scare, accident and full trouser moment (wet roundabout) all took place around this. I probably would not buy another but do look at them with a smile when I see them. Worryingly they are now in all the "vintage car" magazines which places me in the same place category.
My second was a Dolomite Sprint (I am with you on the speed and style Dave) I went motor racing in this and killed three of them over two years. I would buy one of these again and even looked at one on Pistonheads a few weeks back. I guess the Dolomite was breaking me in for the recent reliability of my Aero 8^(