Thanks for the welcome, everybody.
Hooligan -- thanks for the warning, but it's too late! Swapped the shift linkage bushings for poly ones for better feel and upgraded plugs and wires -- and in the process of figuring out how to do that discovered these forums. Now thinking of changing wheels, tires, exhaust... and so it begins.
Twress -- I gave her my '07 Rabbit coupe. She always wanted a new beetle (they're cute), but I bought the Rabbit a couple of years ago (before we got married) because it gives us more interior room as a hatch -- and thinking she'd probably like it too. As it turns out, she really loved it, so now it's hers. After living with only two-door cars for a while we decided we needed a four-door with a little more room for cargo. With a little work I convinced her that the practical car we needed was a PT, not a Passat wagon.
Sold her on the practicality but I really wanted it for the fun factor!
edsidders, I'm a fan of old VW's too -- but don't have any at the moment. Thirty years ago my parents drove a Type 2 pop-up camper (orange). Since then I've always like the air-cooled vw's. Those Karmann's are great too -- glad to hear you're keeping a couple around.