properly set up and maintained, an aircooled can be very reliable. My engine in the spyder was built in 1990 and starts every time and runs like a clock. It sounds great too. It has required very little maintenance.
The engine in my 66 bug (stock 1600 DP) hasn't failed me either and hasn't required any maintenance since acquiring it a couple of years ago. I drove it 800 miles a few weeks after purchasing it (after going through it and giving it a minor tune up valves, timing, plugs). Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. It just hummed at 62 mph all the way up the I-5 through 100 heat in the valley and over the mountain [ass.
They really are relatively easy to work on with minimal tools required.
Mike