The only chasing or photographing of trains we did was in 1972 in Europe. Three of us did a month trip on the cheap. The VW Bug is what we rented. Its not suited for tall people like my brother and I at 6' 5".
So I usually drove or my friend Tom. If I was in the passenger seat there was not enough room, so I spread out in the back. During 1969-71 I commuted to College with 2 guys from here, and both of them had VW Bugs. When I rode with them my feet never hit the floor on the passenger side. They were cheap to buy, good on gas, and lasted a long time. The downside is lack of power and comforts so as things mentioned in other posts, like heater, etc. AC was open windows. I was happier driving my 1965 Pontiac Lemans with a hurst 4-speed. It was the baby GTO. Others called it PONCHO!!!
Greg