How about the fact that you run independent rear suspension with a VW motor, never seen a buggy with a solid rear axle, too much weight for a light car

 

advice?
1 keep it light
2 get an oil cooler
3 if you buy a bug to get the guts out of it, don't buy a super bettle, they have crappy front ends.
4 keep it light (the firt gear in a bug trans axel is just a tad high)
5 remember that bug motor bus tranny thing I said....its important.

 

I am just the person that can help you out with this. I have a buggy but because of the stupid modifications that I keep trying to do with it I am about to get rid of it.
You could find a good buggy for around 2000. If you are going to build one yourself you will have to keep it pretty stock - definitly can't afford bus parts for 2000. I would find a buggy frame with or without tranny. An IRS bug tranny will do you fine. then you can paint and customize the frame all you want. As for an engine, you could buy a new rebuilt one from a shop for about 800 bucks. This would be stock. Now, I don't know if you are aware of this but VW parts are easily interchangable if yoiu get the right stuff, however it can become very confusing and expensive if you aren't careful. It would be a terrible idea to run anything but a 4 cylendar engine on a VW transaxle. With 2000 dollars you can get yourself something nice, but you can't build something from scratch with that kind of money. If you were to run anything but a type one VW engine (type ones are the engines that came in beetles) it should be a 2.3 ford or a 2.5 chevy and you will have to get an adapter plate, switch input shafts, mess around will the clutch and build extra support for the engine. If I were you (I am 17 also and have gone through the hassle of trying to build something big with too little money) I would run an IRS beetle tranny ( not a mid engine) with a type one engine- at least 1600cc. If you get a buggy already like this you will be very happy, I garauntee it. And later on if you want you can add dual carbs and slap on pistons and cylendars to up your cc's. If you have any questions what so ever you can email me or post here- I have a lot of good information seeing as how I have had experience with trying different combinations of engines and trannies.
brad
P.S. NO small blocks and NO porches (rotary engines) Trust me you will only have a large large hassle and can't do it with only 2 grand.

 

Dude, I'm from New Mexico and there are tons of Ford powered rails out here. I just sold my rail a few months ago to buy a streetbike because I recently started school again and didn't have time for it anymore.
Go get a 2.3 Liter Mustang motor and have a blast. The pro's are: More reliable
Cheaper parts with warranties (Autozone)
Fuel injection

The cons are:
Water cooled (hurts like hell if you get a leak with no firewall to protect you)
Weight (about 100-150 lbs. heavier than a VW engine. This will require beefier suspension $$$)
ground clearance (oil pan is significantly lower than a VW motor and you will need to protect it)

There are so many options as far as power is concerned. If I ever build another rail (which I will) it will probably be Subaru or Ford powered.

Let me just warn you though. It isn't going to be necessarilly cheaper to build or buy a rail. They break down often especially if you go cheap. It is a very fun but expensive sport. I had about $6500 into mine and could only get $4300 when I sold it and it was bad A$$! I had a 3 rib bus tranny with close ratio 3rd and 4th that cost $1500 alone. It was powered by an 1835cc VW. 2X3 rear trailing arms with Sand tires unlimited Desert trac tires. It had all the goodies. Man I miss it. Ofcourse my '03 Honda CBR600 F4i is a kick in the pants too!