Three　years　back,　the　Hinsleys　of　Dora,　Missouri,　had　a　tough　decision　to　make.

To　buy　a　new　mule.

Or　invest　in　a　used　bug.

They　weighed　the　two　possibilities.

First　there　was　the　problem　of　the　bitter　Ozark　winters.　Tough　on　a　warm-blooded　mule.　Not　so　tough　on　an　air-cooled　VW.

Then,　what　about　the　eating　habits　of　the　two　contenders?　Hay　vs.　gasoline.

As　Mr.　Hinsley　puts　it:　“I　get　over　eighty　miles　out　of　a　dollars　worth　of　gas　and　I　get　where　I　want　to　go　a　lot　quicker.”

Then　theres　the　road　leading　to　their　cabin.　Many　a　mule　pulling　a　wagon　and　many　a　conventional　automobile　has　spent　many　an　hour　stuck　in　the　mud.

As　for　shelter,　a　mule　needs　a　barn.　A　bug　doesnt.　“It　just　sets　out　there　all　day　and　the　paint　job　looks　near　as　good　as　the　day　we　got　it.”

Finally,　there　was　maintenance　to　think　about.　When　a　mule　breaks　down,　theres　only　one　thing　to　do:　Shoot　it.

But　if　and　when　their　bug　breaks　down,　the　Hinsleys　have　a　Volkswagen　dealer　only　two　gallons　away.