Flying Bug: driver apprehended after 100+ mph chase in a VW
The above image is a dramatization. Bugs don't really have jet engines.
It's being reported as the second most incredible thing next to cold fusion - a VOLKSWAGEN traveling above 100 mph? What next? We suppose a bunch of kids from England will kick Elvis off the top of the charts. Welcome to the 21st century, out of touch news-ninnies. Volkswagen Beetles - proper air-cooled medieval rollerskates - indeed have a tough time cracking 100 mph in stock trim. A New Beetle, which is really just a modern Rabbit in drag, can easily crank that speedo right around to 125 with its 5-cylinder mill.
In this case, the news media is just piling its idiocy on top of a stupid driver who tried running from the police. It rarely ends well when a driver decides to run, and the case of Nathan Hurlbirt and his gray VW are no different. Hurlbirt and a female colleague were nipping along I-25 in Littleton, Colorado when a Sheriff's deputy took issue with the pair's 115 mph speed and attempted to pull them over. Hurlbirt took off, instead, and the deputy broke off pursuit shortly before the VW crashed after exiting the highway. Hurlbirt and passenger escaped injury, but not the long arm of the law. The lack of injuries is the incredible part; try crashing an old Bug and see if there's anything left to put cuffs on.
[Source: AP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
mysticlady 10:01PM (9/03/2008)
So???? We have Super Beetle that has 250 horse power and can easily go well over 145 miles an hour. But, hey, who's stupid enough to drive that fast in or near the long arm of the law. In our state, if caught, jail is the only option.
Reply
Berkeley Beth 12:32PM (9/03/2008)
This does sound TOTALLY incredible!
In 1965, attending Berkeley, I arrived at the campus sans auto, and bought a 4th hand Beetle.
The floor was rusted out in one spot, second gear and reverse was not working, and the car could not make it up many hills in San Francisco.
My new roommates would have to get out and walk up the hills and meet me and the VW at the top. Also they had to push me into many parking spaces since reverse was inoperable.
The Beetle was so light, many times we would just PICK the car up and put it into a space. 4 females could do that with NO problems.
They would complain, this car is a clunker. BUT, when it came to speed, this much abused VW would surprise you.
I would drive that VW across the Oakland Bay Bridge and down Highway 101 to Palo Alto to visit my boyfriend at Stanford every Friday night doing about 75 mph.
In California, in the 60s, that was flying down the freeways! So, the new VW doing a 115, I can dig it.
Reply
Kookr 9:44AM (9/03/2008)
Look up "VW Bus Crash" on youtube to find out how much of your legs are the crumple zone. Basically its up to the back of your seat.....YIKES!
Reply
zamafir 9:48AM (9/03/2008)
"a VOLKSWAGEN traveling above 100 mph? What next? "
You guys crack me up. I hit 160 (Speedo indicated, 147 gps indicated) in a chipped jetta 2.0T on washington's I-90 without issue. Let's get with the times now.
Reply
San 10:23AM (9/03/2008)
Sure u did... in a jetta. even chipped that thing would start shakin like a rattlesnake at 120-130 ha.
Torqued 10:31AM (9/03/2008)
Yeah, I hear an R32 can break 100mph too.
I assume they meant a VW bug.
dmack161 12:35PM (9/03/2008)
I've had my stock Beetle TDI (90hp) up to 100mph before, although it starts to get a little scary with no spoiler. A 1.8T with the spoiler could easily do it.
Farris 2:23PM (9/03/2008)
dmack: Check out the TVA No-Drill Spoiler.
I took my TDI Bug (2002) up to about 110 with no spoiler, and it scared the crap out of me. You can really feel the ass-end of the car lifting up at those speeds.
After I put the spoiler on, it disturbed the airflow enough to keep the car pretty firmly planted. Not perfect, and I will definitely NOT be going over 110 in that car again, but good enough.
zamafir 6:34PM (9/03/2008)
@San, when was the last time you exceeded 130 speedo indicated MPH in a MKV? the car felt much 'lighter' due to lack of any significant down force above 140 but it certainly didn't rattle, I have yet to drive a car in the MKV's price range/class with a chassis as competent at speed.
Phil Davis 12:27PM (9/06/2008)
zamafir:
Nobody cares that you "... hit 160 (Speedo indicated, 147 gps indicated) in a chipped jetta 2.0T on washington's I-90 ...”.
However, a lot of people, me included, DO care that you drive like an idiot.
MajorGeek 10:06AM (9/03/2008)
Not a dramatization:
http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/
Reply
ImportCarSite.com 1:28PM (9/03/2008)
Yeah that is a real jet engine like others have stated owned by Ron Patrick. I did a write up awhile ago on my site, you can find videos of it on youtube as well. So really the writer of this article should take off the statement under the photo that it is a dramatization.
FFSX 7:54AM (9/04/2008)
ok how the HELL is that street legal ? you can torch anything ...
innoc3nt 2:04AM (9/05/2008)
Sure beats truck nuts.
dave 10:25AM (9/03/2008)
In a related but unrelated story - don't ya just love cops chase scenes where there are 6-7 squads with interceptor motors chasing a 6 cyl van, for example, with one wheel not turning and scraping/sparking the pavement. And the brainless person is still running - like "maybe I'll lose 'em".
Reply
ahmad 11:22AM (9/03/2008)
That VW in the pic is for real.
http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/113_0703_2000_volkswagen_beetle/index.html
Reply
Daniel 9:31PM (9/03/2008)
Go here: http://hpamotorsports.com/special_projects.htm
They will show you what a New Beetle can do. :D
Reply
JonEthan 11:16AM (9/04/2008)
I have a friend who managed to roll his New Beetle on I-75. The car rolled 3 times and wound up a heap of scrap metal. He escaped with minor scrapes. Frankly, there's nothing that strikes me as 'incredible' in this article. Beetles can go fast, they're built to protect their passengers, and the media equates size to power.
Reply
P.V. 5:54PM (9/03/2008)
I LOVE that graphic (and caption).
Reply
nagmashot 4:44AM (9/04/2008)
completely stupid comments about VW´s can´t go over 100mph or more and would fall appart... in Germany hundret of thousend VW´s get over 100mph on the Autobahn EVERY DAY without any problem
The only currently in production VW (car) that I know that can´t reach 100mph is the mini car class VW Fox with 55hp that reachs 148km/h (92mph) the 75hp version of the Fox already reaches 167km/h (104mph)..
stock topspeed of VW models sold in Germany were many of them hit the topspeed daily or weekly on the Autobahn
slowest Polo 100mph
fastest Polo 141mph
slowest Golf (Rabbit) 105mph
fastest Golf (Rabbit) 155mph (restricted)
slowest new Beetle 101mph
fastest new Beetle 127mph
slowest Jetta 116mph
fastest Jetta 147mph
slowest Scirocco 136mph
fastest Scirocco 147mph
slowest Touran (minivan) 112mph
fastest Touran 132mph
slowest Tiguan(small SUV) 120mph
fastest Tiguan 131mph
slowest Eos 122mph
fastest Eos 154mph
slowest Passat 119mph
fastest Passat 155mph (restricted)
slowest Passat CC 139mph
fastest Passat CC 155mph (restricted)
slowest Sharan (midsize Van) 110mph
fastest Sharan 136mph
slowest Touareg (SUV) 136mph
fastest Touareg 155mph (restricted)
slowest Pheaton 149mph
fastest Pheaton 155mph (restricted)
slowest Multivan (large Van) 100mph
fastest Multivan 129mph
Zamfirs chipped Jetta will most likely have no problems to get close to 160mph real speed if he would have the comfort to run it on the unlimited Autobahn were he has the space and time to max out his Jetta..
Reply