Prius Punch … No Punch Backs!

Depending on your age, you might remember the “slug bug” or “SlugBug” game that was quite popular in the 1970’s. I’m sure there were many variations, but as I recall it was a fun game that younger kids played while going on long (and usually boring rides) in the back seat of the family car.

When you spotted a VW Beetle (Bug) you slugged your brother, sister, or which ever kid was next to you – usually in the arm or leg. At the same time you said something like, “slug bug” and if you were smart you followed it with, “no slug backs”. Basically that meant that that VW Bug was now off limits, and the person you just smacked could not hit you back.

I don’t know if that game regained popularity when the new Beetle was released several years ago, but since you can now go weeks without seeing the older style VW Beetle, I assume it either did or the game died out.

Now that I’m driving a Prius, I’m starting to become more aware of other Prius that I see when out and about. My kids and wife are the same way, and we seldom travel more than 20 miles without spotting one (I imagine that distance would be much less in a state like California, but there are still more farms than Prius in Iowa!).

Anyway, on a recent 50 mpg trip I told my wife that it would be fun to start playing the Slug Bug game when we saw a Prius, but we’d need to come up with a catchy name for it. We tried out the following:

1. Prius Punch
2. Prius Pinch
3. Prius Poke

Of the three options, I found out the hard way that Prius Punch, No Punch Backs! became the favorite…and I have the bruise to prove it. So, if you are up for trying out this game that’s sure to become a nationwide sensation, I’d like to hear your input. Are there some better options we should be considering? In either case, let me know if you’re playing.