Was there really a game in the 90’s where you punch someone when you spot a Volkswagen Bug?

[u/Subconcious-Consumer]

I was a young kid growing up through the 90’s - my mom used to punch the shit out of my arm and exclaim “SLUGBUG!” every time she saw a VW Bug on the road.

Did my mom invent some sort of latent child abuse or did other 80s/90s babies get punched while just fucking listening to meatloaf in the car?

[u/refugefirstmate]

Much older than the 90s. In the 60s in the Rust Belt it was "Punchbug".

[u/SeriousAboutShwarma → u/[deleted]]

Yea, 'Punchbuggy no-return!'

[u/Not_A_Skeleton → u/SeriousAboutShwarma]

Is this a western Canada thing? My wife says "no returns" while I (from the east) say "no punch backs". Huh

[u/realginger13 → u/Not_A_Skeleton]

From Toronto and was always no punchbacks

[u/bemsmed → u/realginger13]

Can confirm “punch buggy, no punch backs!!”

[u/Mattercorn → u/bemsmed]

Can confirm from North York 90s kid.

[u/Poopybutt35000 → u/Not_A_Skeleton]

I'm from Western Canada and used to say no return as well.

[u/SirPanics → u/Not_A_Skeleton]

manitoban, we said no-return.

[u/sandysanBAR → u/SeriousAboutShwarma]

Punchbuggy (color), no punch backs!

[u/dwhite21787 → u/sandysanBAR]

No punchback was always in play, but punchbacks were allowed if the color wasn’t called

[u/Big_Ole_Smoke → u/refugefirstmate]

Amazing that this game has been played for so long. I can remember doing this as late as 2008

[u/bozeke → u/refugefirstmate]

“Slug Bug” in Northern California in the 80s.

[u/KonradWayne → u/bozeke]

"Slug Bug" and "Punch Buggy" were both acceptable in Northern California during the 90's and 00's, assuming you made sure to call out the color as well.

[u/slash178]

Yes this is a thing

[u/boiledpeen → u/slash178]

Yea, it was a thing in the 2000s too. I remember growing up with this game as a kid.

edit: we called it punchbuggy, and it's funny to see oldheads saying new bugs don't count toward the game lol. yes they do.

[u/captainhamption → u/boiledpeen]

It was a thing in the 70s when I was a kid.

[u/fish_whisperer → u/captainhamption]

And the 80’s. I’m willing to bet it’s still a thing. We called it “slug bug.”

[u/Gibson125T → u/fish_whisperer]

My 11 year old confirms its still around.

Never heard slug bug though. Wonder if what you say is regional. It was always "punch buggy", usually followed by "no punch back".

EDIT: someone mentioned they say the color first, then punch buggy. I had forgotten about that. but thats 100% what we said. for geographical reference I am in Florida. was a kid in the 90's.

[u/readyreadyvt → u/Gibson125T]

Punch buggy [colour], no returns. — eastern Canada, ‘80s

ETA the u in colour and the decade

[u/Bugbread → u/readyreadyvt]

Punch buggy [color] - Texas (80s)

We didn't have a "no returns." Punching someone back for punching you was simply against the rules of the game, it would sound weird to specifically say it aloud. It would be like in if a race, instead of saying, "On your mark, get set, go!" you said "On your mark, get set, go, no tasers!"

[u/readyreadyvt → u/Bugbread]

Ah, but for us (Newfoundlanders? Gen X? who can say?), punching someone back if you saw the same Bug they did and they DIDN’T say “no returns” was completely allowable.

It was a “walk to school uphill both ways” kind of time. (But no tasers.)

[u/fish_whisperer → u/Gibson125T]

Probably. I grew up in the MidWest.

[u/23skidoobbq → u/fish_whisperer]

It was punch buggy for us. And “Padiddle” if you saw a car with one headlight, also punched in the arm for that too.

[u/moronthat → u/23skidoobbq]

Yes! Wow Padiddle was hiding way in the back of my memory until you just pulled it forward :)

[u/sturdypolack → u/moronthat]

Yes! Padiddle and Punch Buggy

[u/VisualProfessional12 → u/sturdypolack]

For me, padidle was slap the top of the car ceiling with the back of your hand when you saw a car with one headlight 😆

[u/Mryessicahaircut → u/VisualProfessional12]

🤭I still catch myself sometimes doing
a little tap on the roof of my car and quietly saying "padiddle" when I'm driving alone at night and see a car with one headlight. Then I roll my eyes at what a dork I am.

[u/benotaur → u/sturdypolack]

We would play strip padiddle in highschool boys vs girls. Good times.

[u/AuntieFooFoo → u/benotaur]

We did too! We'd punched the ceiling of the car, instead of arms when we saw one, and the last to hit the ceiling had to take off an article of clothing.

[u/Ayotte → u/23skidoobbq]

We had slug bug and PT Cruiser bruiser.

[u/BuranBuran → u/Ayotte]

Also: Dodge This

[u/NJ2SD → u/23skidoobbq]

No lie, my friend and I once said Padiddle at the exact same time, and the headlight turned on. It freaked us out!

[u/Own-Worry4388 → u/23skidoobbq]

When we would see a car with one headlight, we'd say, "popeye" then kiss our hand and touch the ceiling of the car.

[u/sandysanBAR → u/Own-Worry4388]

What in the blue blazes? No punching? What is this? Amateur hour?

[u/prozack91 → u/sandysanBAR]

We did this but whoever was last got punched by everyone.

[u/sandysanBAR → u/prozack91]

Well that seems at least acceptable.

No punches? No bueno

[u/prozack91 → u/sandysanBAR]

Punches must happen

[u/Research_Sea → u/Own-Worry4388]

We did the hand kiss to the roof when we went through a yellow light, thanking it for not turning red yet.

[u/fish_whisperer → u/23skidoobbq]

Oh, yeah, we had “padiddle” too!

[u/ParameciaAntic → u/fish_whisperer]

We did too. I rarely see them any more, though. Better quality lights and maintenance these days, I guess.

[u/sm0lshit → u/ParameciaAntic]

Too damn bright, as well.

[u/delmarshaef → u/ParameciaAntic]

I saw one in the parking lot at work and called to the driver “hey, you know you’re a padiddle?” and I’m pretty sure he thought I was cursing him or something. He had no idea what I was talking about.

[u/e36freak92 → u/ParameciaAntic]

And cars that tell you when a bulb is out. It's amazing how many people can't tell

[u/MistyShadowWolf → u/fish_whisperer]

My little sister and I would literally just call it punch buggy. Also, was it true that crossing your fingers meant you were immune to any punches back or was that young me making certain I couldn't get hit back after punching her arm?

[u/MudAppropriate2050 → u/MistyShadowWolf]

"Punch buggy, no punch back!"

[u/Hairy_Connection964 → u/MudAppropriate2050]

Ours was “punch buggy, no punch back, safety!”

[u/Jaspers47 → u/fish_whisperer]

Maybe it goes back further. Maybe kids in the 19th century yelled "Slug Bug" anytime an insect landed in the carriage.

[u/Traditional_Yak_3466 → u/slash178]

Punch buggy

[u/pm_me_ur_th0ng_gurl → u/Traditional_Yak_3466]

No punch backs

[u/WhoElseButQuagmire11 → u/pm_me_ur_th0ng_gurl]

Not sure if it's an Aussie but I was taught(via fire) that it's "punch buggy no returns" I still sometimes to it to my partner out of sheer habit(I hit her very gently)

[u/Shayedow → u/Traditional_Yak_3466]

When I was a kid ( born in '79 ) You had to yell " COLOR ( so yellow ) PUNCH BUGGY TAKES NO BACKS! " and punch as hard as you could on the shoulder. If you didn't yell take no backs, the person you punched could yell the same thing but with take no backs and punch you back.

[u/Smil3yAngel → u/Shayedow]

Yep! Born in 79 as well and this was the way. The only difference was we said "no take backs" instead of "takes no backs."

[u/HanlonWasWrong → u/Traditional_Yak_3466]

Slug bug

[u/VanMan32]

We called it punch buggy. You’d say “punch buggy no punch backs”, so they couldn’t hit you for seeing the same Volkswagen bug.

[u/Wajina_Sloth → u/VanMan32]

My brother and I did it so much that my mom changed the game to “love bug”.

So instead of hitting she would rub your arm and say “luuuuuuuuuUUUuuuuUuuuvvvvvv bug”

We quickly stopped playing

[u/jedikelb → u/Wajina_Sloth]

Your mom sounds awesome and smart.

[u/Wajina_Sloth → u/jedikelb]

she is the best mom ever :)

[u/Madz510 → u/Wajina_Sloth]

Awe so often people say negative things about their parents on Reddit glad you recognize your mom for being great

[u/Livingstonthethird → u/Madz510]

So often people grew up with shitty, abusive or neglectful parents.

[u/Wallflower1555 → u/Livingstonthethird]

Still nice to see some wholesome positivity in the world especially on Reddit

[u/TrailBlanket-_0 → u/Wallflower1555]

I'm inspired to see people be vulnerable and share their difficult upbringings even if they're still coming to terms, and I'm happy to see people express their gratitudes and recognize their blessings! Keep it up people!

[u/chillyhellion → u/jedikelb]

Moms can be clever. We used to have contests to see who can find the food item in the pantry with the oldest expiry date. It wasn't until I explained this to my wife decades later that I realized Mom was tricking us into cleaning the pantry.

[u/throwitallawayjohnny → u/Wajina_Sloth]

that is so cute honestly. moms are the best

[u/UMUmmd → u/Wajina_Sloth]

Are you.... my sibling? We didn't play it often, but I swear my mom did the same at some point.

[u/ballrus_walsack → u/UMUmmd]

Yeah — hey James!

[u/Kelihow2 → u/Wajina_Sloth]

My mom got tired of us hitting each other as well and her version of "love bug" was to say something nice about the person who called it.

We also did two others: a Cadillac Slap and a Sting 'Stang (in which we pinched each other for every Mustang we saw)

[u/Just_Standard_4763 → u/Kelihow2]

My friend would hit me with PT Cruiser Bruiser and slap a hoe Tahoe which I’m pretty sure she made up.

[u/fpcoffee → u/Wajina_Sloth]

Moooom this game is supposed to cause PAIN

[u/RosenButtons → u/Wajina_Sloth]

She's a genius and she should write a book.

[u/King-Snorky → u/VanMan32]

We saw a Herbie-themed Beetle parked next to a more modern red one just today, and my wife socked me in the arm before I could react.

[u/BabyThatsSubstantial → u/King-Snorky]

This is the way

[u/GyrKestrel → u/VanMan32]

It was definitely colloquial. I thought it was just Slugbug until I heard it called punch buggy on Simpsons. I always found things like this interesting, like soda vs pop.

[u/wissahickon_schist → u/VanMan32]

We had to say the color: “punch buggy blue no punchbacks!!”

[u/missheardjingle → u/wissahickon_schist]

we didnt say no punchbacks because the color claimed it. so 'punch buggy blue' meant that the blue one was mine.

[u/KonradWayne → u/missheardjingle]

Me and my friends didn't say no punchbacks, because we were gentlemen who understood the etiquette of the game.

First person to see it and call it out gets to punch someone in the arm. We live in a society.

[u/thecoocooman → u/wissahickon_schist]

This is so interesting. We had to say the color too, but the color always came first. “Blue punch buggy no punch backs”

[u/Wrybrarian → u/VanMan32]

My husband and I still do it and also call it "punch buggy." Along with "Whack-abego"(for RVs), and "Touchdown" (for yellow cars.) The RV one I think we made up but a 2nd grade student of mine taught me Touchdown.

[u/Keenan95 → u/Wrybrarian]

You forgot pt pinch for pt cruisers

[u/dogsnores → u/Keenan95]

We called it cruiser bruiser

[u/Longjumping-Bat3639 → u/Keenan95]

We called em cruiser bruisers!

[u/19yzrmn → u/Longjumping-Bat3639]

We yell PT Bruiser!! And always had SlugBug, no slugs back. I was a 70’s and 80’s kid.

[u/peacefultooter → u/Wrybrarian]

Whackabego lmaooo!!

[u/bighootay → u/Wrybrarian]

"Whack-abego"(for RVs), and "Touchdown" (for yellow cars.)

Well I'm gonna drive somewhere with someone just so I can try this new shit out!

[u/Ok_Nobody4967 → u/VanMan32]

My husband and I still play it!!

[u/marshmallowbrown → u/VanMan32]

Sounds like the 90s version of when life gives you lemons, punch someone in the arm.

[u/HeadMembership → u/VanMan32]

Ours was "punch buggy no returns" lol.

[u/Subconcious-Consumer → u/VanMan32]

I have so many other questions now… How the fuck did this get invented? and why have we not adopted another model of car to punch our loved ones over?

[u/Cute_Bandicoot2042 → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

How the fuck did this get invented?

Comes from a time before mobile phones or handheld video games. Kids had to entertain themselves on long roadtrips and the Beetle was a particularly distinctive car at the time.

[u/dhaunsperger → u/Cute_Bandicoot2042]

My kids do it with Teslas now. Pretty sure they picked it up at school rather than reinventing the punch buggy game themselves.

[u/AcaciaKait → u/dhaunsperger]

Aw this makes me feel so old but also so happy to know the proud tradition has been continued

[u/zuriel2089 → u/Cute_Bandicoot2042]

My dad used to have a version where there were a few different cars they'd do different things for, punch on the arm for a big, slap up the back of the head for a Gremlin, something else for a Pacer... I don't remember what. They had a system of "blocks" you could put up to protect yourself. It got complicated.

[u/LovesHyperbole → u/zuriel2089]

I had "PT Cruiser Bruiser" on top of slugbug after Cruisers came out. Weekend trips to the city could be pretty violent since everybody thought Cruisers were the newest cool car.

[u/another-new → u/LovesHyperbole]

I remember seeing a screenshot of a tweet a long time ago from a “pimp tight cruiser” owner. It went something like “Fellow owners of PT Cruisers: What unfortunate set of circumstances landed you behind the wheel of a PT Cruiser?”

They were awful cars. From appearance to mechanical and electrical problems. I never understood what people liked about them. The only car made in the last 20 years that had worse design was the early 2000’s Dodge Stratus. The battery was inside the fucking fender well. You had to take off the tire, and plastic mud guard to change, charge, or jump off your battery.

[u/OrganizationPublic91 → u/Cute_Bandicoot2042]

Now kids punch each other if they see a license plate from a different state

[u/RosenButtons → u/OrganizationPublic91]

Mercy Medical Group is a hospital conglomerate in my region. There's an urgent care on every block. The kids shout "MERCY" and punch each other in the arm every time somebody spots the logo.

[u/osunightfall → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

The road was boring as shit before smartphones and gameboy.

[u/sandysanBAR → u/osunightfall]

Invisible Ink game books say "shut your mouth!"

[u/yamatuner → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

It’s just a hard jab to the arm for most. Not straight up UFC to the face or anything.

[u/Subconcious-Consumer → u/yamatuner]

My mom had a punching technique she called “Frogging”.

No clue if that’s a thing, but to her it meant punching with a single knuckle outside of a fist.

She had other taglines she would use before punching like this as well, like saying she was “feeling froggy”.

Love that woman to death.

[u/LizzieBell07 → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

Frigging is also a thing. Your mom didn't make it up. But I love that you think she's made up all of these things! So cute. (I'm a mom who was a kid in the 90s)

[u/A1_Thick_and_Hearty → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

My mom did this when I was around 8. It's been 30 years and I still remember getting hit in the forehead! Frogging was a thing. Also, besides punch bug, if any car had a headlight out, that was a punch. It was called pididdle (yeah, I've never written that word out). And if it was night time and both headlights were off, it was a double pididdle with 2x punches.

[u/Legdrop_soup → u/A1_Thick_and_Hearty]

We used to have to tap the dash board twice when we saw a padiddle (I've never written that word out either. Weird.) We got good at jumping from the backseat and being able to beat the person in the front. The last one to hit the dashboard got punched in the arm by everyone else

[u/speedy_delivery → u/Legdrop_soup]

For my friends, punch bug involves hitting the other player. With pediddle it was the first person to punch the ceiling. Greater Pittsburgh area.

[u/King-Snorky → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

From some random site:

The VW Beetle arrived in steel in 1938 but it was born in 1934, when Adolf Hitler ‘asked’ Ferdinand Porsche to develop the ultimate ‘people’s car’ – literally a Volkswagen in German. One widely held rumour is that because the car was the chosen vehicle for members of the National Socialist Party, as a point of pride to show their loyalty, people turned spotting one in the street into something of a joke – a piece of dark humour for dark times. The other version of the game’s origin story comes from America, but has similar links to Nazi Germany. The story goes that Americans would react to seeing an ostensibly Nazi vehicle cruising the streets by punching their dearest friend – a weird response, it must be said. Most likely of all theories, though, is that the game was born from the vehicle’s unique appearance. The Beetle was, and still is, a one-of-a-kind piece of car design.

[u/Somethingpretty007 → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

My family does "yellow banana slap" when we see a yellow car/truck (buses and construction vehicles don't count).

The slap consists of doing a backhand then fronthand slap on someone's arm.

(Ontario Canada fyi)

[u/catlady9851 → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

I suspect it was an excuse for older siblings to punch younger siblings without reprisal. Similar to "who can hit the softest."

[u/bubblebumblejumble → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

Listen, punch who you want, I’ll give you a line

Hummer Humdinger

Honda Hoopsydaisy

Toyota Twister

Hyundai Haiya

[u/Material-Hedgehog-84 → u/bubblebumblejumble]

Cruiser Bruiser (PT Cruiser)

[u/BadBunnyBrigade → u/VanMan32]

Or "punch buggy no returns".

[u/Mountain-Permit-6193]

In the movie “Lilo and Stitch,” Stitch throws a blue VW bug and says “blue punch buggy”

[u/DreamedJewel58 → u/Mountain-Permit-6193]

There’s also a Simpsons gag where a school bus goes by a Volkswagen dealership and every kid gets off the bus with a sore arm

[u/Jaquesant → u/DreamedJewel58]

2 for flinching!

[u/jjdix → u/DreamedJewel58]

“Punch buggy taupe!”

[u/cinder-hella → u/Mountain-Permit-6193]

Yes! He says "blue punch buggy, no punch backs!" That if nothing else should show that it was very much a thing.

[u/DigiTrailz → u/cinder-hella]

Suprised, I had to scroll this far down. It shows it wasn't just a thing, but common enough to be used as a movie one liner.

To be fair, if I hit someone with a VW Bug, I'd probably use it, too.

[u/geoffreygoodman → u/Mountain-Permit-6193]

Volkswagen ran a commercial in 2010 featuring the game. With hilarious cameo from Stevie Wonder.

[u/suzazzz → u/geoffreygoodman]

Big smiles from watching that. But they punched on all VW’s. We only did beetles. OMG I’m remembering all the people I knew who had buses and things!

[u/doodynutz]

I can’t believe this is a serious question. I feel old af.

[u/Rollotommasi5 → u/doodynutz]

Seriously. Like people don’t still do that….? :(

[u/Pogo138 → u/Rollotommasi5]

Grew up in the 80s and I'm doing it with my two kids. Not as many bugs on the road anymore 😕

[u/BrotherChe → u/Pogo138]

I hear it's due to light and environmental pollution near cities, and collapsing ecosystems around the world.

Also, the Germans stopped making them.

[u/Obi-Wan-Nikobiii → u/BrotherChe]

And the South Africans, and the Brazilians, and the mexicans

[u/KnittedBanana → u/Rollotommasi5]

My teenage son's friend group does a similar game but it's based on yellow vehicles, not bugs. There is punching, and you have to yell out what you saw (yellow car, yellow truck, yellow van). There are extensive rules about what counts and what doesn't. School busses and semis never count, moving vans with corporate branding don't count (Ryder), but a moving van devoid of branding would count. A motorcycle counts only if it is predominantly yellow, pin striping or detailing isn't enough. Etc etc etc.

[u/ocular__patdown → u/Rollotommasi5]

Probably died out because there are only like 10 Volkswagen beetles left on the road.

[u/MonkeyTigerCrazy → u/doodynutz]

Don’t worry I’m 17 and my friends and I used to do this all the time

[u/RollingGoron → u/doodynutz]

I play this with my two young kids, so I’m keeping the game alive and passing it down to the next generation.

[u/scobos → u/doodynutz]

I can't believe OP equated it to child abuse.

[u/JRDoubleU_ → u/scobos]

OP forgot to mention. The Mom would take a surprise drive to the Volkswagen dealership whenever OP fell asleep in the car.

[u/okreddit545 → u/JRDoubleU_]

26-hit combo!

K.O.!!!

[u/Cute_Bandicoot2042]

Yep, 100%. We called it Slug Bug but some people called it Punchbuggy

[u/ShoulderPainCure → u/Cute_Bandicoot2042]

Yes, slug bug!

[u/BiffSlick → u/ShoulderPainCure]

Slug Bug in the 70s!

[u/RoleModelFailure → u/Cute_Bandicoot2042]

We called it slug bug too. Still play it with my wife.

[u/justaguy394 → u/Cute_Bandicoot2042]

Did everyone say the color too? We’d say “slug bug green” as we punched them.

[u/BanthaVoodoo → u/justaguy394]

If you dont call the color, you are open for attack

[u/GreenMonster34]

My two girls punch each other over yellow cars. One kept winning so they expanded to red and green cars too. (They've also forgot to punch lately, they're too excited at winning to remember to hurt their sister which is nice)

[u/gladgubbegbg → u/GreenMonster34]

We do that in Sweden too 😂 GUL BIL 👊

[u/dinmorsklasselaerer → u/gladgubbegbg]

Denmark too. It has been a thing for as long as I remeber.

Gul bil!

[u/tobiasvl → u/dinmorsklasselaerer]

Norway too, perhaps unsurprisingly

[u/Borkenstein_ → u/tobiasvl]

Finland partakes in this tradition as well

[u/IncreaseInVerbosity → u/Borkenstein_]

As does the UK

[u/VotFijoel → u/GreenMonster34]

Same! My kids yell "banana car" and punch each other (or me). This is in Australia btw.

[u/Quattro439 → u/VotFijoel]

Yeah we do Spotto in our family.

[u/1000Ditto → u/GreenMonster34]

Thr infamous Yellow Car Punch!

[u/BBGettyMcclanahan → u/GreenMonster34]

I remember being a kid that if you saw a yellow beetle you got like 5 punches lol

[u/justaguyintownnl]

Punch buggy Was in 1970’s & 1980’s When you saw a VW bug you hit the other player in the upper arm

[u/PerpetuallyLurking → u/justaguyintownnl]

“Other player”

ie: nearest sibling, hopefully not paying attention for best effect.

[u/CD84 → u/justaguyintownnl]

Even when they didn't know they were playing

[u/barlog123 → u/CD84]

You're always playing. It's not optional

[u/Buzz_Buzz_Buzz_ → u/barlog123]

Thanks, I just lost the other game with the same rule. Dammit.

[u/You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog]

This is still a thing. We did it my whole childhood in the early 2000s. I’ve heard that what you say changes from place to place. Most say Punch Bug or Punch Buggie.

[u/oriundiSP → u/You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog]

In Brazil, we only do it if it's a blue Volkswagen Beetle. We say "FUSCA AZUL!!" (meaning, blue Beetle) and then punch them

[u/pingwing → u/oriundiSP]

I grew up in the US northeast and we always had to call out the color too. "Punchbuggy green!"

[u/rebel-fist → u/pingwing]

Same! And if you don’t tag on “no punch back” you’re eligible to be punched back.

[u/atreethatownsitself → u/rebel-fist]

No punch back, but I have questions about your flair

[u/emspendilicious → u/rebel-fist]

In Australia we would say "no returns!" and some people followed the colour rule

[u/thatguyned → u/emspendilicious]

When I was young it was "PUNCHBUGGY BLUE 123!" and if they could spot the car you saw before you finished your sentence they got to hit you back.

Perth rules are best rules bby

[u/mantisek_pr → u/You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog]

We called it Slug Bug

[u/Zanki → u/You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog]

My boyfriends niece and nephew were playing it without hitting each other a few weeks back when we took them out. We're in the uk and I was shocked they knew the game and kept their hands to themselves.

[u/thisdckaintFREEEE → u/You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog]

We said punch buggy. I'm from Virginia, grew up in the 90s.

[u/moondog8]

My dad owned a VW repair shop. I remember whenever we’d pull up there would be 10-20 of those bugs and my brother would wreck my shit

[u/Resoto10]

We even had this in Mexico too. Could have been simply because it was a border city but used to pinch and say "1, 2, 3 pulguita..." and then the color of the bug.

EDIT: This post brought me inadvertent happiness by all the comments sharing their experiences.

[u/Llodsliat → u/Resoto10]

For me it was just the "bocho amarillo" at first; but then my cousins and I changed it so if the beetle matches your clothes, you're getting punched. Of course, if you noticed the beetle first, you could save yourself.

[u/Subconcious-Consumer → u/Resoto10]

Damn, I would have never thought this shit was international.

[u/SpeedwagonOverheaven → u/Subconcious-Consumer]

Here in Brazil we have this too. But only if its a white bug (or "fusca", how we call them here).

[u/sirnaull → u/SpeedwagonOverheaven]

Up here (eastern Canada), yellow ones were worth 3 punches.

[u/NickConnor365]

Slugbug where I come from.

[u/climb-it-ographer → u/NickConnor365]

You had to call the color too-- Slugbug, blue! *punch*

[u/TheWardenDemonreach]

Simpsons did it, so that should tell you it was a very real thing

[u/Low_Inside_4787]

Punch Bug!! We also played it at night when a vehicle had a headlight out and we said “Pa-diddle” and still punched.

[u/SgtSloth → u/Low_Inside_4787]

Our headlight one was "perdiddle" and we hit the dash and the roof with our hands in a pattern.

And the slugbug was slugbug. This was in Wyoming. VERY small town. We kind of had to do our own take I guess cuz we didn't have much contact with the world at large.

[u/potatohead46 → u/SgtSloth]

We perdiddle in Indiana as well. Not much here either lol

[u/Low_Inside_4787 → u/Low_Inside_4787]

I’m in Appalachia so I bet that contributes to the pa- instead of per-

[u/thatoneguy54 → u/Low_Inside_4787]

We did pediddle, but we didn't punch, we played that the last person to touch the roof had to take off an article of clothing.

[u/too105]

This reminded me of a wholesome story that I haven’t though about in about 30 years. My best friend who was my also neighbor would always get my mom and grandma with a “punch buggy, no punch backs” whenever we would see a bug, as they were pretty common in the 1990s. After a couple years of these childhood antics, mom and grandma concocted a plan to exact their revenge. It started by then taking us to Chuck E. Cheese. First they had us burn off our energy by giving us each a $10 roll of quarters for the games.They then got us doped up on pizza and soda. The second part of their plan was the most sinister. They gave us coloring books and markers for the drive home so we were thoroughly distracted. Then came the moment of revenge… all of a sudden my friend and I were jolted by a flurry of punches and a cacophony of women yelling every color imaginable… the pummeling only lasted a minute but the trauma left us reeling and in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Turns out, they had used the ploy of taking us to Chuck E. Cheese and an innocent excuse to drive out of town… and one the way back stopped in a Volkswagen salvage yard that had hundreds of beetles. They revenge was perfect in its planning and execution. Such a beautiful thing when your mom and grandma conspire to such lengths to exact vengeance. Haven’t thought about that one in a while. Miss ya mom

[u/beachmasterbogeynut]

Fucxing yes. Punch buggy no punch backs!!

[u/Bunkydoodle28]

My parents still play this without the hitting. They are both 81. Regret teaching them in the 80's as a tween. Walking down a street in Costa Rica and having your geriatric papa yelling punch buggy is embarassing but I am so glad we all have silly fun together.

[u/beans12312341234]

Lol holy shit I’m old.

“Punch buggy no punch back”

[u/gholmom500]

Wait- Did people STOP playing it?

I think I slugbugged my teen yesterday!!

[u/rose77019]

Yep! Yellow Slug bug, no punch back….. and then you would punch your brother or sister, as hard as you possibly could in the arm….

[u/xBloodBender]

We had Slugbug for bugs, and Woodchuck for those station wagons with wood panels. Both involved getting punched in the arm

[u/stockbreak → u/xBloodBender]

Came to the comments specifically to see if anyone mentioned Woodchuck!

[u/songinheart17]

Punch buggy (fill in colour), no punch backs. Of course you still punched back.

[u/lapsteelguitar]

It pre-dated the 90s by about 3 decades. VW resurrected it for one of their ads.

[u/jsandrin]

I grew up in Brazil, so there were a lot (and there still are) VW Bugs, so we only punched when seeing a blue one.

[u/Meowskiiii]

In Northern England we had similar except it was for yellow cars (we'd shout "yellow car"). It was also just between us kids though.

[u/Silver-Difficulty-13]

In the UK we punch each other if we see a Mini. My grandkids still do it now. It's fine until there are several. Mini punch

[u/reverse_mango → u/Silver-Difficulty-13]

Also in the UK. There are so many Minis on the road! My siblings and I have always punched when we see a yellow car, any yellow car. Then we argue when we see a gold car.

[u/Marty5020]

We still play that with my daughter and wife. And we're from South America. New Beetles and Kombis also apply.

[u/TransSlutUK]

We had Mini Punch! Where the first person to see the mini punched someone. Made car journeys fun

[u/ProbablySlacking]

Was? Still is.

[u/RepresentativeBusy27]

Not gonna lie I thought this was about Street Fighter 2

[u/Bob-s_Leviathan → u/RepresentativeBusy27]

“I thought I was supposed to fight E. Honda?”

“You’re not fighting E. Honda. You’re fighting a Honda.”

[u/NaxieBoo]

My older sibling and I both grew up in the 2000s and did this! Annoyed the shit out of my dad. We did so often and had so many fights over it that when we moved in '08, before we left for the 13+ hour trip, he turned around and told us that punch buggy was OVER and if we did it he would pull the car over and spank our butts right on the side of the freeway. We never did it again.

[u/Crafty-Preference570]

My brothers and I were playing this game by at least the early 80s, possibly the late 70s.

[u/Spiritual-Pear-1349]

Punch Buggy for VW Beetle. Kicking for convertables. Punch for Yellow. Punch for PT cruisers were the worst; "P.T. CRUISE-R GOT TO BE A BRUISE-R" with a punch for every syllable.

But a parent doing that to their kid? Thats not alright.

[u/Mythical_Atlacatl]

Punch buggy no returns!

[u/idkifyousayso]

My son did this yesterday.

[u/ATHFFrylock]

Yes! We did it with slug bugs and PT cruisers.

My mom fucking SLUGGED me in the leg when I was 7, with a ring on, thinking her boyfriend was in the backseat where I was sitting. I remember that shit like it was yesterday lol