The Volkswagen Routan: Minivan of Choice For Emerging Serial Killers
By James Brady RyanJune 7th, 2010, 1:30 pmComments (11)Somehow, I only sort of knew about the game Punch Buggy before Volkswagen started using a variation of it for a new ad campaign, in which people see a VW and punch each other in the arm saying "Blue one!" or "Yellow one!" or what have you. They seemed cute enough, I thought. That is until this weekend, when I saw this one:
Yeah, I hope you enjoyed your little ride around the block, Charles Manson and family. Seriously, what kind of person thinks that quality family time means literally spreading violence among your neighborhood for your own enjoyment? What kind of person thinks, "Aw, look how little Timmy's eyes lit up when that pregnant lady punched a stranger!" The future leader of a murder cult, that's who.
And the kids loved watching these people hit each other so much, they want to do it again. Oh, you crazy kids, with your insatiable lust for violence! I give it ten years before this family is cruising around in their Routan, looking for local animals to torture and trying to get neighbors to stab each other.
Commentarium (11 Comments)
In these commercials, I never see a guy hitting a girl.
Oh my god! It is the music of www.mylazysundays.com !
I'd be more concerned with daddy than the kids, but who knows that they'll be when they grow up. I think Volkswagen should go back to the drawing board with this one. Some of those punches are pretty strong. Are we going to get another kick Ginger campaign?
The real problem is the VW Routan is that it is a Dodge Caravan in disguise. Brand-engineering is the kiss of death.
If anyone punches my arm for seeing any VW except an original Beetle, there will be serious consequences
I would never think to punch anyone if I saw that. It looks nothing like the bugs I once knew and loved.
The point of punch-buggy is that the Beetle and New Beetle have such a distinctive look you can pick them out easily. This thing looks like every other minivan in the world.
Also, don't co-opt the theme from the Andy Griffith Show, Sheriff Andy is way too classy for this sort of thing. Only one thing to do about this punching campaign: you've got to nip it in the bud. Nip. It. In. The. Bud.
I think we are over thinking this one.
But I TOTALLY agree with Hooksexupsystem! When I was a kid we could punch someone twice if it wasn't a beetle!
Thank you for scourging this POS ad. It's been driving me insane for weeks.
tactics work. it's advertising, don't think too hard about it.
Geezus people lighten up! Its supposed to be funny.