What Cars Deserve Their Own Version Of ‘Jeep Ducking,’ And What Would It Be?

In many ways, The Autopian is people first and a website a distant second. It’s great when something can transcend its physical or digital self and become a true community. Cars can have their own communities as well, as evidenced by the many clubs and meets devoted to a single brand or even model.

The most ardent devotees of a car community may even acknowledge each other on the road. It may be as simple as motorists waving to those in similar cars as they pass – legend has it, owners of the infamously unreliable NSU Ro 80 would wave to each other using whatever number of fingers represented how many times they’d had to replace their 80’s rotary engine.

Today, Jeep “ducking” is likely the best-known and most unconventional signal of appreciation between tribe members. The practice reportedly began back in 2020 when a Canadian woman put a small rubber duck on someone’s Wrangler with a “nice Jeep” note attached. As she was a Canadian, she was likely trying to apologize profusely for parking an inch too close.

Some claim that ducking was inspired by the hill descent button on Jeep dashboards looking like a duck, but I don’t know if that explanation holds water. Either way, “Jeep” and “rubber duck” are rather synonymous now.

“Ducking” was initially a Wrangler thing, but has since spread to other Jeep products, a move that has apparently caused friction within the community for those who feel some badge-engineered Fiat isn’t worthy of rubber toys in the windshield.

Copycat brands have tried to emulate “Jeep Ducking” – see “Yoda Yoda Toyota” or “buck buck Bronco” – but few have caught on; it’s not really something you can force. Subaru has attempted it with a Badge of Ownership that declares how many Subarus you’ve had and what comprises your “lifestyle.”

There are a whole bunch of possible “lifestyles” for you to choose from, but if you’re a work-at-home accountant who’s a serial killer in your spare time, it appears you’re out of luck with the badge options:

I thought of another possible “ducking” opportunity the other day. In the pickup line at our kid’s school, a number of parents drive Cadillac Escalades, and it occurred to me that the front end of one of the world’s largest SUVs bears an uncanny resemblance to the world’s largest rodent: the Capybara. Seriously, look at a stuffed facsimile of one of these things compared to the big Caddy, and I think you’ll agree:

Maybe Escalade Moms will choose to “cappy” their dashboards with tiny plastic Capybaras in a truly disgusting new trend. They’d even add another “R” in the names as a tribute to the leader of GM.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring us back to the Autopian community, of which you are a member simply by virtue of enjoying the site. But if you’d like to become a (capital M) Member, you’ll be able to let road-goers know you’re part of the Autopian gang with a bumper sticker (Vinyl tier) or a snazzy metal grille badge (Velour tier). You can join right here!

Now it’s your turn. What other cars deserve a “ducking” trend?’ What cars do you think will – or should – be the victim of the next viral dashboard zoo or bumper sticker badge fad?

Top graphic image: Stellantis “At The Wheel” blog