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
Stuffed cats for Mazda Meowtas?
Mice on Fiat Topolinos?
My wife keeps some rubber ducks in her Fiat 500 which I joke identifies as a Jeep, an image reinforced by branch scratches from Klamath Marsh.
One slightly obscure one would be the Eaton Devil Duck on trucks with Eaton Fuller Transmissions. Since the Devil Duck is from the computer power side this may be a non-intersecting set
A cd-rom containing vaporware trials that can only be played in your Faraday Future ff91
For some 2010-2019 Hyundais, a quart of oil on the dashboard would suffice
I have had a Wrangler for over a decade, on my second one. I only kept one duck, an orange one to go with my orange Wrangler. Gave it away when I sold that Jeep. In my current Wrangler I don’t have any, just give them away if someone gives them to me. Not my thing. Same with writing the name owners give their Wranglers on the side of the hood, where Rubicon models have it.
Honestly, I’m happy if people enjoy their rides. What should happen, really. But I don’t want to stand out that much. The only stickers I have on my Jeep are to help me find it in a parking lot. Tons of black, hardtop 4 door Jeeps out there. Only one with an Everton sticker on the back window, which helps because pretty much nobody around here knows what the hell Everton is.
I’ve seen the ducking thing on just about every car make/model, so the ducking thing is pretty played out. The duck has jumped the shark.
If you see a Camry without a dent in the rear bumper, you know what you need to do.
Oh and for Escalades it depends on its life stage. Once it gets to the 4th owner on down you can break a window and add a new disgusting stain to the interior.
Altima with copious application of duct tape.
Leaving a roll of duct tape for Altima owners is actually pretty ingenious. Even if they don’t need it right away, they probably will eventually.
Escalades should have never been let out of the fire swamp.
My name is 6.2 EcoTec. Nothing could kill my father. I prepare to die.
A bag of prunes on a Buick.
How about a quart of 0W-40 for anything with the 6.2L.
Corvette drivers and golf balls?
I’ve heard of some Subaru people trying to make moo moo Subaru a thing.
The El Camino. But you’d have to find a duck-like figurine with a mullet. 🙂
I proudly have a “3” on my Crosstrek. I think the BRZ was 4 or 5, I forget.
I wish the Great Gazoo was more relevant to current times, I wouldn’t mind a few on the GR-C.
Suction cup dildos on cybertrucks
For the Cybertruck, I was thinking something more like these.
Choking on hot coffee does wonders for the sinuses, so thanks for that!
I propose a small 2″ high samurai for the Mitsubishi Outlander.
Unlike the Jeep ducks which have become oversaturated and silly, now found littering the curb drains and culverts across America, the Samurai would represent Mitsubishi and its “Made in Japan” quality heritage.
Not a Dutch company posing as an American one.
Subaru owners are trying to push Moo-baru but I don’t know why they didn’t pick a dog
I assumed a flannel shirt would be the default.
They got a couple of those too lol
I hate to say it, but I understand some Mavericks have been adorned with a Goose. (see: Top Gun movie if you don’t get it).
If I ever find one on my dash, I’d be “what the hell are you doing touching my truck?” and then I’d run over it just for spite 🙂
I dunno man, with everything going on in the world, a little whimsy goes a long way.
Okay with Whimsy, just not a fan of messing with someone’s’ vehicle when their not there, but perhaps my problem with the goose is I think the Top Gun movies suck :).
Glad that I am not the only one that hated those movies. Thank you!
FFS my high school senior prom theme was “You lost that loving feeling” because of the first top gun movie.
I was on an aircraft carrier 87-91 and have PTSD from the original movie. We were forced to watch it every deployment, and I knew a few that transferred on that were part of the filming. They said everyone hated Cruise.
Anything rotary powered should have a single Dorito chip left on it.
Fun, topical, AND environmentally friendly!
I drive a wrangler. I have a few ducks, none! on my dash. I would not duck another jeep make. It is harmless community fun.
I thought Alien green Kia Soul drivers should have been doing something.
None. Stop using plastic so carelessly. And don’t leave crap on someone else’s car. Ever.
The whole “toy on the dashboard” thing escapes me, however I will admit that I absolutely try my best to give a :Miata “Wave” anytime I see another Miata heading my way.
The wave in an NA Miata is to quickly hit the manual headlight flip up UP button on the dash twice, and give the oncoming Miata a “hello” wink. NA Miatas have very those fantastic fast flip up hidden headlights.
Only works in the daytime though, but it’s quite satisfying when you give and get at the same time (take your mind out of the gutter now, or not).
I have a plush baby seal on the dashboard of all of my vehicles.
A girlfriend gifted me one randomly, for no discernable reason. I just stuck it on my dashboard, and the tradition started. When I owned more than one car, I bought more seals so every car had one.
I joke that they’re the “seal of approval”, but I’ve been doing this for 20 years. It feels like I’ll get in a wreck if I stop doing it.
Dear God, this is how superstitions start, isn’t it?
Very cool.
Some too many years ago I was on an epic road trip from TN to Laguna-Seca in a Miata (towing a micro trailer and camping gear) .
We took a good part of in on and off Route 66. At the first rt 66 truck stop/gift shop I picked up some of those big black black fuzzy dice. They stayed hanging off the mirror the rest of the entire trip except during the track runs.
I still have them and they’ve become a Miata road trip tradition.
Bike Snob had the “Seal of Disapproval” so I suppose everything needs a corollary.
I started this in 2005! Looks like he started in 2007. #First #FuckImOld
I don’t know what you’re talking about, items 2-5 on the second row communicate this perfectly.
Tesla Cybertruck – 3D printed Dumpsters — On Fire.
We were in Manhattan recently, near Bryant park. A dumpster actually did catch on fire. MULTIPLE people in the crowd commented that the dumpster was probably a Cybertruck. Hilarious.
Maybe instead of ducks, people can leave used diapers and other trash on them?
The curmudgeon in me says, “Don’t you fucking touch my car. Me driving a Jeep (if I drove a Jeep) doesn’t give you permission to do anything.”
Someone – clearly someone not cognizant of who builds what – put a duck on the driver’s side mirror of my RAV. In addition to annoyed at the intrusion on my privacy, I was annoyed at the apparent cluelessness that runs rampant anymore. I blame AI.
Knowing that there are people not smart enough to tell a gymbro Camry from an actual Cherokee, I don’t want to expand the range of uninvited interactions that people feel entitled to thrust upon me. I get enough of humans already, I don’t want more.
People were stunningly stupid long before AI.
Ford Bronco – My Little Pony
The Bronies would approve.
This is great, actually.
MLP was something my daughter watched when she was the right age. Not the 80s version, which is meh. MLP goes hard. Especially the musical numbers.
And Discord is my favorite character