The modern “Slug Bug,” where you would punch a passenger when you saw a VW Beetle, is “Thumbs Down a Tesla Cybertruck.” An ugly vehicle deserves an ugly gesture. Not as ugly as the gesture Elon threw up, but maybe he was just heiling a Tesla Taxi.
The Rules#
Slug Bug was simple. You saw a Volkswagen Beetle, you yelled “Slug Bug!” and punched the nearest sibling in the arm. Some families added a “no punch-backs” rule. Others added colors for extra points. Every long car trip in the ’90s had at least one bruise from it.
Thumbs Down a Tesla Cybertruck is the gentler, updated version:
- Spot a Cybertruck, give it a thumbs down. No punching required.
- First one to call it gets the point.
- Bonus point if it’s one of those with a vinyl wrap, because the owner already knew the stainless steel wasn’t working.
- Double bonus if you spot one on the back of a tow truck.
It’s a great game for road trips. You don’t see many Cybertrucks out on rural Midwest highways, so the points are hard-earned. Get near a big city and the scores start climbing.
Why the Cybertruck?#
I drive an EV, and I’ve had one since 2023. I’m not anti-electric, and I’m not anti-truck. But the Cybertruck has become a rolling symbol of hype over practicality.
It was unveiled in 2019 with the famous “unbreakable” armor glass demo where the window broke on stage. Deliveries didn’t start until late 2023, years behind schedule and at a much higher price than first promised. Since then, it’s had a long list of recalls. In 2024, Tesla recalled nearly 3,900 trucks because the accelerator pedal pad could come loose and get stuck under the trim. In 2025, it recalled more than 46,000, nearly all of the ones on the road at the time, because a stainless-steel exterior panel held on with adhesive could come off while driving (Boston Globe). There have been others too, for things like the windshield wiper and the drive inverter.
A truck is supposed to be the most practical thing in the driveway. You haul stuff with it, you tow with it, and it lasts. When the exterior panels need a recall to stay attached, that’s not a truck. That’s a sculpture with a payment plan.
A Little Friendly Advice#
If you’re shopping for an electric truck, you have options now. Ford, Chevy, Rivian, and others all make electric pickups that look like trucks and act like trucks. Test-drive a few, look at real-world winter range, and check what charging is available along the routes you actually drive.
And if you already own a Cybertruck, no hard feelings. Just know that every thumbs down you get on the highway is all in good fun. Mostly.
