An Open Letter to Volkswagen

Dear Volkswagen,


Let me start off by saying we are fans.  Love your cars and have only had great experiences with them.  My husband drives his second one now, in fact.  (Side note, it's not always a great idea to let 7- and 5-year-old boys pick your car color, it will be Lightning McQueen red.)

And as much as I love your cars, I also have loved your marketing.  As anyone who works in marketing knows, you guys have long been considered pioneers.  From the Lemon ad on, you have been advertising geniuses.

But remember those little boys I told you about?  The ones who picked their Dad's car color?

They are 7- and nearly-9-years old now.  And they think you are marketing geniuses, too.  They also appreciate that you have given them a reason to punch each other constantly while we drive.

I grew up in Minnesota.  Maybe it's that whole Minnesota Nice thing, but we grew up playing "Slug Bug."  You only got to punch someone if it was a Beetle.  And that I could handle.

But, according to your web site, just last month, you sold more than 21,000 units.  So I can only image that means there are hundreds of thousands of Volkswagens out there on the road.  

And now the game (for me, at least) has changed?  Now we are supposed to punch someone each and every time we see a VW?  And how do you handle it when you are driving in one?  Constant, non-stop pelting?

Oh, did I mention I have a 2-year-old, too?  And that he thinks his brothers hitting each other is a riot.  But doesn't get that it's about cars.  So just just walks up to them now, in the house, and says "Boo One!" and socks them.

I love you guys.  But you're making this "Don't hit your brother" thing a real challenge.

Thanks,

A Mom of Three Boys (who have bruised arms)