History YMMV / Cars1

*** KACHIGGA![[note]]Chick Hicks' CatchPhrase, often done in response to the above. Due to its [[UnfortunateImplications resemblance to a certain racial slur]] (though it's most likely actually spelled "Ka-chick-a"), some people also claim he's saying the car equivalent of the N-word.[[/note]]

** The Dinoco 400 ends in a three-wide and three-way tie between Lightning, the King, and Chick Hicks. In 2024, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Ambetter_Health_400 Ambetter Health 400]] at Atlanta ended in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VNs__2PFG4 a three-wide photo finish]] very reminiscent to the Dinoco 400, with a margin of victory of 0.007 seconds separating race winner Daniel Suárez from third place Kyle Busch.
** With its California location, bowl shape, "torch", and Roman coliseum inspired architecture, the racetrack for the tie-breaker race is clearly based on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, only as a racetrack. From 2022 to 2024, NASCAR's pre-season exhibition race, the Busch Light Clash, was held in the actual Coliseum.

** "What the fuck is Chick Hicks doing at [insert some random, most likely unfortunate, historic event]?"[[labelnote:Explanation]][[RuleofFunny For whatever reason]], People took to photoshopping Chick Hicks into pictures of historic events, often combining it with BlackComedy (like the assasination of Julius Caesar, a rally in Nazi Germany, or [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the 2006 Piston Cup tie-breaker race from the film]])[[/labelnote]]

** With its California location, bowl shape, "torch", and Roman coliseum inspired architecture, the racetrack for the tie-breaker race is clearly based on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, only as a racetrack. In 2022 Nascar would actually host an event, the Busch Light Clash, at the actual Coliseum.

** In the Norwegian dub, during the credits scene where Mack complains about the using of the same voice actors has been repurposed a little. Since none of John Ratzenberger's characters have the same voice actor in the Norwegian dub, but [[Franchise/ToyStory Woody]] and [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Mike]] do, the Norwegian Mack instead complains that those characters have the same voice actor.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: Yes, [=McQueen=] is still an arrogant jerkwad that destroyed the road at this point, but he did it completely unintentionally and was lost, panicked and confused when he destroyed it. Having lost his ride, gotten lost in an unfamiliar location trying to catch up, and then gets chased by a cop who he thinks is shooting at him, and then he gets forced to fix the road without ever getting a chance to explain himself, with any attempt made afterwards getting immediately shot down by the other characters. And then there's the whole fan theory about him developing UsefulNotes/StockholmSyndrome during his forced stay.

*** KACHIGGA![[note]]Chick Hicks' CatchPhrase, often done in response to the above.[[/note]]

** Lightning [=McGroomer=][[labelnote:Explanation]]In 2023, [[https://www.tiktok.com/@superduperwafflez/video/7266102137317264682 a Cars voice-over]] done by [=TikTok=] user [=SuperDuperWafflez=] was released, depicting Lightning as a... Well, groomer, with Harv ''screaming'' his lungs out in outrage over the news. The video went extremely viral due to the sheer [[CrossesTheLineTwice offensive]], [[RefugeInAudacity absurd, and humorous audacity]] of the idea of [[MemeticMolester Lightning being a groomer]], and talks about Lightning [=McQueen=] online now tend to lead into references to this video, with subsequent sequels to the video also going quite viral.[[/labelnote]]
*** "Maybe because of your obsession with '''''MIDDLE SCHOOLERS!!!!!'''''"[[labelnote:Explanation]]Harv's statement to Lightning in said video, which has grown equally as viral due to the hilariously intense and over the top delivery.[[/labelnote]]

** While on Schumacher's racing, in the last race the title can go to either a rising newcomer, the defending champion and the eternal runner-up, with the last one taking it. It's either the 2006 Piston Cup ([=McQueen=], The King and Hicks) or the 2007 Usefulnotes/FormulaOne championship (Creator/LewisHamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen).

* NarmCharm: The film's {{Aesop}} of "Life's about the journey, not the destination" might be an obvious, almost eye-rolling, message especially given the unsublte connection to the film's premise (a world made of sentient vehicles). But it's one so heartwarming that even some of the film's detractors legitimately seem to like it.

** During the chase scene between [=McQueen=] and Sheriff, [=McQueen=] starts zigzagging because he thinks Sheriff is shooting at him (he's actually backfiring), to which Sheriff responds by calling him a crazy hot rodder. In the Spanish dub, he wonders if [=McQueen=]'s a taxi cab, which is arguably funnier than the generic hot rodder line.
** In the Norwegian dub, during the credits scene where Mack complains about the using of the same voice actors has been repurposed a little. Since none of John Ratzenberger's characters have the same voice actor in the Norwegian dub, but [[Franchise/ToyStory Woody]] and [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Mike]] do, the Norwegian Mack instead complain that those characters have the same voice actor.

** "FREEDOM!"[[note]]Lightning when he tries to escape from Radiator Springs after Mater takes off his parking boot, which gained hilarity for life situations like toxic relationships, work environment, college, etc.[[/note]]

* UnintentionallySympathetic: Yes, [=McQueen=] is still an arrogant jerkwad that destroyed the road at this point, but he did it completely unintentionally and was lost, panicked and confused when he destroyed it. Having lost his ride, gotten lost in an unfamiliar location trying to catch up, and then gets chased by a cop who he thinks is shooting at him, and then he gets forced to fix the road without ever getting a chance to explain himself, with any attempt made afterwards getting immediately shot down by the other characters. And then there’s the whole fan theory about him developing StockholmSyndrome during his forced stay.

* ClicheStorm: Many critics write off this film as one of these. They point out things like the stranger in a QuirkyTown, a brooding moment from one of the side characters, [[StraightManAndWiseGuy the wacky sidekick who forms a comedic duo with the main character]], etc. Then at the end, the town change their mind and want him back in the group, with the stranger accepting their friendship.

* ClicheStorm: Many critics write off this film as one of these. They point out things like the stranger in a QuirkyTown, a brooding moment from one of the side characters, [[StraightManAndWiseGuy the wacky sidekick who forms a comedic duo with the main character]], and the PlotMandatedFriendshipFailure with the whole town. Then at the end, the town change their mind and want him back in the group, with the stranger accepting their friendship.

** The main character Lightning [=McQueen=]. While Lightning being an unlikable {{Jerkass}} at the start of the film is 100% intentional, viewers are divided on how compelling or believable Lighting’s CharacterDevelopment is, and if it’s enough to make up for how he acted for the first half of the film. Kids however...they don't care. They love him in part because of said [=jerkass=] attitude.

** Guido's super-fast pit stop.[[labelnote:Explanation]]The stop, which a [=YouTube video=] comparing it to that of UsefulNotes/FormulaOne's fastest clocked at 2.82 seconds, is needlessly and endlessly compared to other pit stops in other real-life racing series.[[/labelnote]]

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdimnI4Xtc0&ab_channel=SherylCrow-Topic "Real Gone"]] by Music/SherylCrow is an upbeat, catchy track that sums up the aesop of the movie.

** The main character Lightning [=McQueen=]. While Lightning being an unlikable {{Jerkass}} at the start of the film is 100% intentional, viewers are divided on how compelling or believable Lighting’s CharacterDevelopment is, and if it’s enough to make up for how he acted for the first half of the film.

** The main character Lightning [=McQueen=]. While Lightning being an unlikable {{Jerkass}} at the start of the film is 100% intentional viewers are divided on how compelling or believable Lighting’s CharacterDevelopment is, and if it’s enough to make up for how he acted for the first half of the film.

** The main character Lightning [[=McQueen=]]. While Lightning being an unlikable {{Jerkass}} at the start of the film is 100% intentional viewers are divided on how compelling or believable Lighting’s CharacterDevelopment is, and if it’s enough to make up for how he acted for the first half of the film.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Mater, mostly due to all the adlibbing from Creator/LarryTheCableGuy. While most will agree that the character works best in small doses, people are split between those who find him to be hilarious, and those who find him obnoxious and painful to listen to. He would only grow more divisive in ''WesternAnimation/Cars2'', where he was made the main focus of the film.

* NarmCharm: The film's {{Aesop}} of "Life's about the journey, not the destination" might be an obvious, almost eye-rolling, message especially given the unsublte connection to the film's premise(a world made of sentient vehicles). But its one so heartwarming that even some of the film's detractors legitimately seem to like it.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Some have theorised that Lightning developed StockholmSyndrome during his forced stay in Radiator Springs: lost, confused, not allowed to speak to a lawyer or try to call anyone, locked up and forced into heavy labor until he ends up screaming for help from a passing pair of minivans before his view of Radiator Springs and its inhabitants does an abrupt 180.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Mater, mostly due to all the adlibbing from Creator/LarryTheCableGuy. While most will agree that the character works best in doses, people are split between those who find him to be hilarious, and those who find him obnoxious and painful to listen to. He would only grow more divisive in ''WesternAnimation/Cars2'', where he was made the main focus of the film.