Tropes about cars, trucks, buses, and their drivers. Whether it's for a ChaseScene, illegal underground racing, or buying one at HonestJohnsDealership, be sure to buckle up for these tropes.
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!!Tropes:
[[index]]
* AbsurdlyLongLimousine: A stretch limousine is shown to be far longer than humanly possible.
* AccidentalPassenger: A person or object accidentally boards a vehicle, which then moves.
* AlcoholIsGasoline: Using grain alcohol as a substitute for gasoline.
* TheAllegedCar: The car is in such disrepair that it can barely function as a car.
* AmphibiousAutomobile: A car that can drive on or in water.
* AreYouSureYouCanDriveThisThing: An inexperienced driver is forced to pilot a vehicle, often one with which they are completely unfamiliar.
* ArmedBlag: A crime involves robbing an armored vehicle.
* ArtisticLicenseCars: Liberties in how cars are presented in fiction.
* AutoErotica: Having sex in or on a car.
* AutomatedAutomobiles: The car drives itself, and/or may have other advanced automated features.
* AutomobileOpening: A piece of media opens with a car driving past various locations.
* AutomobilesAreAlien: Non-humans perceive cars as incomprehensible and may even believe them to be living creatures.
* AwkwardStoplightMoment: When a car stops, a second driver can see the driver in an embarrassing or awkward moment.
* BackseatChangingRoom: Changing in the backseat.
* BackseatDriver: A passenger constantly gives driving instructions to the driver.
* BadassBiker: Bikers are presented as the epitome of cool.
* BadassDriver: A driver can do impossible stunts when behind the wheel.
* BananaInTheTailpipe: A banana is placed in a car's tailpipe to prank the owner or disable the vehicle.
* BigBadassRig: A big rig is depicted as cool and well-equipped.
* BigHonkingTrafficJam
* BlindDriving: A person who can't see drives a car.
* BottomlessFuelTanks
* BrakeAngrily: Stamping on the brakes in a moment of anger.
* BurningRubber: A car goes fast enough to leave trails of fire behind.
* CarChaseShootOut
* CarFu
* CarHoodSliding
* CarloadOfCoolKids
* CarMeetsHouse
* CarPorn
* CarRadioDispute: Fighting over who gets to choose the music in a car.
* CarRideGames
* CarSkiing
* CarSong
* CarsWithoutTiresAreTrains: With its tires removed, a car can drive on train tracks with its rims.
* ChaoticCarRide
* ChronicallyCrashedCar
* ConstructionVehicleRampage
* ConvenientlyEmptyRoads: The roads are completely empty when it suits the plot, even in places where there should be traffic.
* CoolBike
* CoolCar
* CoolSidecar
* CreepyStalkerVan
* CupHolders
* DancingOnABus: A choreographed song sequence that takes place in a moving vehicle.
* DangerTakesABackseat: A character realizes too late that an intruder is present in their car.
* DangerousKeyFumble: A character fumbles with their keys at a critical moment when trying to open or start a car.
* DeadlyRemoteControlToy
* DeadManHonking: A deceased person falls forward onto their car horn, causing it to honk incessantly.
* DeathByAmbulance
* TheDinnermobile: A vehicle shaped like an item of food.
* DisposableVehicleSection: A vehicle can discard a damaged section and function as a smaller vehicle.
* DoesNotDrive
* TheDriver
* DriverFacesPassenger: The driver of a car faces the passenger while conversing and does not look at the road.
* DriverOfABlackCab: A cab driver, particularly in England, freely expresses his opinions on society while driving a fare.
* DrivesLikeCrazy
* DrivingADesk: Characters are show in a fake car with the passing scenery projected around them.
* DrivingIntoATruck
* DrivingSong
* DrivingStick
* DrivingTest
* DrivingTestSmashers
* DrivingUpAWall
* EmergencyCargoDump
* EmergencyRefuelling
* EmergencyTaxi
* EnormousEngine
* EveryCarIsAPinto: A vehicle immediately bursts into flames no matter how minimal the damage.
* ExternalCombustion
* FailingATaxi: Taxis don't stop for a character.
* FakingEngineTrouble
* FanserviceCarWash: Attractive attendants handwash a car, allowing them to be shown wet, soapy, and scantily dressed.
* {{Fauxrrari}}: A fake model of vehicle meant to represent a prestigious car without using its brand name, with Ferrari being a particularly common example.
* FellAsleepDriving
* FlyingCar
* ForkliftFu
* FreeWheel
* FuturisticSuperhighway
* GanglandDriveBy
* GasolineLastsForever: A car never runs out of gasoline and is never shown being refueled.
* GasSiphoning: Stealing gas from another vehicle using suction and a hose.
* GetawayDriver
* HadTheSillyThingInReverse: Accidentally driving a vehicle backwards.
* HardTruckin
* HassleFreeHotwire: Hotwiring a vehicle is portrayed as incredibly quick and easy.
* HerosClassicCar
* HippieVan: A retro van serving as transportation/a makeshift home for travelling hippies.
* HollywoodPoliceDrivingAcademy
* HonkingArrivingCar
* HoodHopping
* HoodHornament: A pair of cattle horns is mounted on the hood of a vehicle.
* HoodOrnamentHottie: An attractive person poses on top of a car.
* HotPaintJob: Flames painted on a vehicle.
* HotPursuit: A police chase involving dozens of police vehicles.
* HubcapHovercraft: A conventional vehicle can fly when its tires are rotated 90 degrees.
* HummerDinger
* ImmortalIconicCar: A particularly iconic car is never replaced or destroyed.
* ImprobableParkingSkills" A BadassDriver is skilled enough to park anywhere.
* ImprobablyCoolCar: A character owns a car so cool it seems out of place with the locale or their finances.
* InvincibleClassicCar: A classic car is shown to be virtually indestructible. This is attributed to "they built them better back in the day."
* JustKeepDriving: Cars don't stop, no matter what's happening.
* KidsDrivingCars: A person too young to drive legally finds themselves behind the wheel.
* LivesInAVan: A character's home is their vehicle, often a van.
* MatchingBadGuyVehicles: All the bad guys drive the same make, model, and color car.
* MetallicarSyndrome: A car so distinctive that it ''should'' be a liability, isn't.
* MidlifeCrisisCar: A middle-aged person buys an incredibly fancy, expensive, or impractical car.
* MissedTheBus
* MolotovTruck: A vehicle becomes an improvised weapon by loading it with explosives and crashing it into a target.
* MommyMobile: A boring but practical car meant for transporting families.
* MonowheelMayhem: A motorcycle or other small vehicle inside a giant wheel.
* MotorcycleDominoes: A row of parked motorcycles is knocked over.
* MotorcycleJousting
* MotorcycleOnTheCoastRoad
* MultiTrackDrifting
* MurderByRemoteControlVehicle
* MyCarHatesMe: The car doesn't work correctly no matter what the driver does.
* NitroBoost
* OneWheeledWonder: A vehicle that balances on a single wheel.
* OptionalTrafficLaws: A piece of media, often a video game, where users are allowed to break common traffic rules without penalty.
* ParallelParking: Parking parallel to the curb. This is portrayed as very difficult and can be shown to use a driver's inexperience (if they're bad at it) or expertise (if they do it with ease).
* ParkingPayback: Revenge for taking someone's parking spot.
* ParkingProblems: Making do with whatever parking space is available, even if it's unusual, illegal, or downright impossible.
* PassingJudgment: Character does something embarrassing in public and gets stared at by appalled passengers of a vehicle.
* PedalToTheMetalShot: A shot of a character's foot pressing the gas pedal all the way down.
* PedestrianCrushesCar: A pedestrian causes serious damage to a moving car while remaining unharmed.
* PimpedOutCar: A car with all the bells and whistles.
* PitGirls: An attractive woman at the races who performs ceremonial duties such as waving the starting flag or bringing a trophy to the winner.
* PopTheTires: Damaging a vehicle's tires in order to stop it.
* PostApocalypticTrafficJam: After the apocalypse, the highways leading out of the cities are jammed with long-abandoned cars that were attempting to flee.
* ThePreciousPreciousCar: A car is a character's most prized possession and they refuse to let anyone else touch it.
* PunkInTheTrunk: A person hidden in the trunk of a car.
* RamByBraking: Stopping your vehicle abruptly to cause your pursuer to crash into you.
* ResurrectTheWreck: An abandoned or derelict vehicle is restored to functioning.
* RiceBurner: A cheap but fuel-efficient vehicle, often of Japanese origins.
* RockStarParking: The driver always gets the best parking spot.
* RomanticRideSharing: Two characters bond by sharing a vehicle that holds only two (such as a horse or motorcycle), requiring them to be in close proximity.
* RunningOverThePlot: Someone is hit or run over by a car, kicking off the plot.
* SafeDrivingAesop: The moral of the story emphases safe driving.
* SentientVehicle: The car is aware of its occupants and surroundings.
* ShagWagon: A vehicle set up to facilitate love-making.
* SinisterCar: A car that is visibly up to no good.
* StealingTheHandicappedSpot: An unauthorized person parks in a handicapped spot to show their disregard for others.
* SunroofShenanigans: Using a sunroof to misbehave or have fun.
* SurpriseCarCrash: A car crash comes out of nowhere, taking the driver and the audience off-guard.
* TankGoodness: A tank portrayed as the ultimate vehicle for defense.
* TanksButNoTanks: Vehicles similar to (but not technically ) tanks are just referred to as tanks.
* TanksForNothing: Tanks are ineffective.
* TheTaxi: A taxi and/or its driver is an important or central element of the story.
* ThatPoorCar: An event large enough to set off the alarms of multiple cars at once.
* TechnicallyATransport: A civilian vehicle is upgraded to withstand an attack.
* {{Thememobile}}: The vehicle is themed to match its driver's motif.
* TourGuideGag: A tour guide explains to their tourists the action happening outside their vehicle.
* ToyotaTripwire: A person or vehicle crashes into a car door that opens suddenly.
* TrappedInASinkingCar: A character is trapped inside a vehicle as it goes underwater.
* TrojanAmbulance: An ambulance is used for a purpose other than medical rescue, due to the fact that people in general do not attempt to hinder ambulances.
* UnconventionalVehicleChase: A chase using vehicles other than a standard car.
* UnderTheTruck: A chase scene in which another, smaller vehicle is able to pass under a big rig.
* V8EngineNoises: A vehicle's engine makes the distinctive V8 revving noise, even though it does not have a V8 engine.
* VanInBlack: A van used by a government agency for surveillance or a sting operation.
* VanityLicensePlate: A car has a specialty plate reflecting the personality of its owner.
* VehicularAssault: Using a vehicle as a weapon to harm others.
* VehicleBasedCharacterization: The character's car reflects their personality.
* VehicularKidnapping: Kidnappers throw their victim into a vehicle and drive away.
* VehicularSabotage: A vehicle is rendered inoperable.
* WatchThePaintJob: The likelihood of a car being damaged is inversely proportional to the owner's desire to keep it pristine.
* WeaponizedCar: A car is custom-fitted with weaponry.
* WiperStart: A driver attempts to start a car but only succeeds in turning on the wipers.
* TheWorkhorse: A vehicle which, while not the newest, fanciest, or prettiest, is incredibly tough and reliable.
[[/index]]
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