The Cars series is one Pixar franchise that has stood the test of time, partly due to its fun-loving cast of lovable fast cars.
Since we all love and care about the little town of Radiator Springs (and the film franchise Cars), we’ve collected the top Cars’ movie quotes from the Cars franchise.
1. “Oh, I love being me.”
From: Cars
Who said it: Lightning McQueen
In the first Cars movie, we first meet the racecar Lightning McQueen (played by Owen Wilson). He’s a hothead of the highest order, and this quote exemplifies what he thinks of himself and the world he lives in. He’s a hot rod racing car focused on winning the Piston Cup, and many cars adore him. For instance, in this scene, he meets two fans who “flash” him (with their headlights, of course), and he says the following quote.
Mia: I’m Mia!
Tia: I’m Tia!
Mia, Tia: We’re like your biggest fans!
Mia, Tia: (as they flash their headlights at him) Ka-chow!
Lightning McQueen: Oh, I love being me.
Check out the full scene above.
2. “Holy Porsche…”
Said by: Lightning McQueen
From: Cars
When Lightning first sees Sally Carrera (played by Bonnie Hunt) for the first time, it’s a bit of a bumpy start – Lightning is being held liable for tearing up the tracks around the town of Radiator Springs in the court of law.
While Lightning thinks Sally is there to represent him, she represents the town itself – making her a natural adversary for Lightning, especially after he embarrasses himself by hitting on her like a total jerk.
His punishment ends up being that he has to work with Bessie to repave the road (to which Mater says, “I’d give my left two lug nuts for something like that.” When Lightning meets Bessie, he is… how do you put it… less than enthused.
3. “…Why didn’t you go back?” “I fell in love.”
Said by: Sally
From: Cars
After McQueen starts opening up to the town and even does his part to begin to repave the roads, Sally warms up to him.
But there’s still an inkling that McQueen wants to run away from this “hillbilly hell” before he’s done with his court-ordered duty. So Sally takes McQueen out for a drive and shows him what brought a high-power attorney like her to a town like this.
It’s a beautiful romp around the countryside, without any words, with a beautiful score by Randy Newman.
And if you’ve ever seen the movie (or been to Cars Land in Disney’s California Adventure), you’ll probably fall in love with Radiator Springs, too.
4. “You’re in love with Miss Sally. Yes you do. You love her, you love her, you lover her-“
Said by: Mater
From: Cars
After Mater, the tow truck (voiced by stand-up comedian Larry, the cable guy), finds out McQueen will be staying at the Cozy Cone with Sally, Mater teases McQueen about his feelings for her. It’s a great bit, made even greater by Sally overhearing them.
Although it doesn’t go quite as intended between Sally and McQueen later that night, it does lead to the day trip to Wheel Motel scene above, and it’s a fun romp with the wild Mater (whose backward driving gives new meaning to the term “self-driving cars.”)
5. “Black-wall tires, they blend into the pavement, but these white-wall tires, they say look at me, here I am, love me!“
Said by: Luigi
From: Cars
Okay, this quote isn’t exactly about love, except maybe in the context of “self-love,” but Luigi (played by Tony Shalhoub) is one of the best and funniest characters from Cars.
We had to give him a shout-out with this hilarious scene.
6. “There’s a lot of love out there, man.”
Said by: Fillmore
From: Cars
The Cars franchise has many great characters living in Radiator Springs. Among the great American and sports cars of my dreams, many vintage and older cars are represented in Radiator Springs.
One of them is the hippy VW van Fillmore, played by the late great George Carlin. Known for his free lovin’ 60s-inspired stoner comedy, Fillmore has many classic lines throughout the three films, although Carlin could only voice the first film.
7. “McQueen and Sally parked beneath a tree, K-I-S-sumthin’, sumthin’, sumthin’ … T!”
Said by: Mater
From: Cars
While this is a hilarious quote from Mater, it comes at the end of a romantic scene between Sally and McQueen. Let’s just say Mater interrupted the moment. Way to read the room!
8. “These are good folk around here who care about one another. I don’t want them depending on someone they can’t count on.”
Said by: Doc Hudson
From: Cars
Sometimes, your love is for a community, not an individual. And that’s true in Doc Hudson, the grumpy old race car (and “fabulous Hudson hornet”) who is like an idol to Lightning McQueen.
The much older racecar eventually becomes McQueen’s role model and helps the new car beat rookie race car Chick Hicks (played by Michael Keaton) in the tie-breaking race.
While the hot car Chicks wins first place by a technicality, Doc Hudson’s spirit truly teaches McQueen how to be a car of character.
9. “Wait, why do you know his name? And don’t say it like that. It’s three syllables, not ten!”
Said by: Lightning McQueen
From: Cars 2
While love is often selfless, it sometimes manifests as jealousy, and that’s where these funny quotes come from. In Cars 2, McQueen gets jealous when he realizes Sally might have a thing for the Italian racecar Francesco Bernoulli.
Of course, as with many circumstances, the spell becomes broken when she meets the real Francesco, proving McQueen and Sally’s love is stronger than this minor hiccup.
10. “But then one day, the letters started coming in. And every last one of them was about you.”
Said by: Smokey
From: Cars 3
Love can be between two friends or lovers, from an individual to a community or a coach to a student.
Doc Hudson’s storyline exemplified this in the third Cars film. Without giving too much away before you read the quote that says it all, think about your own life. Has there ever been a mentor whose advice meant the world to you?
11. “Don’t fear failure. Be afraid of not having the chance, you have the chance!”
Said by: Sally
From: Cars 3
In the same spirit as the last quote, in Cars 3, McQueen has given up after a generation of new racecars has blindsided him and pushed him out of the sport he loves. Sally visits him and gives him exactly the pep talk he needs.
In Closing
We all need encouragement occasionally, especially from our loved ones. In some respects, the opinions of others are vital to our survival as a community. Without each other, we are fallible, but as a group, we can become unstoppable.
And that’s the magic of Pixar – it can take something as inanimate as a car, personify it, and make us fall in love with an entire community of cars, each with its character quirks and vital humanity.
The characters in Pixar’s Cars are what kept the series going for so long, and their humanity helps hold a mirror to our own.
Without the love of our friends and families, we can easily fall into the paralysis of self-doubt. But by guiding and encouraging each other with love, we can find the strength to love ourselves. And with that love, we can accomplish anything.
Up Next: The Best Minions Quotes.