Proof that the remaining 10% is worth driving through hillbilly hell to get here:
These are recommendations made by Tropers for Fan Fics, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. ''No-name recommendations will be denied. Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.
Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.
Authors, and Websites
MissCarrera
- Recommend by: Pixargirl
- Status: Most of the fanfictions she has written are finished. Only two are not as of 2014.
- Synopsis: Very well written. Focusing more on Lightning and Sally romance stores and various character driven one-shots.
- Pairing(s): Canon
General Fics
Flat Out by Whipplefilter- Recommended by WhattheHelvetica3
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: After Lightning crashes, he has most of his parts replaced and starts going through a major identity crisis in the process. The fic is mostly seen through Sally's perspective.
- Comments: This one of a few fanfics that I find myself reading over again and again because it shows the amount of trust and love that Sally has with Lightning despite him going though an identity crisis. According to the author, the whole premise behind the fic revolves around the Scene in Cars 3 where McQueen just stares in perplex after Cruz says she doesn't see him anywhere. Also about what NASCAR does with wrecked cars which gives off some disturbing implications.
Four Times McQueen Didn't Cry (And the One Time He Did) by PixelEm
- Recommended by The_Raven21
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: He didn't want to think about him. It was just too painful. However when he withheld the pain it only fought back with vigor, returning far more destructive than before. It was only when he let the pain take control that it finally freed him.
- Comments: One of the most gut-wrenching recountings of Doc's death. Lightning's grief is portrayed very realistically in just five chapters. You'll need some tissues for this tremendous piece of writing that incorporates some really clever car-equivalents into its speech whilst punching you in the gut with an event you knew was gonna happen, but it somehow destroys your heart anyway.
Stormy Weather by ForeverFinally
- Recommended by TheFoolXXIIMaxX
- Status: Completed.
- Synopsis: The flashy rookie and the bitter veteran are going to have to work together if they want to get out of this mess.
- Comments: A really well-written fanfic. There is suspense and drama, and an excellent portrayal of Chick Hicks. Though he remains his usual abrasive self, you get to understand him better and can actually sympathize with him a bit. The ending is also heartwarming.
- Recommended by EbiManami
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Jackson Storm wishes he could do the day over again when he loses to Cruz Ramirez in the first race of the 2018 Piston Cup racing season, but when it actually happens, he has to try and find a way to break out. Unfortunately, the way out is something that'll take him a while...
- Comments: A time loop fic that genuinely is one of the most enjoyable Cars fics I've ever read. Watching Jackson struggle with his dilemma and his eventual character development is very compelling and made me like him so much more.
Teach Me How to Win (or Live) by The Killing Imperfection
- Recommended by TheJayman49
- Status: Dead
- Synopsis: It's no doubt that Cruz Ramirez and Jackson Storm are highly exceptional racers. But even formidable front-runners such as themselves have their weaknesses. When faced with difficult challenges and circumstances, are they able to pull through to the finish? If they can't help themselves, can they help each other? Co-featuring Lightning McQueen.
- Comments: While the author unfortunately has no intention of finishing the story, it's undoubtedly one of the best Cars fanfics I've read. Taking place after the events of the third film, the story goes more in-depth on Cruz's and Jackson's characters by showing their lives outside of racing and even glimpses of their pasts.
Three Days by Adventurelife
- Recommended by dragonwing7
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Shortly after winning the first race of the season, Lightning McQueen, along with the King, vanish from the racetrack. The two racecars have been carnapped, and have no idea who took them or why. It's up to the Radiator Springs crew, Tex Dinoco, and a few spies to find the cars...before it's too late.
- Comments: A pretty exciting fic! It takes place in an AU where Doc is still alive and was present for the events of Cars 2. It manages to incorporate elements from all three movies, and does a pretty good job of keeping everyone in character. Doc especially gets a few places to shine, and there are moments with him and Lightning that are too cute for words! There's also a few SalQueen moments, as well as a scene of Sally being the best lawyer/girlfriend McQueen could ask for.
- Now has a tropes page.
Shipping Fics
I'll Meet You on Route 62 by Twilit Violet- Recommended by TheJayman49
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Mack has settled into a quiet life in Radiator Springs, but when a car from his past runs into him, literally, everyone in town feels the impact. MackxOC. Rated T for mild language, violence, and sensuality.
- Pairing: Mack/OC
- Comments: A story that focuses on an otherwise minor character, there's a lot of really good development here, from showing the downsides of Mack being a truck (plus showing that he gets lonely quite often) to reuniting and eventually falling in love with an old high school friend.
Cars: Down under by CarsWorldFan
- Recommended by TheJayman49
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: It is 2014 and, surprisingly, Lightning is bored with the Piston Cup! So when he's invited to race in the Australian V8 Supercars Enduro Cup, he eagerly accepts the invitation without knowing quite what to expect. Will Lightning be able to take the heat of racing in Australia? Or will he quit halfway through?
- Pairing: Lightning/Sally
- Comments: I really like this story because of the deconstruction in it: McQueen becomes depressed when constantly winning in the Piston Cup has caused him to find it boring, to the point where he considers retirement because he finds no point to racing when all you ever do is win. Admittedly, the shipping portion is somewhat of a subplot, but it's still there.
Dark Fics
Rainbow Factory by nn0128n- Recommended by N8han11
- Status: Dead
- Synopsis: "What do you want?" Wingo cowered under the angry sheriff's glare, before murmuring quietly. "I would like to file a Missing Persons Report."
- Comments: An intriguing look at the VIN factories from Cars Race-O-Rama, and a horrifying look at the conversion process. Sadly, the fic is dead.
- Recommended by BrightLight
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Sarge never switched McQueen's fuel during the final Grand Prix race in London.
- Comments: Interesting, and tragic, Cars 2 AU. Deals with the fallout of one final, fatal crash - caused by Allinol.
Crossover Fics
The Unexpected Rookie by Kenya Starflight- Recommended by TheMisterFree
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Lightning McQueen returns for his second Dinoco 400, little realizing that trouble is brewing in the form of a Decepticon menace... and a new rookie known as Hot Rod.
- Now has a tropes page.
- Comments: This is a really good fic, taking the Cars verse and fusing it with the the 1980s Transformers cartoon. Full of hilarious and awesome moments all around- both thanks to the citizens of Radiator Springs and their interaction with the Cybertronians. Also has a sequel, The Gathering Storm, where the Radiator Springs residents become Cybertronians to combat Megatron's own conversion of Chick Hicks and the Road Hazards, and their subsequent ruination of Radiator Springs.
