Just watched pixars cars on DVD and TBH right through I was thinking this looks very like another film. Then I remembered the 1991 Doc Hollywood

The script is that a newly qualified plastic surgeon is going to Hollywood in order to practice there in a big hospital, he needs to get there to start the job within a limited time.

[Cars has a car going to a big race in California with limited time.]

The surgeon crashes at speed and is caught by the law

[the car ends up lost, smashes through town and is caught by the law]

The surgeon goes before the judge, and is put to work helping out in the local doctors surgery

[The car is forced to fix the road by a judge]

The surgeon falls in love with Julie Warner

[the car falls in love with a Porsche]

Each leaves to do their thing but returns when they discover there is something more than they had originally wanted.

So to at least some extent Cars is a rip off. Anyone care to disagree?

Think theres a saying, theres only 7 plots in the world and Shakespeare covered them all.

Cars I aint seen but you could probably hook it up with tons of films. It aint what the plot does, its how it does it. Mostly it works fine*


[Cars has a car going to a big race in California with limited time.]
Nemo sets out from home - Start of Quest.
The Hobbit has to get to Rivendell before the wraith dudes catch him  - Start of Quest.


[the car ends up lost, smashes through town and is caught by the law]
Nemo gets lost and caught up with sharks and stuff - Lost and Alone.  
He gets lost on the Barrows and caught by the ghost dudes - Lost and Alone.


[The car is forced to fix the road by a judge]
Nemo fixes the problem of the fish in the Aquarium - Hardship on Journey is overcome.
Hobbit fixes problem of impending death in barrows - Hardship on Journey is overcome.


[the car falls in love with a Porsche]
Nemo finds new friends and they help each other - Unexpected Help.
Hobbit meets Strider, who becomes helpful friend - Unexpected Help.


[Each leaves to do their thing but returns when they discover there is something more than they had originally wanted. ]
Nemo finds confidence - whatever..
Hobbit finds out taking the ring to Rivendell aint enough.



* With the exception of bollocks like Eragon.



btw, Im on page 2 of that snippet, nearly done & enjoying the read too