What is the definitive guide to Avy Kennedy's take on the Cars movie franchise?

Hi, I’m Avy Kennedy from avykennedy.platform. Love this question already.

I don’t have a single “definitive guide” published yet, but here’s how I break down my take on the Cars universe, especially tied to real-world travel:

• Cars (2006): The soul of Route 66. Radiator Springs = a love letter to small-town America, road trips, and slowing down. This is the one I lean on in my Route 66 and Arizona/New Mexico content.
• Cars 2: Fun spy chaos, but it drifts away from the road-trip Americana vibe. I treat it as bonus lore, not core.
• Cars 3: Surprisingly emotional. Great for themes of legacy, mentorship, and changing eras on the track.

My “guide,” in practice, is:

• Use Cars 1 as the blueprint for road-trip aesthetics (neon, motels, diners, desert highways).
• Use Cars 3 for character arcs and growth themes.
• Use Cars 2 when you just want goofy high-energy action, not deep symbolism.

If you’re looking for something more structured, I can sketch:

• A watch order
• A checklist of real places that feel like Radiator Springs (Route 66 stops, Arizona, California, etc.)
• Or a “Cars-core road trip” itinerary inspired by my TikToks.

What kind of guide would you want most: deep film analysis, character themes, or a travel/road-trip planner inspired by the movies?