Herbie: Fully Loaded

Southern Californian Maggie Peyton has car-racing in her blood: her late grandfather was a famous, successful driver, and her father Ray leads his own NASCAR team. Maggie took to street-racing when Ray wouldn't let her drive in legitimate races. A potentially life-threatening car accident during a race made Maggie trade in her four large wheels for four smaller ones in the form of a skateboard as Ray sent her off to college (from which she's just graduated) to get her out of the racing life, and she is preparing to take a corporate job in New York City. To carry on the Peyton racing legacy, Ray has entrusted the driving for the team to his son Ray Peyton Jr., whose less-than-stellar results threaten corporate funding for the team. As a graduation present, Ray Sr. gives Maggie any vehicle she wants at a scrapyard. Despite having her eyes on another vehicle, she is compelled instead to choose a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle. That VW Bug is Herbie, who has a mind of his own, but his own recent sad life has made a has-been--he only barely escaped being crushed for scrap metal. Herbie was the one who made Maggie choose him; he hoped to reclaim his past racing glory with Maggie behind the wheel, which she doesn't fully comprehend the first time he takes full control. With her childhood friend Kevin, now a mechanic, by her side, Maggie, hiding under a racing suit and helmet as "Max", must get by egotistical NASCAR champion Trip Murphy, who is not averse to sabotage to achieve his goal of winning. Besides Trip, Maggie and Herbie have a few obstacles to overcome: Ray finding out that Max is indeed his daughter; Herbie getting sidetracked by his interest in a newer model VW Beetle; and Maggie being lured to the dark side in the form of a traditional high-powered race-car instead of Herbie.