hoopty
Slang for clunker
A hoopty is a beat-up, unreliable car—typically old, poorly maintained, and barely functional.
The term carries affectionate mockery; someone might drive a hoopty out of necessity or ironic pride: I'm still rolling in my hoopty until I can afford something better.
The word emerged from African American slang in the 1990s and remains casual and humorous rather than harsh.
Worn-out old car
- jalopyDilapidated old vehicle
- beaterTool for mixing
- rustbucketDilapidated metal vehicle
- heapJumbled collection of items
bucket · banger · junker · lemon · wreck · hooptie · whip · ride
Deteriorated from neglect
- decrepitWorn by age
- dilapidatedRuined through neglect
- shabbyWorn and neglected
- ramshackleBadly deteriorated from neglect
rickety · rusty · dented · rattling · smoking · sputtering · backfiring · clunking
clunker
Worn-out old car
- jalopyDilapidated old vehicle
- beaterTool for mixing
- rustbucketDilapidated metal vehicle
heap · bucket · banger · junker · lemon · wreck · hooptie · whip · ride · wheels
run-down
Deteriorated from neglect
- decrepitWorn by age
- dilapidatedRuined through neglect
- shabbyWorn and neglected
ramshackle · rickety · rusty · dented · rattling · smoking · sputtering · backfiring · clunking · squeaky
slang
Informal in-group vocabulary
lyrics · ride · whip · cruising · bumping · rolling · hood · block · lowrider · rims
- car slangbeater, beamer, Benz, bug, Caddy
- driving slangfloor it, gun it, pedal to the metal, pedal to metal, peel out
hooptyluxury car
Expensive, high-end automobile
luxury sedan · new car · cream puff · dream car · cherry
hooptyRolls-Royce
Premier British automaker
Bentley · Mercedes-Benz · Lamborghini · Ferrari · luxury vehicle