Borderlands 3 took vehicular mayhem to a whole new level, allowing Vault Hunters to not only traverse the vast landscapes of Pandora and beyond in style but also to heavily customize their rides with a plethora of Borderlands 3 Car Parts. Forget simply catching a ride; in Borderlands 3, you’re catching a project, a personalized war machine built from stolen enemy tech and scavenged components. This guide will dive deep into the vehicle customization system, exploring every aspect from hijacking enemy vehicles to decking out your personal Catch-A-Ride creation.
From Hijacking to Customization: Your Borderlands 3 Ride Journey
One of the standout improvements in Borderlands 3 was the overhaul of vehicle mechanics. Ditching the sometimes clunky controls of previous installments, Gearbox Software partnered with experts from racing game development to deliver a driving experience that is both responsive and exhilarating. This upgrade is immediately noticeable as you tear across the bandit-infested plains or navigate the neon-lit streets of Promethea.
During the game, you’ll quickly realize that vehicles are more than just transportation; they are extensions of your combat prowess. Scattered throughout the worlds are Catch-A-Ride stations, your go-to hubs for vehicle summoning and customization. But the real fun begins when you start taking matters into your own hands – literally. Hijacking enemy vehicles becomes a core gameplay loop, not just for a quick getaway, but for the valuable Borderlands 3 car parts they carry.
Successfully commandeering an enemy vehicle might just reward you with a brand new component. To unlock these parts for your own use, simply drive your newly acquired vehicle to a Catch-a-Ride station. Parking on the designated digi-struct spot and exiting the vehicle will initiate a scan. The vehicle is then deconstructed, and any new parts are added to your customization arsenal. This ingenious system encourages aggressive play and rewards exploration, turning every enemy encounter into a potential upgrade opportunity.
Borderlands 3 offers three distinct vehicle types at your disposal, each with its own strengths and customization options: the Outrunner, the Technical, and the Cyclone. Each vehicle can be tailored to your playstyle with a range of Borderlands 3 car parts, affecting everything from weaponry to handling and aesthetics.
The Outrunner: Speed and Agility
The Outrunner is your quintessential speedster in Borderlands 3. Built for rapid traversal and nimble maneuvers, this vehicle prioritizes velocity over brute force.
Developed by one of the big five corporations, the Outrunner is the fastest land vehicle available and can “outrun” anything else. It cannot outrun other Outrunners, however, since they go the same speed.
Catch-A-Ride Station
Outrunner Stats:
- Speed: 14
- Armor: 4
Outrunner Customization Parts:
Driver Weapons:
- Machine Gun: The default, reliable choice for sustained fire.
- Default weapon, available from the start
- Tesla Coil: Unleashes a beam of shock damage that arcs between enemies.
- Found on: Maliwan Outrunners
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex & Pandora, Ascension Bluff
- Flame Thrower: Incinerates enemies with a short-range burst of flames, perfect for quickly clearing vehicle occupants.
- Found on: Outrunners
- Location: Pandora, Ascension Bluff
Turret Weapons:
- Heavy Missile: Delivers significant damage, especially with direct hits. Gunners can zoom for precision.
- Default weapon, available from the start
- Shotgun Missile: Fires a spread of missiles for crowd control. Gunner can adjust firing pattern.
- Found on: COV Outrunners
- Location: Pandora, Devil’s Razor
- Swarmer Missile: Launches a volley of guided missiles, allowing the Gunner to laser-designate targets.
- Found on: Outrunner, Maliwan Outrunners
- Location: Pandora, Ascension Bluff & Nekrotafeyo, Desolation’s Edge
Wheels:
- Dune Buggy Wheels: Balanced performance for speed and handling.
- Default wheels, available from the start
- Zip Wheels: Engages a flaming boost by using the e-brake, sacrificing handling for bursts of speed.
- Found on: Hijack Target Zippy Outrunner
- Location: Pandora, Devil’s Razor
- Omni Wheels: Replaces the e-brake with a hovering mode, enabling unique traversal and maneuverability.
- Found on: Maliwan Hover Outrunners
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex & Nekrotafeyo, Desolation’s Edge
- Twitchy Wheels: Steerable rear wheels for enhanced maneuverability in tight spaces.
- Found on: Twitchy Outrunner
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex/Outskirts & Pandora, Droughts/Ascension Bluff/Devil’s Razor
Armors:
- Stripped Armor: Lightweight with no defensive benefits, maximizing speed.
- Default armor, available from the start
- Heavy Armor: Plated armor offering increased durability at the cost of speed.
- Found on: Hijack Target Heavy Outrunner
- Location: Pandora, Ascension Bluff
Mods:
- Booster Canisters: A balanced boost providing both speed and duration.
- Default mods, available from the start
- Energy Cells: Three charges of a smaller boost that also emits a pulse of shock damage.
- Found on: Pulsing Outrunner
- Location: Nekrotafeyo, Desolation’s Edge
- Blaze Booster: A short, powerful burst of speed, ideal for quick maneuvers.
- Found on: COV Outrunners
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex & Pandora, Ascension Bluff
- Laser Wings: Converts boost energy into laser blades extending from the vehicle, damaging nearby enemies.
- Found on: Hijack Target Razor Outrunner
- Location: Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
The Technical: Rugged and Explosive
The Technical is the Children of the Vault’s (COV) vehicle of choice, embodying their chaotic and destructive nature. This pickup truck is built for durability and packing a serious punch.
There’s nothing technical about the way that the CoV built this. But it’s surprisingly sturdy, packs quite a punch and is a blast to drive!
Catch-A-Ride Station
Technical Stats:
- Speed: 12
- Armor: 7
Technical Customization Parts:
Driver Weapons:
- Machine Gun: A reliable and straightforward weapon for consistent damage output.
- Default weapon, available from the start
- Flak Cannon: A powerful shotgun that fires scrap projectiles, devastating at close range.
- Found on: COV Technical
- Location: Promethea, Neon Arterial & Pandora, Splinterlands
Turret Weapons:
- Barrel Launcher: Launches explosive barrels that can be detonated mid-air for cluster bomb effect.
- Default weapon, available from the start
- Sticky Bombs: Fires bombs that adhere to surfaces and enemies, detonating after a timer or by gunner trigger.
- Found on: Hijack Target
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Outskirt
- Tire Bombs: Deploys tire-shaped bombs that can be remotely steered, offering tactical explosive placement.
- Found on: Hijack Target Spare Tire Technical
- Location: Pandora, Splinterlands
Wheels:
- All-Terrain Wheels: The Technical’s fastest wheels, providing a balance of speed and traction.
- Default wheels, available from the start
- Monster Wheels: Large wheels enhancing handling and durability, allowing for better off-road performance.
- Found on: Angels and Speed Demons quest
- Location: Pandora
- Barbed Wheels: Ignores terrain penalties and deals significant ramming damage, especially against flesh.
- Found on: Hijack Target Spiked Technical
- Location: Pandora, Devil’s Razor
- Hover Wheels: Replaces the e-brake with a hovering mode, enabling unique traversal and escape options.
- Found on: Hover Technical
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Outskirt
Armors:
- Stripped Armor: Lightweight but offers no added protection.
- Default armor, available from the start
- Heavy Armor: Plated armor significantly increases durability, but reduces speed.
- Found on: COV Technical
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Outskirts, Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin. Guaranteed spawn during Beneath the Meridian mission.
- Meat Grinder: Enhances ramming damage, especially against flesh, turning the Technical into a brutal offensive weapon.
Mods:
- Passenger Seats: Equips passenger seating and a standard boost module, allowing for squad-based vehicular combat.
- Default Mod, available from the start
- Fuel Barrels: Provides a continuous, albeit less powerful, boost with unlimited duration.
- Found on: COV Technical
- Location: Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
- Toxic Booster: A weaker boost that leaves behind corrosive clouds, damaging trailing enemies.
- Found on: COV Technical
- Location: Promethea, Neon Arterial & Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
- Jet Booster: A powerful boost with a charge-up time, offering bursts of extreme speed.
- Found on: Carnivora Technicals
- Location: Pandora, Carnivora. Found during the Carnivora chase sequence.
The Cyclone: Nimble and Versatile
The Cyclone is the most agile and maneuverable vehicle, trading armor for unparalleled speed and a 360-degree weapon aiming arc. This single-wheeled wonder is perfect for hit-and-run tactics.
The Cyclone makes up for its lack of defenses by allowing its driver to outmaneuver other vehicles. It’s armed with an array of fast weapons that can be aimed at 360 degrees.
Catch-A-Ride Station
Cyclone Stats:
- Speed: 17
- Armor: 2
Cyclone Customization Parts:
Driver Weapons:
- Machine Gun: A reliable, all-around weapon for consistent fire.
- Default mod, available from the start
- Explosive Needle Launcher: Fires volleys of explosive needles that detonate after a short delay.
- Found on: Maliwan Cyclones
- Location: Nekrotafeyo, Desolation’s Edge & Promethea, Meridian Metroplex (True Vault Hunter Mode)
- Sawblade Launcher: Launches powerful, explosive sawblades that deal significant damage.
- Found on: COV Cyclones
- Location: Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin & Pandora, Devil’s Razor
Wheels:
- Monowheel: The Cyclone’s fastest wheel, maximizing its inherent speed.
- Default wheel, available from the start
- Blade Wheel: Offers increased traction and significant ramming damage against flesh, turning the wheel itself into a weapon.
- Found on: Blade Cyclone
- Location: Promethea, Neon Arterial & Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin & Pandora, Devil’s Razor
- Wide Wheel: Improves handling and durability at the expense of some speed.
- Found on: Hijack Target Fat Cyclone
- Location: Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
- Hover Wheel: Enables hovering mode by activating the e-brake, providing unique movement options.
- Found on: Maliwan Hover Cyclone
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex
Armors:
- Stripped Armor: Lightweight, offering no armor benefits.
- Default armor, available from the start
- Heavy Armor: Plated armor increases durability, reducing speed slightly.
- Found on: Heavy cyclone
- Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex & Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
Mods:
- Heavy Booster: A powerful boost designed to maximize speed and agility.
- Default Mod, available from the start
Express Yourself: Vehicle Skin Customization
Beyond performance parts, Borderlands 3 lets you personalize your ride’s aesthetics with a wide array of paint job themes and color palettes.
Themes:
Vehicle skins are found throughout the game as loot drops, just like weapons and other gear. These themes drastically alter the visual style of your vehicle.
| Skin Name | Skin Description |
|---|---|
| Default | Classic Look |
| Atlas | You are now sponsored by the Atlas Corporation! |
| Magic Number | “Illusion, Michael” |
| Blue Angels | Who’s the star? You’re the star! |
| Bubblegum | Let’s face it, this paint job would exist even if we didn’t put it here. Chew on this! |
| Children of the Vault | The Calypsos probably wouldn’t like us rocking their color, but who cares? |
| Dahl | You are now sponsored by the Dahl Corporation! |
| Ellie | Ain’t that a beauty? Feel free to change it even though it would break my heart. |
| Follow-Me | Fancy a game of checkers? |
| Forest Camo | Forest Camo? Anyone happen to remember we’re invading a desert planet? |
| Golden Ticket | Big Donny gave his life so you could have this … well you took it from him. |
| Gearbox | Now where have I seen this before …? |
| Halftone | Want this one? Sign here on the dotted line. |
| Hyperion | You are now sponsored by the Hyperion Corporation! |
| Jakobs | You are now sponsored by the Jakobs Corporation! |
| I like dinosaurs | Life huh … finds a way. |
| Leather | A tough leather finish. |
| Maliwan | You are now sponsored by the Maliwan Corporation … wait what? |
| Plaid | So warm and fuzzy |
| Roadkill | Look at this beauty, just like new! Wait, is that blood? |
| Skag | We love Skags. Don’t you? |
| Stealth | For stealthy night operations. Not sure how it works with all these explosives. |
| Thunderbird | Instead of soaring through the sky, you will ram through skags. |
| Torgue | You are now sponsored by the Torgue Corporation! |
| Vaughn’s | Vaughn is serious with this Sunsmasher business. |
| Vladof | You are now sponsored by the Vladof Corporation! |
| Woodland Camo | Ideal for chasing those pesky CoVs on Pandora. |
After selecting a theme, you can further personalize your vehicle by adjusting the three base colors, allowing for a truly unique ride that reflects your individual style as you tear through the Borderlands.
Conclusion: Customize Your Mayhem
Borderlands 3’s vehicle customization system is a deep and rewarding feature that adds another layer of personalization and strategy to the game. By hijacking enemy vehicles and experimenting with different Borderlands 3 car parts, you can create a ride that perfectly matches your playstyle and aesthetic preferences. So get out there, commandeer some vehicles, and build the ultimate road warrior machine to conquer the Borderlands in style!
