Project My Summer Car from a Finnish developer Amistech Games has remained a unique survival and auto mechanic simulator for many years. Players appreciate him for the incredible detail of the car's assembly Satsuma AMP and a complex system of the character’s life needs. However, not everyone has the time or desire to go all the way from the first bolt to the car being ready for the race. Sometimes you want to immediately get behind the wheel of a finished car or try out a modified version of the game with improved graphics and new details.
It is for such cases that there are ready-made save files (saves) and mods that radically change the gameplay. Installing user data allows you to instantly gain access to a fully assembled car, upgraded skills, or even changed weather conditions. This is especially true for those who want to test a specific mod or just ride around the map without extensive preparation.
In this article we will take a closer look at where progress files are physically located in the operating system Windows, how to correctly replace standard data with custom data and what nuances should be taken into account when working with mods. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes that can lead to loss of progress or incorrect operation of the simulator. The correct approach to the file structure is the key to stable operation of the game.
Where are My Summer Car save files stored?
Before you begin replacing data, you must clearly understand the file storage architecture in My Summer Car. Unlike many modern projects that hide their data deep in system folders or cloud storage, this simulator uses a fairly transparent structure. All files responsible for your progress, car condition, money and completed tasks are located in a specific directory inside the folder with the installed game.
By default, the path to these files looks like this: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\My Summer Car\My Summer Car_Data. It is here, in the root data folder, that you will find a file called save.dat (or similar, depending on the version and save type). Important to notethat sometimes files may be duplicated or have different extensions depending on whether you are using a pirated version or a license from Steam.
For users who installed the game through the official store Steam, the path may be hidden if the game library is located on another drive. In this case, the easiest way is to use the built-in file management function of the launcher. Right-click on a game in your library, select Management, then Local files and View local files. This action will automatically open the desired directory in Explorer.
- 📂 The standard path is often located on the C drive in the Program Files folder.
- 🎮 For the Steam version, it is more convenient to use the “View local files” function in the game properties.
- 💾 The save file usually has a .dat or .save extension and is light in weight.
- 🔄 When installing mods, the folder structure can be expanded with new directories.
⚠️ Attention: Before any manipulations with game files, be sure to create a backup copy of the original file
save.dat. Just copy it to another location called "save_backup". If your new save file turns out to be corrupted or incompatible, you can easily return everything to the way it was.
Understanding where the files are located is critical not only for installing saves, but also for the correct operation of modifications. Many mods such as Map Expansion or Realism Mod, require replacement or addition of existing configuration files. Incorrect placement files may result in the game simply not starting or giving errors when loading a level.
Preparing for installation: cleaning and backup
The process of preparing the gaming environment is often ignored by beginners, which leads to unstable operation My Summer Car. Before introducing new data, you need to make sure that the game is completely closed. Even if the simulator window is minimized, the process may continue to run in the background, blocking access to files or storing old data on top of new data when it shuts down.
The next step is to create a so-called “clean point”. Even if you plan to play with mods, having the original files on hand is a good rule of thumb for any gamer. Deleting old, corrupted, or conflicting save files often resolves crash issues. If you have previously installed other mods, traces of them may remain in the folder My Summer Car_Data.
☑️ Checklist for preparation for installation
Particular attention should be paid to version compatibility. My Summer Car is updated regularly, and save files from older versions of the game may not work correctly on the new build. If you are downloading a save from another user, check which version of the game it was created on. Version conflict - one of the most common reasons why a car may be disassembled and money may be lost, despite the installation of a “ready” save.
It is also worth checking the integrity of the game files via Steam. This action will replace all modified system files with the original ones, which is an ideal base for installing a new mod or saving. To do this, in the game properties, go to the tab Local files and press Check the integrity of game files.
Step-by-step instructions: how to install a save
The process of replacing files is quite simple, but requires attention to detail. After you have downloaded the archive with the desired save (for example, a fully assembled Satsuma with tuning), it must be unpacked. Typically archives are packaged in the format ZIP or RAR, for opening which standard means are suitable Windows or archivers like 7-Zip.
Copy the extracted save file (usually save.dat) to the clipboard. Then go to the folder with the game, the path to which we looked at in the first section. If you made a backup copy of the old file, you can now safely replace it. Paste a new file into the directory My Summer Car_Data. The system will ask for confirmation to replace the file - agree.
| Action | Process Description | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Moving the save.dat file to the game folder | Low if there is a backup |
| Replacement | Confirmation of replacement of an existing file | Losing old progress |
| Launch | First start of the game with a new file | Possible compatibility errors |
| Check | Make sure the car is assembled and the money is in place | No |
After replacing the file, launch the game. Pay attention to the loading screen: if the game takes longer than usual to launch or strange messages appear in the console (if it is enabled), this may indicate problems with the file. In most cases, if the file is from a reliable source, you will immediately find yourself in the garage with a completed car.
If, after installing a save, the game crashes when loading, try running it in Windows 7 compatibility mode or as an administrator.
Installing modifications and extensions
Installing saves often goes hand in hand with installing mods that change graphics, physics, or add new objects. For My Summer Car there is a powerful tool called BepInEx, which allows you to embed third-party code into the game. Most modern mods require this particular framework to work correctly.
The process of installing mods is a little more complicated than a simple replacement save.dat. You need to download the archive with the mod and the archive with BepInEx. Archive content BepInEx (folders BepInEx, doorstop_config.ini and others) must be transferred to the root folder of the game, in the same place where the executable file is located MySummerCar.exe. The mod files themselves are usually placed in the folder BepInEx/plugins.
- 🛠️ Download the latest version BepInEx from the official repository.
- 📁 Unpack the mod archive and find files with the .dll extension.
- 📂 Place the mod files in a folder
My Summer Car\BepInEx\plugins. - 🚀 Launch the game and check for new features or objects.
It is important to maintain order installation if you use several mods at the same time. Some mods may conflict with each other, changing the same game parameters. For example, a mod for improved graphics and a mod for changing suspension physics may require adjusting loading priorities.
⚠️ Attention: Never delete the original game files (.exe, .dll in the root), replacing them with files from mods, unless the instructions for the mod explicitly say to do this. Mods should work through frameworks, and not replace the core of the game.
What to do if mods don't work?
If after installing mods the game starts, but there are no changes, check the BepInEx log file. It is located in the BepInEx/LogOutput.log folder. The reason for the error will be indicated there: missing dependencies, version conflict, or damaged mod file.
Solving Common Problems
Even if you follow the instructions exactly, technical difficulties may arise. One of the most common problems is that the game does not see the new save or loads old progress. This often happens if the file was placed in the wrong folder. B My Summer Car there are several levels of folders, and beginners often get confused Steam\steamapps\common with Steam\userdata.
Another common mistake is “broken” textures or missing objects. This means that the save file refers to objects from a mod that you do not have installed. For example, if you downloaded a save with the engine installed RB26 from a mod, but you don’t have the mod itself, the game doesn’t know how to display this detail. There is only one solution: find and install all the mods that the author of the save used.
Also worth mentioning is the issue with access rights. If the game folder is in Program Files, operating system Windows may be blocking new data from being written. In this case, when starting a game or launcher, it is better to use administrator mode. This ensures that the game can freely read and write files in its directory.
90% of problems with installing saves are solved by checking the path to the folder and the presence of all the necessary mods specified by the author of the file.
Security and file sources
When downloading save files and mods from the Internet, you should be aware of the risks. Files with the extension .dat or .dll theoretically may contain malicious code, although in the community My Summer Car such cases are rare. The basic safety rule is to download files only from trusted resources, such as the official game forum, GameBanana or Nexus Mods.
Avoid sites that require you to take surveys, enter a phone number, or install additional “downloaders” to receive a file. Actual save files are small in size (a few kilobytes or megabytes) and are available for direct download. Suspicious weight file (for example, a save weighing 100 MB) should alert you.
Community My Summer Car quite active and responsive. If you doubt the source, it is better to ask for advice on the forum or Discord channel dedicated to the game. Experienced players often know which mods are safe and which may contain miner viruses or trojans.
- 🔒 Use an antivirus to scan all downloaded archives before unpacking.
- 🌐 Trust only large and well-known portals with modifications.
- 👀 Read the comments under the file - other users often write about problems.
- 🚫 Avoid executable files (.exe) in mods unless they are framework installers.
Maintaining digital hygiene will allow you to enjoy the game without risking your computer. My Summer Car is a game with open source modifications, which makes it transparent for verification, but you should not let your guard down.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to use saves with mods on a pure version of the game?
No, most likely the game will crash or the save will not load. If the save file contains objects that are not in the base game (for example, parts from a tuning mod), the engine My Summer Car will not be able to process them. You definitely need to install the same mods that the creator of the save used.
Where can I find the game folder if I didn’t install it through Steam?
If you have a non-Steam version, remember where you extracted the game during installation. This is usually the folder where you manually moved the files. If you don't remember, find the game's shortcut on your desktop, right-click on it and select "File Location". This will open the folder with the executable file, and the data will be in a subfolder My Summer Car_Data.
The game says "Save file corrupted", what should I do?
This means that the save file is corrupted or incompatible with the current version of the game. Try finding a different version of the file. Also make sure that you did not interrupt the save process when you exited the game earlier. If you have a backup, restore it.
Do I need to delete the old save.dat before installing the new one?
Technically, when you copy a new file with the same name, the old one will be overwritten automatically. However, manually deleting or renaming an old file (for example, to save_old.dat) before inserting a new one - this is a good practice to be on the safe side in order to understand exactly which file is currently active.
Do Steam achievements affect user saves?
Using ready-made saves may block the receipt of some achievements, since the system sees that the progress was obtained in an unnatural way. However, in My Summer Car achievements are tied to specific actions (engine assembly, first trip), so when using a mod for a finished car, you can simply skip some of the achievements. To obtain them, it is better to start from scratch.