My Summer Car is a brutally authentic Finnish countryside survival and car-building simulator set in 1990s rural Finland. You must assemble a Satsuma AE86 car from hundreds of individual parts, bolt by bolt, while managing hunger, thirst, fatigue, and the ever-present temptation of beer. The game's world is a fully realized Finnish summer experience — you can sauna, go fishing, drive a sewage truck for money, or get killed by a drunk driver on a country road. The physics-based car assembly requires mechanical knowledge, and one mis-tightened bolt means your engine falls apart at highway speed.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satsuma Car | S | Mechanic — the entire game revolves around this car | The game's centerpiece — a Datsun 100A (rebadged as Satsuma AE86) that you assemble from scratch. |
| Wrench Set | A | Mechanic — essential tool for every assembly step | Multiple wrench sizes (8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm) needed for different bolts throughout the car. |
| Beer | A | Stress relief, sauna companion, rally spectator fuel | Finland's national beverage, available from the store and home fridge. |
| Sauna Stove | B | Stress management and the authentic Finnish experience | The home sauna heats up when you add firewood and water to the stove. |
| Sewage Truck | B | Delivery Driver for earning money to buy car parts | The company vehicle for the septic pumping job. |
S-Tier: Satsuma Car
The game's centerpiece — a Datsun 100A (rebadged as Satsuma AE86) that you assemble from scratch. Every bolt, gasket, wire, and fluid must be correctly installed. The finished car can be tuned for daily driving, rally racing, or show condition. Building the Satsuma IS the game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Mechanic — the entire game revolves around this car |
| Key Mechanic | car assembly |
| Recommended Build | Mechanic |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Satsuma Car: Pairs naturally with Mechanic thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Wrench Set
Multiple wrench sizes (8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm) needed for different bolts throughout the car. Using the wrong size wrench won't tighten the bolt. The wrench set is your primary tool — without it, no assembly is possible.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Mechanic — essential tool for every assembly step |
| Key Mechanic | survival needs |
| Recommended Build | Rally Driver |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Wrench Set: Pairs naturally with Rally Driver thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Beer
Finland's national beverage, available from the store and home fridge. Beer reduces stress but increases drunkenness, impairing driving and walking. Drinking too much causes blackouts, waking up in random locations. A core part of the Finnish summer experience.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Stress relief, sauna companion, rally spectator fuel |
| Key Mechanic | Finnish countryside |
| Recommended Build | Farmer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Beer: Pairs naturally with Farmer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Sauna Stove
The home sauna heats up when you add firewood and water to the stove. Taking sauna reduces stress, cleans you, and provides a warm place to relax. The sauna is a game mechanic and a cultural experience. Overheating in the sauna can kill you.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Stress management and the authentic Finnish experience |
| Key Mechanic | job system |
| Recommended Build | Delivery Driver |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Sauna Stove: Pairs naturally with Delivery Driver thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Sewage Truck
The company vehicle for the septic pumping job. Drives like a brick on ice, especially on dirt roads. The truck itself is indestructible but you can die if you crash it into a lake. Your primary money-making vehicle until the Satsuma is finished.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Delivery Driver for earning money to buy car parts |
| Key Mechanic | part ordering |
| Recommended Build | Fisherman |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Sewage Truck: Pairs naturally with Fisherman thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Home
- Wrench Set → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Beer → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Satsuma Car → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Assemble the Satsuma engine in the correct bolt order — tightening bolts out of order can prevent parts from fitting. Follow a build guide for your first playthrough to avoid 10+ hours of trial and error.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More My Summer Car Guides
- My Summer Car My Summer Car Overview
- My Summer Car Best Builds
- My Summer Car Tier List
- My Summer Car Walkthrough
- My Summer Car Beginner's Guide
- My Summer Car Tips & Tricks
- My Summer Car Combat Guide
- My Summer Car Boss Guide
- My Summer Car Maps & Locations
- My Summer Car Crafting Guide
- My Summer Car Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy My Summer Car, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Weapons Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Weapons Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Weapons Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
