Satsuma AMP

This article has a troubleshooting page.

This vehicle also has a build guide.

This vehicle also has an upgrading guide.

For the wrecked version, see Satsuma GT (abandoned).

The 1974 Satsuma AMP is a subcompact Japanese sedan based on the Datsun 100A/Nissan Cherry E10. It is the player's car and the principal vehicle in My Summer Car, serving as the player character's project car.

Default interior — The Satsuma's interior.

Design and inspiration[]

The Satsuma AMP is based on the Datsun 100A, a very popular car in Europe in the 1970s and 1980s.

Its age is further reinforced through the intro of the game, which shows the player's mother giving birth to the player in the back seat of the car in 1976. It can be assumed that the family-owned that car back then, and its more pristine condition circa 1976 suggests a 1973 to 1976 model, judging by the rear lights available back then. Final drive flanges are triangular. Together with bigger tail lights, this tells us that car is either a 1973 or 1974 model. Later models shared the round flanges with the successor model F10 that was introduced in Japan in late 1974. Sales of this "Cherry F-II" model started outside of Japan a couple of years later, in 1976. Production of these two Cherry models overlapped a couple of years. The official model year of the car was finally confirmed through the updated drag race time slip, which refers to it as a 1974 model, making the car 21 years old as of summer 1995.

From the note left by the player's parents, it is revealed that this car belongs to the player's father. The parents also say that it will be sent to the junkyard if the player doesn't do anything with it and that he can keep it after he assembles it and makes sure it passes inspection. It is implied the Satsuma is the player's 19th birthday gift because of the birth sequence in the intro.

The idea for the car likely originated from the Finnish comedy and drama film Pohjanmaa, since, like the Satsuma, the Datsun in the movie doesn't have a gas tank door and has the same license plate like the one received in the game after inspection: VBX-403. A yellow Datsun 100A with leopard seat covers is also featured in the film Vuonna 85 ('In '85').

Datsuna — The Datsun 100A in the film *Pohjanmaa*. According to IMCDb, it is a 1971 model, although the rear lamps belong to a 1973–1976 model. The front grille is from the 1973 model.

Features and performance[]

The Satsuma is equipped with a 1.0L (988 ccs) inline four-cylinder gasoline engine, with a front-wheel-drive four-speed all-synchromesh manual transmission and features a four-wheel independent suspension.

Compared to other drivable vehicles in the game, the Satsuma is the most technically complex vehicles in the game, with a fully-working and accessible engine, chassis, drivetrain, suspensions, cooling system and electrics comprising of a large number of individual parts to be assembled with the aid of a toolbox (a spanner or ratchet set). The car's original wheels comprise of narrow steel rims with worn road tires (which can be adorned with stock hubcaps) that must be salvaged from elsewhere in the beginning. The car is also highly customizable with a myriad of available performance parts and cosmetics as well as tuning options. Its interior is among the earliest vehicle interiors in the game to be fully-functional, with working sun visors, window winders, dashboard instruments, window wipers, mirrors, a folding passenger seat, seatbelts, and a glove compartment (added in the 17 April 2017 update, along with the circular black fuel cap).

The car's stock parts are typically revealed to be wholly inadequate for long term use, with parts starting out with varying conditions, such as the radiator struggling to keep the engine cool, the worn suspension system and tires poorly suited for dirt roads, constant leaks of the motor oil and brake and clutch fluids even when the car is not running, and an aging stock oil filter and battery in need of replacement. A considerable number of parts can also deteriorate from use (i.e. tires and engine components) or detach from impacts (i.e. the fuel tank, bumpers, doors, etc.). For these reasons, the player is expected to constantly conduct maintenance and repairs on the Satsuma and replace many of the stock parts out of necessity. The Satsuma is also the only vehicle to store body deformation data.

Top speed[]

The top speed of the Satsuma varies. At the car repair shop, a lot of final gear settings can be chosen (see below), which changes the top speed and acceleration of the car. 3.700 is the longest ratio and gives the highest top speed, over 200 km/h.

Driving notes[]

The Satsuma's power band is at the higher RPMs (4500 to 8000). Remember to downshift at low RPM to take advantage of it. Downshifting over 5700 RPM will cause the engine to fail catastrophically, causing extensive damage and some parts (such as pistons, main bearings) to become disassembled. These can all be repaired or replaced at Fleetari's Repair Shop, but it will be very expensive.
When cornering at high speeds, the back end may lose grip which could result in a crash. Take corners more slowly or be ready to countersteer. As it is a front wheel drive car, opening the throttle will help pulling it straight. Alternatively, you can put something in the boot to add more weight to the back (e.g., a beer case or a spare tire).
Besides the windshield of the van and the Gifu, the Satsuma is the only car that has parts that can actually break. Consider that when driving.
There are many bumps in the road that can rip out your exhaust, fuel tank, bumpers or wheels. Take your spanner/socket set and the car jack with you to make quick repairs on the road.
If you experience a coolant leak, or you simply forgot coolant and your temperature is rising, pop the car into a higher gear or hold the clutch to let your car roll in neutral after building up speed, as higher RPM means more heat production. Alternatively, you can always drink something that you have with you and pee into the radiator, which might buy you enough time to reach your home or Teimo's shop. Keep in mind that the temperature needle will not move without any coolant (Due to the temperature being measured according to the pressure of the coolant in the system). If you have been driving for quite some time and the engine still reads cold, it is likely low on coolant. You can use the Extra gauges to measure coolant pressure.
If the car doesn't start after a crash, check if the fuel tank is still attached. The fuel tank commonly falls off after a crash. If it has, reattach it using size 11 bolts.
If the car doesn't power any of the gauges/lights and won’t start after a crash, the battery has fallen off, the battery now being the easiest main part to fall off in a crash. To reinstall it, loosen the negative and positive terminal clamps and reinstall the battery, then tighten the terminals back up, positive first, then negative.
The stock radiator is not very effective for heavy driving and will overheat under heavy load.
The car doesn't have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), so heavy braking will cause the front wheels to lock up, losing the ability to steer the car and potentially stalling the engine.
The Satsuma, being an old car, experiences leaks. After driving for some time, you must check the oil and most importantly the brake fluids. Also, make sure that all of the brake line bolts are properly tightened.
Make sure to fasten your seatbelt (if stock seats are installed) or the racing harness (if bucket seats, four-point harness and roll cage are installed) when driving. Not only do they reduce the risk of fatality, but you will also be fined for not wearing a seatbelt if you pass through a police checkpoint unbuckled.
To save up on cash, don't use coolant and pee in the radiator instead.
It takes five seconds to cold start the Satsuma. Because of the carburator float chamber fuel evaporation, a worn Fuel Pump fills up empty chamber slower. The fuel chamber also slowly empties when the car is off.
The Satsuma consumes about 28L/100Km, making it the most fuel economic vehicle in the game after the Jonnez ES. This varies depending on parts wear and parts fitted (e.g. new tires, performance carburator, etc).

Tips and tricks[]

It is highly recommended to buy the air-fuel gauge and extra gauges while rebuilding the car. The carburator can be easily tuned at home with the air-fuel gauge. The extra gauges are just needed to check the oil pressure and battery charge. Other than that, you should try to find the RPM gauge. After all, the car's clock is just useless when you've got yourself a watch that helps you tell time anywhere.

Custom textures[]

The Satsuma supports a custom body texture if a custom car.png image file is present in \steamapps\common\My Summer Car\Images. By default, the folder does not have a car.png, so the player must either download a user-created car.png, or use the template file provided in the same folder (template.png) to create their own custom car.png. Once added into the folder, the player can test their custom body texture on the spinning Satsuma in the main menu by pressing F5. To apply the texture on the Satsuma in game, the player must pick the "Custom paint made by artist" option in the brochure at Fleetari Repair Shop and leave the car overnight at the workshop to be painted.

The rear window's texture can be altered by modifying window_sticker.png, also in \steamapps\common\My Summer Car\Images.

Below are a couple of example paint jobs.

The below skins are only for demonstration. If you'd like to share your own creations, please do so on the Reddit or the Steam car skin thread, as the wiki is not a personal file host.

Skin examples[]

Satsuma AMP GT[]

The idea of a Satsuma GT variant was first hinted in the 18 August 2018 update, which introduced a GT grille that can be fitted on the Satsuma.

Green gt — Green Satsuma AMP GT sporting custom seats and marker lights.

Following the 20 August 2019 update, an upscale GT spec Satsuma is explicitly revealed to exist in the game's canon. Based on a poster of the car in the player's bedroom, the Satsuma GT is touted as having a twin-carb upgrade on its existing 1.0L engine that increases its horsepower to around 70 hp, capable of top speeds of around 190 km/h and an acceleration of 0–100 km/h in ~12 seconds. The variant is also equipped with a front and rear spoiler body kit, GT paintwork in either red or green, sporty 8-spoke rims, as well as an RPM gauge in place of a clock, and a premium steering wheel and central short-shifter console with wood grain finishes.

While the player's Satsuma does not start out with a GT trim, the player can eventually fully outfit the car with GT upgrades, a requirement to complete the "Satsuma GT" achievement. The complete list of necessary components to unlock the achievement includes a GT grill, a center console, GT rims, a GT steering wheel, a GT rocker cover, special GT trim body paintwork (available from Fleetari's workshop), a front spoiler, a rear ducktail spoiler, a window grille, twin carburators, and an RPM gauge on the dashboard meters.

The Satsuma GT seems to be based on the Nissan Cherry X-1.

Trivia[]

"Satsuma" is actually the car's manufacturer, as evidenced by packaging for the alternator belt and the GT center console both bearing the "Satsuma Motors" name or logo. The car's actual model name is AMP (A badge can be seen next to the right taillight), based on a nickname the car has in Finland, "Sata-amppeeri", which translates to "One hundred amp" and is written as 100A.
A "satsuma" is both a type of mandarin orange and plum; the former is commonly sold in Finland. "Satsuma", besides being the name of a real town in Japan, could, therefore, be a play on the name of the real car the vehicle is based on, the Nissan Cherry. Given that it is a citrus fruit, and the automobile frequently breaks, it can also be loosely interpreted to mean "Asian Lemon".
During the 1990s in Finland, the 100A was known as a cheap and common car, popular among Amis teens. This is why many characters in the game shun or mock the Satsuma.
If the cars rolls over, the engine shuts off, presumably due to fuel starvation.
The ignition sound effect was likely taken from a video on YouTube named 1979 Datsun 120a F11 Coupe cold start up, as the audio from 0:07-0:11 bears an exact match to the sound file that plays in game.
As evident by the title screen car, the airfilter, rocker cover, and block were originally painted blue. This can be confirmed in-game as a newly purchased block from Fleetari will be blue. The original color can still be faintly made out in the current parts.
A wreck of a Satsuma, implied to be a GT variant, can be found alongside a GT center console; the wreck can be towed to Fleetari for some money.
The rear window has two stickers, one being the popular white rounded sticker with the country's identifier ("SF", an abbreviation of Finnish "Suomi" and Swedish "Finland" used from from 1924 to 1993) and the second being an ad slogan for the Satsuma, probably still from the dealership when it was brand new. Prior to the 13 March 2017 update, the rear window of the car had an overhead sticker that reads "Oispa Kaljaa", which translates to "I wish I had beer", a common Finnish joke.
- The Satsuma ad slogan, "Sitkeään suhaukseen Satsuma", is an alliterated phrase roughly translated as "For tenacious driving, Satsuma". It is a parody of "Lujaa Laatua Lada" ("Strong Lada Quality"), a slogan used by the former Finnish Lada importer Konela.
- For a brief period between the 13 March 2017 update and 20 March 2017 update, the country identifier on the round sticker was "FIN" rather than "SF". While accurate to the 1995 timeframe, the car model was also entirely reused for the intro set in 1976, which would had been anachronistic as the FIN identifier would not be adopted until 1993 to replace the prior SF identifier. Upon being informed of this error, ToplessGun would change the identifier to "SF", recontextualizing the sticker as yet another dated element of the car by 1995.
There is a poster of the car flipped over in the Lindell inspection shop.

Patch notes[]

Update	Changes
2014
23 July 2014	• Body panel bolts now require correct wrench
2 August 2014	• Fixed issue where car could not be driven at full throttle
16 August 2014	• Rust texture added to a car • Fixed issue with car going "dead" in some circumstances • The player can no longer stop the car while positioned outside of the car (there is a issue if motor is running)
5 September 2014	• All mechanical simulations are now being calculated even when player is not inside the car
28 September 2014	• F5 and F6 to reset the car into upright position
5 October 2014	• Fixed body panel save/load issues
24 November 2014	• Car collider adjustments

Vehicles in My Summer Car view • talk • edit
Driveable vehicles	Arvo-Algotson 3000 • Boat • Burnet Ferndale • Gifu 405 T • Hayosiko Pace • Jonnez ES • Kekmet • RCO Ruscko • Satsuma AMP • Trailer
NPC vehicles	Bus • EDM 500LX • Pena's Fittan • Police Pölsa • Hayosiko Ricochet ST • Roaming boat • Svoboda 180 • Teimo's bike • Train
Highway traffic	Beer Gifu • Caravan Pölsa • Fittan • Lamore • Pölsa • Svoboda 180 • Victra
Rally cars & drag cars	Corris Costo • Covina • Masser Y • Victro Orca • Hayosiko Pollo • Techno Victra
Abandoned	Fairlane • Firebird • Fittan (Fleetari) • Fittan (Kesseli) • Gifu (Fleetari) • Gifu (Kesseli) • Kekmet • Model T • Pölsa • Satsuma GT • Svoboda • Trailer
Removed	Fury • Logging Gifu • Logging Gifu (drivable) • Dirt track Satsuma • Highway Satsuma • Highway Hayosiko