Used Cars Simulator Review Summary

Addictive car flipping and a strong concept with pleasant graphics and a large map, but poor optimization, low FPS, limited cars, bugs, and an unpolished early access state.

Positive Overall Reception: The majority of feedback describes the game as interesting, fun, and engaging, with many reviewers expressing strong overall enjoyment. This broad positivity spans clusters that mention the game being good, cool, addictive, and pleasant to play.

Strong Concept and Potential: Reviewers consistently praise the game's core idea and see clear potential for future development. Many note that the concept is solid and worth exploring further, even if the game is still in progress.

Car Physics Praised: Multiple reviewers highlight the car physics as enjoyable, with some comparing them favorably to GTA5. The crash and driving physics are described as cool and decent.

Engaging Core Buy-Fix-Sell Loop: The central gameplay loop of buying cheap cars, repairing them, and selling for profit is frequently cited as the main source of fun. This resale simulator mechanic is described as the game's primary focus and strength.

Good Value for Money: Reviewers feel the game is worth its price, with many stating they got their money's worth. The content is considered worthwhile relative to the cost.

Poor Optimization and Low FPS: Many players report that the game is poorly optimized, with low FPS even on high-end systems and lowest settings. The performance issues are widespread and significantly impact the experience.

Limited Car Variety: The game offers a small selection of cars, with only about 10 different models. This lack of variety is noticeable and limits the gameplay experience.

Numerous Bugs Present: The game contains various bugs that affect gameplay. While some are expected in early access, they still detract from the experience.

Poor Vehicle Handling and Controls: Driving mechanics feel janky and unresponsive, with cars often flipping over. The controls lack refinement, making driving frustrating.

Game Feels Incomplete and Unpolished: The game feels unfinished, missing key elements and lacking polish. This gives the impression of a half-finished product.

Car Reselling Flipping Core: The central gameplay loop revolves around buying, repairing, customizing, and reselling cars for profit. Players can also steal cars from NPCs and resell them, with some managing their own dealership.

Stealing Cars and Parts: Stealing cars and engines is a common way to make money, with risks such as arrest. Players can also swap license plates to avoid detection.

Car Painting and Washing: Players can manually paint and wash cars in garages, which is available in the early game. This feature allows for cosmetic customization and restoration.

Survival Mechanics: Players must manage survival needs such as hunger, thirst, sleep, and urination. These mechanics add a layer of realism and challenge.

Tow Truck Utility: A tow truck is available for transporting vehicles and features a camera. It can be used to move cars and is useful for the car flipping business.

Optimization issues widespread: Many players report that the game is poorly optimized, with comments ranging from 'optimization is a bit lacking' to 'optimization is non-existent.' This is a common complaint across multiple clusters.

Poor performance on high-end hardware: Even high-end systems like RTX 3070 Ti, 4080 Ti, and i7-14700k with RTX 4070 struggle to maintain stable performance. This suggests the game is not well optimized for top-tier hardware.

Frame rate drops severe: Players frequently experience severe frame rate drops, with FPS falling to 15-30 in certain areas. This issue is reported in multiple clusters and affects gameplay significantly.

Low FPS on minimum settings: Players report that even on the lowest graphics settings, the game often runs below 60 FPS, sometimes as low as 20-30 FPS. This indicates a lack of scalability and poor optimization.

Stuttering problems persist: Stuttering and freezing issues are persistent, even on powerful PCs. Many users report these problems occur regardless of hardware, indicating a fundamental optimization flaw.

Technical issues hinder play: Crashes prevent play, and some would not play even for free due to how it plays. The game is not recommended in its current technical state.

Appeals to car simulation fans: The game is worth checking out for those who enjoy car and simulation games, particularly buying and selling cars. It is recommended for anyone looking for a good used car sim.

Buy only on sale: Reviewers advise buying only on sale or in a massive sale, and waiting for a discount. The game is considered buyable when on discount.

Recommended for simulator fans: The game is recommended for fans of this type of simulator, especially those seeking a true simulator experience and who do not like easy things. It is also recommended only for players who already enjoy niche simulators and are willing to overlook rough edges.

Do not buy game: Reviewers explicitly advise against purchasing, stating do not buy this game and don't buy it. This is a strong negative recommendation.

Community fair range: $9.99 - $14.99.

Game completion: 120.0h.

Story completion: 50.0h.

Session length: 3.0h.

Endgame: 140.0h.

Used Car Simulator often starts as an addictive car-trading and restoration sandbox, but many players report the fun fades into repetitive grinding and slow progression after the early cars or first hours.

Friction: Slow and unrewarding money progression; Repetitive side quests and fetch missions; Long or buggy tutorial; Tedious bus travel and map navigation; Boring or unsatisfying minigames; Lack of mission and content variety, plus a progression wall.

Relaxed Early-Access Car Flipper: Buys, repairs, and flips used cars at a casual pace while exploring simple jobs and silliness. Motivation: Relaxing, low-stakes car repair and resale with a light sense of humor. Stance: buy.

Niche Mechanic-Sim Depth Seeker: Seeks granular repair, modification, vehicle physics, and hardcore economic systems rather than shallow arcade loops. Motivation: Deep, hands-on mechanical simulation and realistic shop management. Stance: buy.

Open-World Car Thief Roleplayer: Steals and tows cars, flees police, bids at auctions, upgrades vehicles, and roams the map for jobs and quests. Motivation: Living out an illegal or shady car-dealer fantasy in an open world with jobs, police, auctions, and driving. Stance: buy.

Both Windows hardware cohorts report widespread optimization and frame-rate problems, with even recommended reviews citing stutter, crashes, and low FPS.

Windows <8GB VRAM: negative. Players report poor optimization with frequent stutter, crashes, and frame rates dropping to 20-45 FPS even on recommended hardware, including 6GB and 8GB VRAM systems on low settings.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: negative. All sampled reviews are negative, citing very poor optimization and performance so low it feels like single-digit FPS on 10GB and 12GB VRAM setups.

Steam Deck: The review set shows significant Steam Deck friction. A direct Deck report describes post-update lag and broken touchscreen paint nozzle switching. Additional reviews cite unreadable faint map text, clumsy interface and controls, severe frame drops and crashes, and a landing collision bug. These issues meet the criteria for broken or unreadable UI elements and high friction, resulting in a score of 70.

Early Access state noted: Many reviewers explicitly mention that the game is in Early Access. This context is frequently used to set expectations about the current build and future content.

Active developer updates: Developers are actively working on the game, releasing updates and new features. This ongoing support is seen as a positive aspect by reviewers.

Compared unfavorably to Car Dealer Simulator: Reviewers consistently compare this game to Car Dealer Simulator and often state that Car Dealer Simulator is better. The comparison highlights differences in gameplay and overall quality.

Refunds requested by some: Some reviewers requested refunds for the game. This suggests dissatisfaction with the current state or unmet expectations.

Monthly updates add content: Updates are released roughly once a month, introducing new vehicles, functions, and improvements. This regular schedule keeps the game fresh.