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Better Car Physics
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Build 41, Build 42, Balance, Misc, Multiplayer, Realistic, Vehicles
File Size
Posted
Updated
3.665 MB
Dec 29, 2022 @ 11:24am
Aug 5 @ 9:51am
37 Change Notes ( view )
Required items
This item requires all of the following other items
Created by
Neidmare
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Better Car Physics

Description
Manual shifting (toggleable) - Better Engine Sounds - Offroad driving - Engine braking

This mod requires manual installation steps. You must do these, otherwise the mod will not work.
See installation section.


What does this do?
In a nutshell:
  • Better engine sound
  • Manual shifting (toggle in settings, requires ModOptions mod)
  • Several improvements to driving physics, including offroad driving
Watch the video for an example.

Build 42
Now compatible with build 42!
Key differences:
  • Install the zombie folder from the 42.X folder instead.
  • ModOptions is not needed anymore, its part of the base game now

Installation (Windows)
You can install the mod into existing saves.
  • Close Project Zomboid
  • Subscribe to this Mod
  • Wait for the download to finish
  • Go to
    Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\108600\2909035179\mods\BetterCarPhysics\manual_installation
  • Go to either 41 or 42.20, use the same as your project zomboid version
  • Copy the zombie folder and nothing else
  • Paste the zombie folder into
    Steam\steamapps\common\ProjectZomboid
  • Build 41: Overwrite all files (should be 24), Build 42.20: Should not overwrite any files
  • Start Project Zomboid
  • Enable the mod. Done!

The mod will show you a popup in game if you need to update. You can turn this off in the mod settings.

Installation (MacOS)
See this guide

Installation (Linux)
Same as Windows. The project zomboid folder is usually located in ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ProjectZomboid/projectzomboid


Uninstall
You can uninstall the mod at any time without affecting save files.
Version 41 and 42.12
  • Deactivate mod in game
  • Close Project Zomboid
  • Right click game in steam -> Properties -> Local files
  • Click 'verify integrity of game files'
  • It should download 24+ files. Done!

Version 42.13.0 to 42.20
  • Deactivate mod in game
  • Close Project Zomboid
  • Open
    Steam\steamapps\common\ProjectZomboid
  • Delete the zombie folder. Done!

Multiplayer
I only did some basic testing, use at your own risk
  • Should work on any server. Both server and client need the lua mod enabled.
  • The server does not need the manual installation.
  • Anyone who wants the physics has to install this mod and follow the manual installation steps.
  • If someone joins without the manual installation steps, they can still join, but will have the vanilla physics.
  • The mod turns itself off completely if the server does not have it installed. You can freely switch between servers without changing anything.


Features
Realistic car engine and transmission behavior
  • Engine behaves/sounds much like it would in a real car
  • Releasing throttle leaves the car in gear
  • Engines have different torque curves. Vans operate best at low RPM, sports cars at high RPM
  • Lower gears produce more torque. Helpful for driving offroad.
  • Engine braking
  • Smooth gear shifts with rev-matching
  • Shifting into a low gear with too much speed will slide the car as the wheels lock up
  • Proper road friction and wind resistance forces

Manual and Semi-automatic transmission
  • Option to toggle manual on for all cars via ingame settings (Requires ModOptions mod)
  • In semi-auto mode, car shifts automatically, but you can override it using the shifting keys
  • Customizable keybinds for shift up (up arrow) and shift down (down arrow)
  • Change in keybind menu under 'Vehicle'
  • Clutch is always automatic

Smooth cruise control
  • With automatic transmission, automatically shifts + picks an appropriate gear
  • With manual transmission only controls the throttle, you can freely change gears
  • Vanilla controls: Shift + W to enable and Shift + W/S to increase/decrease by 5

Integrates with Sunday Driver and Speed Demon perks
  • Sunday Driver accelerates slowly, because they are scared of the throttle
  • Speed Demon shifts like a racedriver

Compatible with all vehicle mods that add new cars
  • I tested a bunch of the most popular mods, they all work fine.
  • If a car accelerates super fast, its likely because some mod boosts its engine horse power. See my explanation here
  • To modders: This mod ignores the gear ratios defined in the resources files. I had to do that as most vanilla cars dont have any, and the ones that were present didnt work that well. I created some logic that picks gear ratios based on engine type (generic, firebird, van, jeep). You configure this with 'engineRPMType' in the vehicle definition. The engine type also determines the max RPM, and when the semi-auto transmission shifts.

Compatible with
  • Customizable Containers - both mods change files in the zombie folder, but its different files, so no problem.

Not compatible with
  • Realistic Car Physics
  • Offroad go brr

Workshop ID: 2909035179
Mod ID: BetterCarPhysics
Popular Discussions View All (15)
156
Aug 6 @ 11:39pm
PINNED: Bug reports
Neidmare
78
May 14 @ 7:37am
PINNED: Suggestions & Planned Features
Neidmare
14
1
Aug 15, 2025 @ 1:35pm
Install on MacOS
Neidmare
1,581 Comments
< >
OverTaker
13 hours ago 
is this compatible with the towtruck mod both of them have the same zombie file
AJ✪
21 hours ago 
doggy
touhouko
Aug 10 @ 12:53pm 
yeah, steam didn't updated mod, sorry for misinformation everyone
touhouko
Aug 10 @ 12:51pm 
weird, I didn't had 42.20.2 folder, looks like I need to force steam to update mod or something
mud
Aug 10 @ 11:21am 
@touhouko In the workshop files, in the directory "manual_installation", make sure you use the folder that matches your game version. I'm running 42.20.2 and installed the corresponding folder, per the instructions, and this mod works perfectly on my end.

Could be a mod conflict but I also have a bunch of mods and have gotten no errors.
mud
Aug 10 @ 11:17am 
Also just an idea but what if you implemented a sort of interactive gear stick on the right of the instrument cluster when in a vehicle. The player would have to manually click and hold the gear stick and place the car in gear like a real vehicle (of course the clutch is automatic and we could assume our character is pressing the clutch down when we hold the stick and they release when we release).

I think it could be a fun little tactile "minigame" while driving, using the mouse as a shifter since most players don't use the mouse much when driving. I don't know if it is possible, but I hope you consider it. :steamhappy:
touhouko
Aug 10 @ 11:13am 
oh, also, for me this mod crashed the game - it warned me that it detected unknown game version (42.20.2) and it may cause issues
sure enough, it crashed the game after a minute when I tried to drive a little bit more on the road, so I suppose mod need an update, maybe % fix broke it
mud
Aug 10 @ 11:11am 
Is there a way to have right arrow shift into neutral? Sometimes I be driving around and want to shift into neutral and just cruise off momentum but I have to shift down gears just to reach neutral. I feel like I remember this being a thing in the B41 version but I'm not sure. Would love an update as I love driving manual.
touhouko
Aug 10 @ 7:22am 
there should be none - it was here in B41 but as I see it B42 changed file structure
GwainDog
Aug 10 @ 6:30am 
where is the zombie folder? b42.. i've verified integrity of game files but there is no Zombie folder??