Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers the car, and maintains control while the car goes sideways. The technique causes a rear slip angle which if a professional driver is performing can extend where the wheel is pointing in the opposite direction to the turn, it is steering a car with an accelerator, especially in the corners. It is firmly believed that this sport originated in Japan in the 1970s Japan, however, there was a similar technique practiced in Europe before 1950, and according to Mr. Enzo, the first driver to introduce 4-wheel drift was Tazio Nuvolari.
We are not going to debate about the controversial origin of the sport, but we are sure that the sport gain popularity because of Japan. The first was Keiichi Tsuchiya, known as the drift king from Japan, and the Initial D manga series that brought drifting into the spotlight. Today drifting has become a respectable sport in which many racers want to indulge because of the pure outrageousness and thrill it provides. So for the budding drifters, we have made a list of the 10 best drift cars you can buy right now.
10. Nissan 370Z
Straight outta Japan, the 370Z is one of the best sportscars ever made the car comes with a standard 3.7 Liter V6 engine that can produce a peak output of 328 horsepower. The best part about the car is its chassis which helped it to win several Formula Drift Championships under different drivers. The perfectly balanced chassis and front engine rear wheel drive layout allowed predictable handling making it a natural drifter. Also, modifying this car is a piece of cake with a plethora of aftermarket options available converting it into a drift missile is easy peasy.
9. Lexus IS300
If you are young and broke, this is the best bet you got as Lexus IS300 comes with a great power-to-weight ratio. It comes with a 2.0 Inline-4 engine that is capable of producing 241 horsepower and is available in a front-engine rear-wheel drive setup perfect for drifting. The car is available with a lightweight body that allows it to go sideways easily. The car is a perfect teacher for someone looking to explore the world of drifting.
8. Chevrolet Corvette C6
Nobody shreds tires better than a C6 Corvette, it is powerful, fast, and agile which makes it perfect for sliding, which why see you can see a lot of them creating havoc on tracks. The front engine rear wheel drive and powerful 400 horsepower engine with not nonsense electronics make it a drift machine right from the showroom floor. The great handling dynamics of the C6 Corvette also add to the whole experience making it one of the best cars to learn drifting
7. BMW E46 M3
The German prowess of front engine rear wheel drive is also one of the best driver’s cars you can get for the money. Introduced in the 1990s the basics of the car were so solid that people use these cars even today for racing. The M badge is self-explanatory in that it means business, the car features a perfect weight distribution, a low center of gravity, a limited-slip differential, and a potent 6-cylinder engine that gives it enough beans to maintain those steep angle drifts. If drifting was a culinary masterpiece the BMW M3 will be the main ingredient for it.
6. Nissan 240SX S14
Also known as the Silvia S14 it is a legendary Japanese car that is the most extensively used chassis in the world of drifting. This compact lightweight car comes with well-balanced chassis that makes sure that you are in control every time the rear loses grip. One of the great things about the Nissan 240 SX is there is plenty of space on offer in the engine bay which makes it very easy to do engine swaps and other modifications, as there is a platoon of aftermarket support as well for these cars.
5. Ford Mustang
Drifting needs power and this American muscle has plenty of it on offer. The Ford Mustang is without a doubt an excellent option if you want to explore the thrills of drifting. Every Mustang from the beginning is adored by the people because of its raw power delivery, backed by predictable handling dynamics. Mustangs are available in abundance and due to their reliable nature you can get your hands on an old one for cheap and let those rear wheels slide into action.
4. Mazda MX5 Miata
For everything, car-related Miata is the answer to it, the same goes for drifting. Mazda while making the Miata made sure to nail the basics on point which made this car good for almost any type of driving. This lightweight two-seater sportscar was introduced in 1989 and after that, to this day it provides driving excellence which is why it is used by many drivers at the best level of competition. It is also one of the most affordable cars on the list making it a good choice for a budding drifter.
3. Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra needs no introduction, it is the Micheal Jordan of the sportscar industry which came with an insanely tuneable 6-cylinder 2jz engine. It is one of the best cars from Japan and ruled the streets and car shows since its inception in the 1990s. It is also one of the most sorts after cars in the Japanese Domestic Market. The front engine rear wheel drive layout of the vehicle combined with the lightweight and compact design makes it a drifting superstar. However due to the high demand for Supra’s the prices have skyrocketed to the 6-digit figures, thus you need a big heart and even bigger pockets to take this car sideways.
2. Mazda RX7
Another Japanese car established the Japanese prowess in making some of the best drift machines around the world. The RX7 is another gem from the land of the rising sun that came out in the ’90s and still, it is a beast on the track. One of the different things about this legendary masterpiece was the wankle rotary engine that was capable of reaching 9000 RPM and produced 237 horsepower and let’s not forget the insane tuning capabilities.
1. Toyota Corolla AE86
The holy grail of the drifting community, the Toyota Corolla AE86, is the car that turned the drifting into what it is today. It was the Drift King, Keiichi Tsuchiya’s car where he portrayed the thrill of drifting to the world. Also, in Initial D one of the best-selling manga series, the main protagonist drives a Toyota Corolla AE86 beating some of the best cars. It created a cult-like status among the people and got the attention and respect it always deserved.
In the performance aspect, the best thing about the Toyota AE86 Corolla was the almost 50-50 weight distribution, also the 4A-GE 1.6L naturally aspirated inline-4 engine produced 125 hp which is sent to the rear wheel by limited-slip differential making it perfect for drifting.
