By Sebastian Cenizo
If you want to get into drifting, what sort of vehicle should you buy for the most sideways fun?
Mustang GT Coupe
- Make
- Ford
- Segment
- Coupe
Drifting is an increasingly popular motorsport discipline, and it's a lot more accessible than many realize. Rather than the most powerful car having the biggest performance advantage, as in drag racing, the most successful drift cars are not necessarily the most modified or the most expensive with the biggest engine. Seat time is the most important factor in any driver's progression, regardless of the particular motorsport avenue they choose.
That said, it's still very important to have the right starting point. Thankfully, a 40-year-old Toyota Corolla AE86 can be just as competitive at drifting as a 2024 Ford Mustang GT, as long as that Corolla has all the basics.
So what are you looking for in a drift car?
The Hallmarks of a Great Drift Car
If you're after sustained sideways drifting action, you'll need a well-balanced chassis, a low center of gravity, a rear-wheel drive layout, a manual e-brake, a manual transmission, and a limited-slip differential. The last part can be added as an aftermarket modification, but the rest should ideally be characteristics of the base car you start with.
We also highly recommend adding a good seat to keep you held in place as you rip up the track, and it's a good idea to choose a car that is relatively common so that you can count on aftermarket support. Converting a SAAB 9-3 to RWD would be more effort than it's worth.
These are the basics. It's important to remember that the best teacher is more seat time, as three-time Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg explains above, so don't get carried away worrying about drift angle kits, better tires, more power, or stiffer suspension.
Those things can follow once you master your current setup, so build your car to be capable of going sideways and then practice holding it there with style and precision. Once you've mastered a setup, only then should you ask more from your car.
More power and a higher top speed should be your very last priorities because there's no point in having a 1,000-horsepower engine, the meanest steering angle, and a hydraulic e-brake if you can't even keep a 112-hp Toyota Corolla AE86 pointing in the right direction.
The Best Drift Cars Are All Rear-Wheel Drive (Obviously)
With the above in mind, let's choose 10 cool drift cars. We're choosing cars with decent power and speed from the factory, but we're also keeping in mind potential upgrades. Essentially, we're looking at the top 10 drift cars for immediate drifting, but also those that can offer increased driving performance with a long list of potential mods. We'll also throw in some things to keep in mind as you consider each of these vehicles for drifting.
All of the options we've chosen power the rear, but we will discuss AWD drift modes from OEM manufacturers toward the end of this article.
1. Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is a highly popular option for drifting, whether we're talking about a Fox-body Mustang or a new Ford Mustang RTR Formula Drift, as campaigned by the likes of Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Adam LZ. These modified drift cars are ready to rock from the factory and cost a fortune, so a beginner would be better off with an unloved older Mustang off the used market, something that can sustain a little light body damage without breaking your heart or wallet.
A Fox-body Ford Mustang with the 5.0 engine also has enough power in stock form, and as your skill level increases, there are countless tuning options and engine swaps, even on a tight budget. Many drifters started with something basic and simply added numerous upgrades as their skill level rose, proving that if you start with the right base vehicle, you could potentially keep competing in a single car for decades.
2. Nissan 350Z
Any Nissan Z chassis is great fun to drift, but the new one is expensive and older ones are trickier to repair, so we recommend the Nissan 350Z or 370Z. The car driven by the Drift King in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift was a 350Z, and it proved that the vehicular casting of the film franchise is arguably its best aspect. The Nissan 350Z is pretty much a perfect drift car from the factory, especially if it was optioned with the available limited-slip differential. Earlier models came with the 3.5-liter VQ35DE engine, while later variants for the more reliable HR variant of the V6 and as much as 300 hp. Even if the engine does break, this is another car that, like the Ford Mustang, has loads of aftermarket support for anything from a twin-turbo kit to a full engine swap.
With 53:47 weight distribution front:rear, the Nissan 350Z was built to handle back-road corners at speed, but it just so happens to be a great setup for sliding sideways too. But engine placement and weight distribution should not play a huge role in your choice because enough practice can make almost any drift car easy enough to handle, you're probably going to strip weight at some point, and as your skills increase, you may even add some mass back as ballast for the perfect weight distribution front-to-back and side-to-side.
3. Lexus IS300
Another great candidate for an engine swap is the Lexus IS300 or Toyota Altezza (they're the same cars - the latter name applies to JDM-spec vehicle), which arrived in North America in 2000. Second-generation models were optionally available with a V8 engine, but it's the first-gen model that we'd go for.
It's got lesser engine options with lower power and more affordable prices, which is exactly what you want for your first drift car. Again, several power plants fit in the IS300's engine bay, but it's the car's low weight, rear-wheel drive, and balance that will attract first-timers, not to mention its slightly longer wheelbase (compared to most coupes) that makes it easier to control on the limit.
This is a great car, and with no more than a set of rims and a drop in suspension, it looks fantastic. It's so popular that you may even find used examples already outfitted for sideways action.
4. BMW 3 Series
Pretty much any decade-old BMW 3 Series is a great base for any form of motorsport, from hill climbs like Pikes Peak to drifting, and because it's a relatively common vehicle available in several variations (sedan, coupe, convertible), it's also one of the most accessible cars for performance driving. The BMW M3 E36 is especially lovely, offering you rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, and a sprightly engine with decent power. But even if you can only find one with an automatic, swapping the transmission is not difficult or expensive. The latest BMW M3 and M4 have loads of power and offer a drift mode that uncouples the front axle (in AWD variants), but those are not cheap cars.
Sadly, because these new BMW M3 and M4 variants are so digital, the BMW M3 E36 is becoming more sought-after, driving prices through the roof. The same is true of the E46, but you don't need a BMW M3. Just get a regular 3 Series, swap in an LSD, and start practicing how to light up the rear wheels with the power at your disposal.
5. Nissan Silvia
The Nissan Silvia nameplate refers to an entire small sports car range, but we're going to focus specifically on the later models produced under the S13 and later chassis codes. In America, the S13 was sold as the 240SX, which is memorable for its pop-up headlights, its punchy and reliable four-cylinder engines that can be tuned for big power, and its role in the video game Midnight Club.
Unfortunately, this is almost too good a drift car. What do we mean by that? Well, the S13, S14, and S15 were relatively cheap yet immensely capable cars, and once drifters realized how good they were, countless examples were chopped up to make drift cars.
As a result, those with untouched, original models tend to want a lot of money for their now-rare stock cars, while those with modified versions know exactly what their cars are capable of and will also generally want a lot more than you might have paid 10 years ago. Still, short of an E46 BMW M3, there are very few cars that you can just get in and drift as easily as a Nissan S chassis.
6. Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S
Whether we're talking about the first-gen Subaru BRZ (also sold as the Scion FR-S and Toyota 86) or the second generation, the recipe of a Boxer engine with a low center of gravity, a manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, and not much weight translates to an excellent drift car - and that's before you add any modifications to add power.
The first-gen model of the Toyota 86 and its siblings were sold with not much power, but they got skinny tires from the Toyota Prius of the time, an intentional decision meant to make the little sports car easy to slide using little more than some steering angle and a bit of throttle control.
The present-day GR86 model gets a little extra power and wider wheels, but it's still a fine drift car. If you're looking for a Japanese car you can drive to and from the track, this is it. It doesn't have a powerful engine, which forces you to focus on technique, and when you graduate beyond 228 hp, the engine can be swapped for a 2JZ (for example) with minimal effort. Experienced drifters and novices alike will tell you that from the factory, this is one of the best drift cars in the world.
7. Mazda MX-5 Miata
Miata Is Always The Answer, and that applies to good drift cars too. The diminutive sports car is light, responsive, well-balanced, and characterful. Whether you're talking about the NA, the ND, the NC, or the current-gen ND, the Mazda MX-5 is a great example of an all-rounder. Circuit, hill climb, autocross, or drift, the Miata can do them all. And like so many other vehicles on our list of drift cars, the MX-5 has several potential engine swaps available for it, including big LS V8s.
Best of all, prices are not ridiculous, likely because most Miata owners are true enthusiasts themselves who just want more people to understand that top speed and obscene power are not everything. Miatas are fun things to drive, and if you want to accelerate your understanding of how to control a pair of spinning rear wheels as quickly as possible, we recommend a Mazda MX-5.
8. Toyota Supra
We never said this list was about cheap drift cars. It's about popular drift cars, and the A80 Toyota Supra is surely one of those. Its rear wheels are powered by the legendary 2JZ-GTE engine, which is astonishingly reliable under sustained abuse because the performance ceiling of the stock components is extraordinarily high.
Thanks to a wide track, you also have excellent grip, which is something you do actually want. Drifting isn't just about getting the rear end loose - it's about controlling that slide. The more grip you have, the more speed you can carry and the more smoke you can produce. As with the Nissan Silvias, but worse, the used market for the Toyota Supra is pretty eye-watering, and we'd say it's arguably better to buy a new GR Supra than to try to pry an A80 or even A70 from its obsessive owner.
Either way, the Supra is another of those few cars that are practically drift-ready from the factory. Can't find one? Try looking for an imported Toyota Chaser, preferably a Tourer V model with its factory-fitted 1JZ-GTE engine. You'll make plenty of power and earn loads of scene points.
9. Nissan Skyline
Another obscenely expensive Japanese car with a cult-like following is the Nissan Skyline. In GT-R form, the Skyline is not only practically unobtainable, but it powers all four wheels. Thus, we recommend a GTS-T variant, which uses the same RB engine family as the GT-R but sends less power to a single axle (the rear, obviously). You could get a BNR32, A BNR33, or a BNR34, but we'd recommend the middle child.
The R32 is the first of its kind (we're ignoring the different powertrains of the R31 and earlier models), which makes it highly collectible, while the R34 is arguably the best-looking and the most popular, as well as the last of its kind. The R33 is the one whose styling is least appreciated, which makes a slight difference in prices. Regardless, the Nissan Skyline range is full of brilliant rear-wheel-drive machines, and any of them could potentially be good at drifting. And unlike the Toyota Supra, you might even find a four-door model - great for loading spare rubber.
10. Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 has a famously finicky Wankel-designed rotary engine that does not like extended abuse in stock form, but the rest of the recipe is perfect for drifting. The FD3S (the last RX-7) is, like the Supra and Skyline, immensely popular in all sorts of automotive circles, which means it's hard to find one suitable for sideways action.
Either you get a mint example that you don't want to bash the doors off, or you find a rough one that definitely needs an engine rebuild. The solution is to buy the rough model and stick a big fat V8 engine in it. Or, if you're patient, you may find an FC3S model, the wedgy and slightly less appreciated predecessor to the FD. If even that is too much of a reach, the Mazda RX-8 is a decent alternative, especially if you're planning to junk the engine anyway.
Of course, most of the appeal of the Mazda RX-7 and, to a lesser degree, the Mazda RX-8 lies in the "brap-brap" of the rotary engine, but it's only viable if you have deep pockets or if you intend to drift for a good time and not a long time.
Offbeat Drift Cars
In the above list, we've focused mainly on the cars that are the most reliable or the most common for drifting, but drifting, as we've mentioned, is a combination of speed, precision, and style. That last point is somewhat objective, depending on the judges at a particular drift event, but we can't help but think that the Dodge Viper would instantly score a drifter bonus style points. You'd have a drift car with a V10 engine, rear-wheel drive, and, in the early versions, absolutely no traction control. Controlling the long-hooded car may be tricky, but it would also be entertaining.
The Honda S2000 (AP1 or AP2) is another car that could make a great drift weapon, but it tends to spend most of its afterlife on the Time Attack circuit, which is exactly why we'd love to see more S2Ks going sideways. Sadly, both of these cars have become treasured icons that are not parted with for small sums, so they're rarely seen drifting.
Prefer German power? A Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG W211 or a BMW M5 E39, each of which has a V8 engine, sound good… Want something that doesn't produce any sounds? Vaughn Gittin Jr. has shown that a Mustang Mach-E can be modified for drifting, and you can slide a Tesla too.
These are just our random choices, but we've also seen a Lamborghini Murcielago, a Mazda BT-50 pickup truck, a Ford F-150 (thanks, Hoonigan), a Volvo 240 station wagon, and even a Ford Transit van eschew top speed and the idea of a conventional engine for drifting glory.
What are the best cars for drifting? Based on the above, whichever car you like most, apparently. It all depends on your budget and your goals.
What Is Drift Mode?
These days, more and more buyers request AWD because of the security it provides in all conditions, but many of them want to hoon like Ken Block too. The solution is a drift mode that can either decouple the front axle from the engine and transmission or otherwise favor sending power to the rear wheels.
One of the first AWD cars to offer such a feature was the Ford Focus RS. In the Focus RS, the twin-clutch AWD system can send as much as 70% of the engine's output to the rear axle. Of that 70%, it can send up to 100% to an individual rear wheel. The Volkswagen Golf R and the Audi RS3 use very similar systems, but these can only send 50% of their output to the rear axle. Regardless, none of these systems - Mercedes-AMG CLA 45S included - completely disconnects the front end. If we're being honest, these are powerslide modes, not drift modes.
Conversely, cars like the Mercedes-AMG C63, the BMW M8, or the Kia Stinger GTS can send ALL of their output to the rear end exclusively. If the front end was still connected, the powered rotation thereof would mean these cars would be powersliding. Since they're not, and the driver must control these vehicles like they're purely RWD, they're drifting. It's a real drift mode for a real drift king. Sorry, Bugatti Chiron Sport, but you can't drift. You look fantastic sliding, though.
Whatever your definition of drift mode, it's great that automakers of all sorts are having fun, creating cars for drifting from the factory. The more interest there is in drifting, the more Formula Drift and the sport as a whole may grow.
