The top 10 drift cars for beginners
If you want to become a drift star then you need to start somewhere. any one of these great rear-wheel-drive platforms will serve you well…
If you want to learn how to drift then you need to start with the right car. Making sure you focus on rear-wheel-drive models with a decent amount of power there’s certainly plenty to choose from, but don’t discount learning to drift in a low-powered model either.
Whatever your budget, there’s a suitable drift chassis out there with your name on it. Here are my top ten picks, in no particular order.
Nissan S13
Good S13s are becoming increasingly difficult to find
As I covered in this month’s Drift Classics (bit.ly/2psNdeR), the Nissan S13 is probably the most-oft used drift chassis in the world. Finding a clean and original example is getting tricky, but why would you want to? If you’re just starting to learn how to drift then you will crash at some point – probably several points, actually. Seek out a model with a few bruises and battle scars and you’re likely to save yourself a healthy wedge of cash.
Just make sure it’s mechanically sound – the standard turbocharged 1.8-litre CA18DET engine, although strong if looked after, is notorious for munching its way through big end bearing shells later in life. The good news is that, if your engine is on its last legs, then you have the perfect excuse to replace it with the later 2.0-litre SR20DET block from the S14, which is a more favourable choice.
Nissan S14
The 'zenki' S14 is an increasingly popular choice with beginners
Introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the S13, you’ll find Nissan S14s come in two varieties – zenki (early) and kouki (late), otherwise commonly referred to as S14 and S14A. Much like the S13, there’s a huge range of off-the-shelf parts available and they’re relatively bombproof straight out of the box. All UK cars came with the turbocharged SR20DET four-cylinder, which can be pushed up to around 350bhp reliably on standard internals, with an uprated turbo unit – this is more than enough if you’re just starting out!
Above 300bhp, or with continued abuse, the weak point here is the stock gearbox. More specifically, third gear appears to have been fabricated from a soft cheese-type substance, and is quite prone to self destruction, taking the rest of the gearbox with it. For this reason, many people choose to fit an uprated gearbox from a Nissan Skyline, or Z32 300ZX – these are more resilient in the face of drift abuse and can handle more power than the SR20 gearbox.
Toyota Corolla AE86
The AE86 requires complete commitment, both in ownership and driving!
It’s the ultimate drift classic – the Toyota Corolla AE86 with its high-revving naturally aspirated 4A-GE has a tendency for winning over the hearts and minds of all who drive it. They’re not particularly fast, with the 1.6-litre engine putting out just under 130bhp on a good day. They’re also really quite dated, and they require total commitment to drift at speed, but few cars are more rewarding to peddle well than a Hachiroku (Japanese for ‘86’). For this reason they’re a great car to learn to drift in – if you can drift an AE86 well then jumping into a rear-wheel drive Nissan with over twice the power will be a doddle.
The bad news is that if you were hoping to pick one up for a song then you’re around ten years too late. The AE86’s status as a cult icon has seen prices skyrocket all around the world, and everyone who owns one knows it. A few years ago it might have been that if you saw one on the street you could hoodwink someone who didn’t know what it was worth into selling it far too cheap – tales of Corolla fans chasing down OAPs in their original AE86s and buying them for pittance are plentiful.
BMW 3-Series
BMW's E46 M3 has all the right ingredients for a great drift machine
Pick any generation of BMW 3-series to suit your budget and you’ve got yourself an instantly capable drift car. For the beginner, my top picks would be the E30, E36 and E46. If you’ve got your eyes set on the E30 then forget the M3 model – they’re far too rare and sought after nowadays to be a suitable candidate for learning to drift in (with the E36 M3 heading the same way). Instead, look for a six-cylinder model, such as the 320i, 323i or 325i. Those with designs on an E36 also have the 328i to consider too.
The newer E46 M3 is a good consideration if your budget can stretch. They produce good power straight out of the box, have a large amount of aftermarket support thanks to their popularity in the track day community, and offer a limited slip differential as standard. Speaking of which – only the M3 had a LSD as standard in the E46 model. When it comes to the E30 and E36 models it gets more confusing, so always check first.
Toyota Chaser
The big body JZX100 is one way to slide in style
If you’ve got the budget for it then a Toyota JZX model is a solid choice for a drift car. My pick with be the Chaser JZX100 – this four-door saloon doesn’t look like a likely candidate for a drift car, but they’re rear-wheel drive, handle fantastically, and can be tuned for a silly amount of power. What’s more you can cruise in comfort on the motorway in one, and have room to cart the family or your friends around too.
At the heart of the JZX100 sits the 2.5-litre six-cylinder turbocharged Toyota 1JZ-GTE motor with variable valve timing. As standard it’ll kick out a not-too-shabby 280bhp, but a few tweaks can easily see you destroying tyres to the tune of 350-400bhp – and the 1JZ motor will take the abuse all day long. The Chaser wasn’t sold in the UK, so you’ll need to import one, and importers are cottoning on to their popularity, so be quick about it!
Mazda MX-5
Short back and sides? The lightweight MX-5 is a hoot to slide around
The downside of drifting an MX-5? You’ll get called a hairdresser. The plus points? You’ll have the biggest grin on your face as you peddle the little Mazda around the track – it’s a truly awesome chassis to drive hard! The MX-5 (known as the Miata in the U.S. or Eunos in Japan) has been around for a good few years now – the first generation was launched in 1989 – and for this reason you can pick them up for next to nothing. Arguably, it’s the closest you can get to drifting an AE86 while still retaining some sort of sense of value-for-money!
Powered by a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, the 1.6-litre version puts out around between 90-115bhp (depending on the year), while the larger and later 1.8-litre packs around 130bhp. It doesn’t sound like much (that’s because it’s not), but you don’t actually need much more to get drifting as the first-gen MX-5 only weighs around 940kg – or less if you simply add some lightness. If you get the thirst for more power then turbocharging is a viable option – for a few thousand quid you can soon be knocking on the door of 200bhp – plenty enough to put even the most well-groomed barnets into a state of disarray.
Nissan 350Z
The Nissan 350Z is a great platform to learn with
The 350Z makes for a great base for a drift car, what’s more, they can be picked up for under £4000 now too, which is a bargain when all is taken into consideration! Hunt around and you might be able to find a cat-D example for even cheaper. The 3.5-litre naturally aspirated VQ35DE V6 motor puts out 280-300bhp as standard, and the manual gearbox is reasonably bombproof too.
They’re easy to drift in stock form as well, but make a few tweaks to suspension and steering and you’ll soon be sliding around like a proverbial drift king. The 350Z’s popularity within drifting circles (see what I did there?) is growing too, so there’s an ever-increasing amount of aftermarket support. If your pockets are deeper than average then consider the updated 370Z as an alternative – it’s much of the same, with added poshness.
Volvo 340
Proof that Volvo 340s can make for competitive drift machines
I bet when Volvo penned the little 340 they didn’t imagine it ever finding its way onto a racetrack, let alone sliding around and smoking the rear tyres! It might not be the most glamorous or stylish choice of drift chassis, but the little 340 is perfect for the younger discerning drifter, or those wanting to start sliding on a budget.
Drift-specific aftermarket support isn’t great, but there’s not much you need here – start by choosing a hatchback model with the 1.7-litre Renault F-series engine, weld the differential, fit a bucket seat and lower the suspension and you’re all set. You’ll need to peddle hard to make the most of the Volvo’s 80bhp, but you’ll be a better driver for it. For more tips of the essential drift car modifications, click here: bit.ly/2q6Uqxo
Nissan Skyline R33
R33s get a lot of flack for their aesthetics, but they make for great drift cars
There’s a whole family of Nissan Skylines to choose from. While the R32 chassis remains highly popular in drifting, and the R34 offers updated looks, I’ve zoned in on the ugly duckling of the bunch in the name of remaining budget-conscious. Forget the range-topping GT-R models (as these are all-wheel-drive), and focus on the GTS-T – that’s the rear-wheel-drive model. The engine of choice is the RB25DET – a 2.5-litre, six-cylinder turbo’d lump that sings to the tune of around 250bhp. Once again, there’s plenty more on tap with some uprated components, improved cooling and a bigger turbo.
You might feel like you need the extra oomph too – although the R33 only weighs around 1,400kg they feel a bit heavy to drift in stock form. That’s nothing a bit of weight saving and a decent suspension setup can’t cure, however. Sort that out and they’re a top-quality drift chassis (if still a little bit ugly and boat-like).
Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 FC3S – she's a looker
Arguably one of the best-looking drift chassis there are. Take your pick – the earlier FC3S shape with its more angular lines or the later FD3S with it’s sleek curves, both are gorgeous! There’s just one sticking point – reliability. Mazda’s pistonless rotary engines are prone to all manner off issue once the mileage increases, or they’re put under continued abuse. If you can budget for the rebuilds then don’t let this put you off – they sound absolutely incredible at full chat.
If you don’t fancy the idea of stripping the motor down on a regular basis then consider an engine swap – from Nissan SR20s to big GM V8s, if you can think of it then it’s most likely been done already, and there’s probably plenty of conversion parts to help you along the way. My choice? A nicely sorted FC3S with a Toyota 1JZ-GTE engine, please.
Tags: #drift #drifting #driftcars #s13 #s14 #silvia #nissan #bmw #mazda #rx7 #jzx
Join In
Comments (35)
Honestly can't believe they suggested to swapping the rotary power out of an RX7. Blasphemy.
If you want bargain basement drifting, find a 2.5 v6 Vauxhall omega in manual, it might be the size of a cross channel ferry but it is huge fun to sling around.
I just want the R33 taken off this list though. I will debate it is a terrible drift car for beginners XD
I agree totally. The R33 was a bucket of understeer and disappointment. Where is the sil-80 in this vaunted list?
It's right at the top because it's an S13 😂
The R33 is also the prettiest of the Skylines.
Your mental 😂 has to be the R34
If you're a fast and furious fan boy then yeah, it's the R34. If you're a car enthusiast proper, it's a hard choice between 32 and 33 ;)
i would take a Lexus gs300. it has a na version of the 2jz and even though it's only available as an automatic, u can lock it in second gear.
Good shout – manual conversions aren't that tricky either. Although it's a fairly heavy car.