CARS GOOD FOR DRIFTING
Looking for the perfect beginner drift car? Don’t fall for the typical list like 240sx, AE86, or RX7 but instead go for something like a BMW, Ford, or a Nissan Z car.
DRIFT CAR LIST
BMW E30, E36, E46
NISSAN 350Z, 370Z
FORD MUSTANG Foxbody, SN95
MAZDA RX7
MAZDA MIATA
TOYOTA SUPRA
TOYOTA AE86
TOYOTA BRZ
NISSAN 240SX
HONDA S2000
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T BUY THESE DRIFT CARS…
You’ve probably seen tons of cool drift car recommendations, but we plan to burst your bubble…
The Nissan 240SX better known as the S13 held the title of a great beginner drift chassis for decades, but FORGET IT. Back in the day, I bought a 240SX for only $800, but those days are long gone. If you’re looking for a 240SX that hasn’t been abused you’re going to pay a fortune for it. SO DON’T BUY a 240SX. The DON’T buy list doesn’t stop there.
Don’t buy an AE86, RX-7, S2000, or BR-Z for a beginner drift car.
Stay away from Mazda rotary engines, turbocharged engines, or overseas imports like a Skyline. Your goal for a good drift car is reliability and ease of use. An overly expensive or high-horsepower car won’t make you better at drifting. Stay away from Miata’s too. Unfortunately, they’re becoming the next 240SX and are starting to carry a hefty drift tax.
WHAT DRIFT CARS ARE LEFT???
So we ruined your obsession with becoming the next Takumi Fujiwara sporting an AE86 from Initial D. If you really want to learn how to drift, there’s still hope. Here’s the list of the best drift cars we’ll be diving into:
BMW 3 series
BMW Z series
Nissan Z series
Ford Mustang
BMW DRIFT CARS
You’d be surprised that older BMWs are some of the best first-starter drift cars. Manual e30, e36, e46, Z3, and E92 can all drift with an LSD or welded diff. These models give you decades of older BMWs to choose from, which makes budgeting less of a pain. The BMW drift car list is so extensive we compiled a detailed breakdown of the best BMW drift cars here.
NISSAN Z SERIES DRIFT CARS
Nissan 350Z Drifting on Track
So you hate ALL BMW’s? Well, there’s the good old Nissan 350z. It will usually be a bit more expensive than a used BMW, but boy will it drift with very little to no modifications. Its low-end torque V6 has no problems drifting with just a clutch kick. They’re great for daily driving too. Just make sure you always check your oil.
FORD MUSTANT DRIFT CARS
Foxbody Mustang Drifting
Surprisingly Mustangs are becoming more and more popular as beginner drift cars. The classic Foxbody and fourth-gen 94-04 SN95 are good beginner cars. The S197 2005-2014 are ok too if you can find a good price for one.
The only downside besides adding a welded diff or LSD is the steering angle isn’t the greatest. But for a beginner, you can always modify steering angle at a later point in time.
WHAT’S THE BEST BEGINNER DRIFT CAR?
I’d say its a tie between a BMW E46 with an inline 6 or a Nissan 350Z with its v6.
E46 VS Nissan 350Z Best Cars Good For Drifting
Both sport around 180HP which is the sweet spot for a beginner. That’s not crazy horsepower, but just enough to easily start learning donuts, drifting through corners, and then learning transitions.
WATCH OUR FIRST DRIFT EVENT:
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