Motorsports come in a variety of different events. The problem with some of them though is they lack the excitement and intensity that something like drifting provides. When you’re watching super powered cars speed around a track, it’s fun and intense, but what about a car taking a corner sideways?
Purposefully losing control of the car and over-steering doesn’t sounds like the best idea, but it can make for quite the experience or an exciting site for spectators. Not every car is equipped to pull off this type of maneuver, which is why we’re bringing you the top drifting cars to own.
This list brings you the top cars for this exciting sport, cars that are prepared and ready. We’ll discuss what this sport entails and what makes a good drifting vehicle before showing you the best ones out there.
The Art of Drifting
Drifting is a driving technique the involves the driver deliberately over-steering which causes a loss of traction in the rear tires of the vehicle. Despite this, the driver maintains control throughout a turn from entry to exit of the corner. To be consider drifting, the rear slip angle must be greater than the front slip angle.
The front wheels point in the opposite direction of the turn (so if the car is turning right, the wheels are pointed right and vice versa). This is also known as opposite lock or counter-steering. Drifting has become an international motorsport that is judged based on the speed, angle, and showmanship of the drift.
The origins of drifting are unknown, but Japan was among the first places to build up the concept as a national sport. In the 1970’s, a motorcycling champion named Kunimitsu Takahashi became a driver and pioneered some of the top drifting techniques still used today.
When it comes to the perfect car for drifting, there are some basic characteristics you should look for in the vehicle of choice:
- Light to moderate weight
- Rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive coupes and sedans
- Great chassis balance
- A tunable engine
- Limited slip differential
Let’s explore some of the top cars out there that can be used in this ever growing sport.
The Best Cars to Own for Drifting
1 – The Mercedes C63 AMG
With the intention of appealing to a younger market, Mercedes began working on a C-Class Coupe model in 2008. After a failed attempt with the CLC, they came out with their line of AMG coup models. With an edgy and sporty look, the car will turn heads well before it starts putting out smoke.
Any one of these cars in this series are perfect for drifting. The only problem that comes with them is their high price tag. Straight off the line, you won’t be able to drift either. You’ll need to take out the luxury gear and put in some suspension upgrades to make it ready for drifting. Trust us, it’s worth the money if you can spare it. The included 6.2 liter V8 will bring you all the power you need.
photo courtesy of Vertar
2 – The Nissan Skyline R33 GTS-T
The line of Nissan Skyline cars goes all the way back to 1966 when Nissan merged with the Prince Motor Company. This line of cars was designed and engineered by Shinichiro Sakuri until he passed away in 2011. This car makes our list of drifting vehicles because it’s solid as a rock, twice as light, and it doesn’t break your wallet.
This model was the last one to feature the RB25 engine and rear wheel drive so it’s a prime example of what you’re looking for. The 2.6 liter puts out 276 horsepower so it’s ripe for tuning.
3 – The Toyota Corolla AE86
While these are difficult to find nowadays, it represents one of the top drifting vehicles out there. During the production life in the 1980’s it was used in multiple types of motorsports. Everything from Group A to Group N, to circuit and rallying races.
While the engine will need some tuning and the NA 4 cylinder will leave you wanting more torque, this car bleeds with drifting nostalgia. Kelichi Tsuchiya, one of the fathers of drifting started out driving one of these cars. With a natural rear wheel drive setup and a lightweight design, you’ll find a lot to love here.
4 – The Ford Mustang
While sporting itself as a muscle car, and one of the finest ones may I add, the Ford Mustang is not above drifting and with the right tuning it can be a monster of a vehicle. The first time one of these was used in motorsports was for the purpose of a pace car on the 1964 Indianapolis 500.
Since then, the Mustang has seen numerous appearances in all manner of racing championships. For drifting purposes, the car is going to need a boost to the suspension, and tuning on the engines. The five liter engine is enough power to truly outpace the competition on the speedway.
5 – The Nissan 200SX (S13/S14/S15)
This is the latest in Nissan’s line of sports coupes dubbed the Nissan Silvia. The 200SX is the top choice for drifter’s hands down. In terms of the models, there are some slight differences. The S13 for example has pop-up headlights, but something like that doesn’t matter too much in terms of drifting.
As we all know, the thing we want from drifting cars is power and precision. The S13 brings a 1.8 liter turbo CA18DET with 160 horsepower. The S14 and S15 models upgraded to the 2 liter turbo SR20DET which brings in 200 horsepower. Regardless of the model you choose, the car is strong and easy to understand.
There are numerous tuning parts available as well, which makes it easy to customize and tweak for drifting purposes. This is a major plus for any car looking to join the motorsport. Tuning ability is key in any good drifting vehicle. Of the models, we recommend the S14 because it has a nice balance between pricing and performance.
If you have the money to spare though, the S15 bring with it improved style and power that can’t be ignored, especially if you have the means to afford it.
