Whereas drifting is usually thought-about an costly sport, there are literally low-cost drift automobiles in the marketplace for aspiring drifters.
Drifting is a motorsport wherein drivers compete to be the quickest round a course by deliberately skidding their automobiles via corners. It takes a whole lot of observe to get the steadiness and precision wanted. Should you’re a newbie and need to go drifting, beginning off with the suitable automotive is necessary. Getting a great drift automotive will make it a lot easier to tug off drifting stunts. As a result of you’ll bash partitions and different folks’s doorways, it is best to make use of a used automotive.
Up to date March 2023: Drifting, like each different observe occasion, requires severe driving expertise, type, and, most significantly, a correct drift automotive. Whereas the used automotive market has a goldmine of excellent drift automobiles, as a newbie, you will want one thing low-cost and a automotive you will not thoughts hitting in opposition to the barrier often in pursuit of the right angle. We’ve due to this fact up to date this checklist to incorporate the most cost effective drift automobiles for newbies that you would be able to simply get on the used automotive market.
Typically thought-about an costly sport for newbies, the excellent news is that you do not have to spend a lot cash in your first drift automotive. The best drift automotive contains a rear-wheel drive structure, limited-slip differential, handbook transmission, balanced and light-weight chassis, a pleasant lengthy wheelbase, an easy-to-tune suspension, and, after all, a front-mounted, easy to-tune tire-melting engine.
Whereas there are many inexpensive choices that you would be able to simply modify for drifting, many drifting automobiles price an arm and leg. We have due to this fact narrowed right down to the ten most cost-effective drift automobiles you should purchase and modify into a correct drifting weapon.
10 BMW E36 325i ($9,000+)
The BMW E36 325i has been a staple within the drifting group for years as a result of it has simply sufficient energy for enjoyable and sideways driving. It is also a dependable and succesful drift automotive. The inventory engine places out practically 200 horsepower and might deal with modifications as much as 350 horsepower with out requiring a significant engine rebuild.
This implies you will not have to fret about breaking issues prematurely and might use the inventory platform for years. It additionally comes with a stable handbook transmission that may face up to abuse. You will get a great situation 325i for subsequent to nothing on the used automotive marketplace for about $9,000.
9 Mazda Miata ($10,000+)
The Mazda Miata is one other glorious alternative for newbies as a result of it is simple to work on and has the identical and dependable energy output because the BMW E36 325i. Nevertheless, the inventory engine would not have the most effective drifting potential and doubtless will not be sufficient for severe aggressive occasions. So, the best choice is an LS3 engine swap. You’ll be able to decide up the LS3 from GM at $9,250 and a used Miata on the used automotive marketplace for $10,000.
The Mazda Miata can also be an ideal choice as a result of it is light-weight and has a good turning radius, making it simpler to float round corners.
8 BMW E30 316i ($14,000+)
The E30 316i is a superb place to begin for a first-time drifter because it has rear-wheel drive, a handbook transmission, and an engine bay that’s sufficiently big for an engine swap. Since the usual engine would not have sufficient energy for correct drifting, you’ll need an engine swap.
The preferred and straightforward engine swaps embrace the LS V8s, 2JZs, SR20s, and VQ35s. You will get the BMW E30 316i for about $14,000 and do an engine swap just like the LS3 we talked about beforehand.
7 Toyota Chaser JZX100 ($12,000+)
The Toyota Chaser JZX100 is one other excellent drift automotive for newbies. It has a stable chassis that may final ceaselessly and makes good energy off the road with its 1JZ-GE engine.
They’re low-cost and straightforward to search out in good situation, and tons of mods are additionally out there. You would make this automotive significantly quick with only a few modifications, like an even bigger turbo, intercooler and new headers. And since it is so dependable, you may use it for years, making it a cut price at about $12,000+.
6 Nissan 350Z ($15,000+)
Should you’re searching for an inexpensive drift automotive that you would be able to drive virtually proper out of the field, the Nissan 350Z is your jam. You would be hard-pressed to search out one other automotive that may go from delicate to wild so rapidly at the price of simply $15,000.
The 350Z is a simple automotive to work on. You’ll be able to improve it with easy modifications like an angle package or a welded diff. This automotive additionally has an enormous aftermarket scene, making discovering new components, restore outlets, and modifications simpler.
5 Nissan Silvia S14 ($19,000)
Subsequent up at $19,000 is the Nissan Silvia S14. It’s a sensible alternative for newbies who need to construct a drift automotive, because it comes with the SR20DE or SR20DET engine. The latter is a turbocharged engine that produces round 300 to 500 horsepower – greater than sufficient energy for a newbie drift automotive.
The draw back is that these engines are costly to improve to their full potential (round 500 horsepower) in comparison with different engines that may do it for much less, just like the 1JZ. So, when you get aggressive, it could be value doing a less expensive engine swap.
4 1992 Ford Mustang Fox Physique ($11,000+)
Typically missed, many overlook that the Mustang is greater than only a straight-line efficiency automotive, particularly the Fox Physique Mustang. Coming off the ’70s oil disaster, Ford made the Mustang as light-weight as attainable. However there’s extra to the Fox Physique Mustang that makes it the right drift weapon for newbies. Beneath the hood, it bought a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four or a 5.0-liter Windsor V8 engine. Whereas each motors are nice for drifting, the latter provides extra grunt, making it simpler to regulate your slip angle and reduce driver errors. The V8 engine can also be extra dependable than the small displacement inline-four engine.
Past that, fashions produced between 1979 and 1993 got here with a regular stick-shift transmission and rear-wheel drive. Discovering one in good condition in the present day is not troublesome, contemplating Ford bought over 1,000,000 examples throughout its lifetime. And being a Mustang, the automotive has nice aftermarket assist. This implies you’ll be able to have a drifting beast with just a few mods, equivalent to upgrading to a limited-slip differential and stiffening the automotive’s chassis.
3 Mazda RX-8 ($14,000+)
With costs for the Mazda RX-7 getting out of attain, you’ll be able to flip the RX-8 right into a drift missile just like the RX-7, and at an affordable value too. The RX-8 boasts unbelievable rotary energy, a screaming 9,000-rpm, and a improbable drifting chassis – one thing just a few automobiles can declare to have. Prime that off with a front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive structure, and a regular limited-slip differential, and you’ve got the best sideways-driving monster for any aspiring drifter.
Weighing in at simply 3,050 kilos, the RX-8 provides unbelievable dealing with because of its near-50:50 weight distribution and low middle of gravity. The general bundle is an ideal candidate for an engine swap when you’ve got issues with rotary upkeep. Costing as little as $2,100 for high-mileage 2004 examples, few drift automobiles in the marketplace provide equal or higher bang on your buck than the RX-8.
2 Merkur XR4Ti Turbo ($8,700+)
The XR4Ti was mainly a German-made model of the European Ford Sierra RS, bought in America because the Merkur XR4Ti from 1985 to 1989. The XR4Ti, due to this fact, borrowed its sporty ergonomics from the high-performance Sierra RS, a automotive designed particularly to race in Europe’s Group A racing. Born a drift automotive, the XR4Ti is light-weight, has a protracted wheelbase, simply adjustable impartial rear suspension, balanced chassis, and an ideal power-to-weight ratio.
The XR4Ti had a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that churned out 175 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. On high of that, it got here with a five-speed handbook transmission, finishing the right components for a tire-burning drift automotive. Whereas the XR4Ti is uncommon, discovering one is comparatively low-cost and straightforward, since most drifters and tuners typically overlook them. Excessive-mileage examples are filth low-cost, costing about $2,240, whereas good-condition XR4Tis can fetch about $26,750.
1 Lexus SC300 ($14,000+)
Boasting Supra internals, luxurious options, and gorgeous seems, the Lexus SC300 is an underrated drifting gem. Though not the 2JZ-GTE engine you’d discover within the highest-spec MKIV Supra, the non-turbocharged 3.0-liter 2JZ-GE inline-six is equally succesful, rated at 225 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. In addition to the engine, the SC300 and the MKIV Supra shared different components equivalent to electronics, transmission, brakes, and sub-frames. Meaning the SC300 advantages from the Supra’s off-the-shelf components, for the reason that Supra is among the many hottest tuned drift automobiles in the present day. From bolt-on mods like headers and exhaust mods to intercoolers and coil-overs, you will not battle to search out aftermarket components on your drift automotive.
However the SC300 has the sting over the Supra in that it’s also luxurious and handles extremely. So, if you’d like a drift automotive to take to the observe and the membership, the SC300 is a cut price automotive value searching for. You’ll be able to take pleasure in Supra-like drifting efficiency from the SC300 for as little as $2,240 for high-mileage items, however these in pristine circumstances price about $26,750.
Sources: Nissan, Toyota, Traditional, Edmunds, Low-offset, Drifted, Boards, and 240drift
