For motor-freak adrenaline junkies, drifting is a thrilling sport that requires skillfully controlling the car while sliding through corners. It is a combination of speed, power, and precision. In drifting, what matters the most is the right car that best combines power, handling, and balance. Thus, when it comes to drifting, finding the best-drifting vehicles is essential for mastering those sideways slides. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the best drifting cars that balance power with rear-wheel drive to make them ideal for drifting.
Before entering the list, one must understand the characteristics that make a car good for drifting. The following essential characteristics are commonly found in the best drifting cars available.
One of the most popular drift cars is the Nissan 240SX, with its simple versatility in terms of great RWD, lightweight frame, and huge aftermarket support, making it a great choice for both the beginner and the seasoned drifter. It comes in a 2.4 inline-four and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine pumping out 155 and 205 horsepower respectively. Generations like S13 and S14 are highly sought after for ease of modification and affordability.
Toyota’s AE86 has become a mascot for the art of drifting, primarily due to its perfect weight distribution and balanced chassis. The AE86 comes in a 1.6-liter inline-four engine producing 112 horsepower with a rear wheel drive system. It is known for its agility in handling and the capacity to carry speed into a corner despite the relatively modest power output.
The Mazda RX-7 Used Cars is truly a masterpiece that is an icon in the drifting world. Equipped with the 1.3-liter rotary that produces about 276 horsepower, this car is an absolute drifting beast. Its sleek design, lightweight, and responsive handling further complement its drifting ability.
The Nissan Skyline is a legendary car in motorsport, especially for its GT-R varieties. The Skyline’s 2.6-liter turbocharged engine with 280 horsepower, married to its solid chassis, truly makes for a beast on the drift circuit. Though usually AWD, the potential to be converted into RWD provides drifters with the best of both worlds. Generations such as R32, R33, and R34 are rather popular due to strong RB engines and powerful drivetrains.
BMW’s E36 and E46 3-Series have gained popularity among drifters due to their well-balanced chassis, affordability, and strong aftermarket support. In terms of M3 variants, they offer better power and performance in competitive drifting.
The BMW 3-Series has excellent handling, and inline-six engines give smooth, usable power. Additionally, these are pretty affordable compared to the rest of the European sports cars, so they make a great option.
Long a staple in American muscle car culture, the Ford Mustang has also been breaking waves in the drifting world. Its powerful 5.0 liter V8 engine with up to 480 horsepower, its rear-wheel drive setup, and vastly improved handling in the S197 and S550 generations make it quite the force on the drift track.
With a storied history in motorsports, and with fame attached to the story of tuning and modification, the Used Car Toyota Supra makes for a phenomenal drift car. The A80 Supra with the 3.0 liter 2JZ engine is a legendary car in this category, but for the new A90 (GR Supra), modern performance is offered via the BMW-sourced engine. The Supra with its powerful engine, robust transmission, and rear-wheel drive is one of the best drifting machines.
The Lexus IS 300, particularly the earlier variants from 2001-2005, has become a sleeper hit in the drift world, primarily due to the engine that it shares with the famous Toyota Supra—the 2JZ. While the naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE fitted on the IS 300 is somewhat tame in comparison with the turbocharged 2JZ-GTE found in the Supra, it still offers impressive reliability and would be suited to some tuning. With rear-wheel drive, the IS 300 is well-suited for drifting.
Among these infrequent cars is the Mazda MX-5, also popularly known as the Miata, which is pretty much generally acclaimed for having a very light design, superb balance, and precise handling. Thus, the MX-5 makes for an unexpected but increasingly popular car for drifting as it does not have high horsepower like some other drift cars. Of course, with the ability to make up for that by being agile, and fun to drive, especially on sharp, technical courses, it’s not odd that many people are interested in it for drifting.
The Mazda RX-8 is often a top choice for those who love drifting. With its rotary engine, it is completely different from traditional piston-engine cars. The power delivery of the Renesis rotary in RX-8 is decent for drifting and lets the car rev load smoothly and consistently. Add to this a well-balanced chassis and rear-wheel drive, and you now have a very strong foundation of a drift car.
If you’re in search of the ideal drifting car, SAT Japan is one of the top places to go for quality, reliability, and pure performance. At SAT Japan we take pride in being a global exporter of Best Japanese Cars and having a reputation for sourcing some of the most iconic drifting cars available.
Here are some reasons why buying a drifting car from SAT Japan makes perfect sense, be it for beginners or experienced drivers:
At SAT Japan we offer the best drifting machines including models such as the Nissan 240SX (Silvia), Toyota AE86, and Mazda RX-7. These cars have a rear-wheel drive configuration, lightweight bodies, and powerful engines that are crucial for mastering the art of drifting.
We check all cars in detail before offering them on sale to ensure they are of high quality and run very smoothly. Our team of experts checks all parts of the engine, transmission, and suspension, among other most sensitive parts, to ensure they match a very high standard.
SAT Japan also has extensive knowledge about tuning and modifications. Drifting requires very specific setups, and we can assist in customization options, suspension setup, or even engine swaps. Instead of starting from a blank slate, you can just buy a pre-tuned car for optimal drifting performance.
At SAT Japan we simplify the entire car buying process for you ensuring everything is smooth and transparent. We also provide detailed information about each car in terms of photos, specifications, and condition reports so you know exactly what you are buying. Moreover, our expert team handles all the paperwork and shipping logistics so buying your favorite vehicle is like a cakewalk.
We ensure competitive prices for our vehicles. Be it a high-performance car built for drifting or just something affordable, we offer a variety of cars to fit various budgets.
SAT Japan has a worldwide network in 200 countries having the capability to deliver your vehicle to your doorstep without any geographical boundaries.
To sum it up, SAT Japan is your trusted partner in getting you your ideal car at the best price. With us, you can be confident that you are getting one of the highly reliable, best-drifting cars tailored to meet your needs and shipped directly from the heart of JDM car culture.
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