24 Cars That Will Make You a Drifting Pro

Drifting is as popular as ever. If you’re not part of the scene already but want to test your mettle at driving sideways through corners, it’s the perfect time to get started

While any rear-wheel-drive car can be used for drifting, some are better than others, and certain cars are better suited to experienced drivers than newbies.

We’ve gathered a list of 24 cars with a proven track record in the drift community, each with its own characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.

Nissan 350Z

Nissan’s sporty coupe was never the greatest driver’s car, but it’s an excellent choice for drifting. Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that churns out around 300 ponies, the 350Z is powerful enough in stock form to break traction.

Most trims even had a durable six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip diff — it’s like Nissan built the 350Z specifically to go sideways. With a massive amount of aftermarket parts, it can be turned into a proper monster.

E36 BMW 3-Series

The e36 BMW 3-Series is an oldie but a goodie. While prices are on the rise now, affordable 3-Series Bimmers are still available. It’s got a magnificent chassis, and there are a plethora of engine options.

Some choose to forego BMW’s own engines and swap in Toyota’s legendary 2JZ unit instead. If that’s too drastic, we’d go with one of the more powerful versions, or fit a turbo… or both.

Lexus IS300

Lexus built the IS300 to compete against BMW’s 3-Series, and just like its Bavarian opponent, the Lexus has a penchant for some sideways action.

Under the hood, it has the naturally aspirated version of Toyota’s 2JZ engine. While it doesn’t have enough power to win the Formula Drift Championship, it’s enough for beginners, and its chassis is among the best out there.

Mazda Miata

As the saying goes, Miata is always the answer! This little roadster may not offer the most powerful engine options, but its handling is world-class.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a great drift car for beginners. The short wheelbase gives it great agility but also makes it a bit unstable and challenging to master. Once you’ve figured out how to keep it going sideways, there’s a vast selection of aftermarket parts that add power.

Toyota Supra

The Toyota Supra is a legend, and prices have skyrocketed over the last few decades. While a new Supra is available, it’s not exactly cheap either. That said, any generation of the Toyota Supra is among the best drift cars for those with deep enough pockets.

We’d go for an Mk4 with a twin-turbocharged 2JZ under the hood, as it delivers 320-hp in stock form. Then again, it’s hard to argue against the Mk5 with its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six BMW unit that sends 382 wild stallions to the rear wheels.

Lexus SC/Toyota Soarer

The Lexus SC, or Toyota Soarer in Japan, is, essentially, a more luxurious version of the Supra, as the two cars are built on the same platform.

In Japan, the Soarer was available with the turbocharged 2.5-liter 1JZGTE engine, the 2JZ’s smaller, but almost as capable sibling. While that wasn’t an option in the States, Lexus offered the SC with the naturally aspirated version of the 2JZ and a 4.0-liter V8 unit.

Mazda RX-7

If screaming Wankel rotary engines are your thing, none does it better than Mazda and its RX-7 model. All generations of the RX-7 cost a fortune now, but it’s absolutely worth it if you have the money.

While not the most reliable engine, the rotary’s “brap-brap” idling and full-send wailing can be addictive, and it’s capable of producing some serious power, too.

Infiniti G35

Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury brand, and the G35 is basically a more luxurious 350Z. If you want a drift car that doubles as your daily driver or weekend toy, the G35 is the better option.

It has aged well and still looks great, but if you want to change something, there’s a vast selection of aftermarket parts, ranging from basic spoilers to widebodies and turbo kits.

Ford Mustang

Those who’ve seen the late, great Ken Block drive the Hoonicorn Mustang know it can certainly be turned into a capable drift weapon. However, classic ‘Stangs aren’t your best option for some sideways action.

Opting for a fifth-gen or newer gets you a reliable and very capable Mustang for drifting. It’s hard to beat the V8-powered GT model’s soundtrack, but it doesn’t matter which engine you get; they all produce enough power to break traction.

Nissan Silvia 180SX/200SX/240SX

Old-school drift cars don’t get much better than Nissan’s old S-chassis models. Whether it’s the S13, S14, or S15, it’ll be one of the best classic drift machines money can buy.

While the U.S.-market 2.4-liter KA24 engine can be upgraded, we recommend swapping it for something with more potential, such as the turbocharged 2.0-liter SR20DET or the 2.5-liter RB25DET. For maximum power, nothing comes close to the legendary RB26DETT from the Nissan Skyline GT-R.

Toyota Corolla AE86

Another drift legend, the Toyota Corolla AE86 skyrocketed to fame after appearing in the cult anime show, Initial D. With just a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engine, it’s no longer a top contender against today’s 1,000+hp sideways missiles.

However, it has more pedigree than anything else out there, and can still hold its own on the local drift scene. How good is it? Let’s just say it’s still Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya’s weapon of choice, and he’s dominated the togue behind the wheel of his trusty steed.

Mazda RX-8

It’s possible to pick up a Mazda RX-8 for very little money. Its Renesis Wankel engine isn’t exactly known for being reliable. Here’s the thing, though, Mazda engineered these engines to be driven hard, and doing so actually makes them more reliable.

If you really want an RX-7 but can’t afford one, the RX-8 is the perfect alternative. It has a great chassis and lots of aftermarket support, and when the rotary engine finally gives up the ghost, you can swap in an LS V8.

Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S

Toyota and Subaru collaborated to create an affordable, fun-to-drive car, and there’s no doubt that they succeeded. Powered by a 2.0-liter boxer engine, the BRZ/86/FR-S is not overly powerful, making it an excellent option for beginners.

Once the drift skills are in place, it can be upgraded with a turbo kit, wide fenders, bigger brakes, and a massive wing. It really is a drift car that can follow you throughout your career, from beginner to pro.

Toyota JZX/Chaser/Cresta/Cressida

At first, sending one of these large Toyota luxury cars sideways down the track may seem intimidating. However, thanks to their long wheelbase, they’re really easy to control — the exact opposite of the Miata we mentioned earlier.

Some of these cars came with the excellent 1JZ engine straight from the factory floor. If you can’t find one of those, an engine swap is always an option.

E46 BMW 3-Series

Like its older e36 predecessor, the e46 3-Series can be turned into a proper drift machine. Let’s be honest, it’s also a much better-looking option than its sibling.

M3s are getting expensive, and we don’t want to see them destroyed on the track, but the 330Ci is almost as good for a fraction of the price.

Nissan Skyline R33 GTS-T

While the Skyline GT-R is a much more desirable car, it’s hard to get it to go sideways due to its ATTESA AWD system, so for drift purposes, we’ll go with the GTS-T instead.

In stock form, its turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-six unit sends 250 Japanese horses to the rear wheels, but that can easily be improved. Since the Nissan Skyline has become extremely popular, it’s hard to find even a base model in reasonable condition that doesn’t cost a fortune.

W202/W203 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor

Coming out of left field, the Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor is a very underrated drift car, but it’s pretty popular in Europe.

Its supercharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder M111 engine is practically bulletproof, and with 190 stock hp, it’s more than powerful enough for beginners. Prices are very reasonable these days, and while there’s not a lot of aftermarket support, it’s easy to find spare parts online.

Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370Z is the 350Z’s smaller, bigger brother. Confused? It’s shorter than its predecessor, but wider, and it has a larger, more powerful 3.7-liter engine.

While the 370Z packs a harder punch than the 350Z, its four-inch shorter wheelbase makes it harder to control, so it’s not a car for inexperienced drifters. The price difference between the two also means you can get a fully sorted 350Z for the price of a standard 370Z. That said, in the right hands, it’s a proper weapon.

5th-Gen Chevrolet Camaro

Back in the day, muscle cars were known for being fast in a straight line, but anything faster than walking pace would send them off track in the corners. Well, those days are long gone, and like the Ford Mustang, the newer Chevy Camaros can be turned into real drift machines.

With decent handling, plenty of power, and a vast selection of aftermarket parts, the Camaro will have you looking like a pro as you manji down the straights and send it sideways through the corners.

Honda S2000

Honda shocked the automotive world when it unveiled the S2000! What could be better than an affordable open-top, two-seater sports car with a high-revving naturally aspirated engine, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive?!

Early models had a 2.0-liter engine that needed to be revved to the redline, but Honda later increased the volume to 2.2 liters. Due to its unforgiving nature, it’s more popular for time-attack events than drifting, but when properly set up, it’s still a capable drift car. Good luck finding an affordable one, though.

Pontiac GTO

Another muscle car with a proven drift track record! Rhys Millen won the 2005 Formula Drift Championship behind the wheel of the final Pontiac GTO version.

It’s not the best-looking car, but with a 350–400 -hp LS V8 engine, it packs enough power in stock form to be a threat on the track. Get a proper suspension setup and lower the weight by stripping it down to the bare essentials, and this badge-engineered Australian muscle car could be a winner.

Pontiac Solstice GXP

The Solstice GXP is another Pontiac performance car that can be turned into a fun drift car. It’s nimble and agile, much like a Miata, and like the Japanese sports car, it takes some skill to keep it sideways without spinning.

The bad news is that they suffer from some issues, but none should be a dealbreaker if you’re only looking for a track car. A Pontiac Solstice is cheap and cheerful, and with some quality mods and driving skills, you’ll have endless amounts of sideways fun.

Nissan 300ZX

Nissan knows a thing or two about making fun, rear-wheel-drive sports cars. The 300ZX was the brand’s flagship model in the 1990s, and since it’s jam-packed with tech, it’s often overlooked for drift use.

That’s good news because it doesn’t come with the infamous “scene tax” that plagues more popular models. It has an excellent chassis, and the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 can be tuned to produce more power than most of us will ever need, but you should look into making it lighter — much lighter.

Chevrolet Corvette

America’s sports car is not a one-trick pony! C5 and C6 generation Corvettes are affordable supercar-slayers, and they’re not shying away from some sideways action, either.

With a powerful LS V8 engine under the long hood, the Corvette has plenty of power in stock form. Those who need more can always slap on a couple of turbos and turn tires into smoke with even the lightest tap on the throttle.