Good beginner's drift car?

Hey everyone, just wondering what a good beginner's drift car would be. I'm pretty good at canyon runs in my Z3; but, I tried drifting it and, needless to say, now the alignment needs to be fixed. :icon16: So, I'd really like to get a cheapo car that I can learn to drift with, and not be so worried about messing it up, as I am with the Z3. So, what's a good car to get? I would just get a 240 and be done with it... but it seems like SO many people in my area have 240's, and I don't really want to be considered just another "bandwagon jumper" or "poser." So, any and all HELP would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advance, everyone. :sunglasse

1978 Chevy Chevette Scooter. About 300-500 bucks, torquey four cylinder, four speed manual trans, rear wheel drive, and 49/51 weight distribution.

Also good are 1st gen RX-7's (watch for oil huffers, they're the ones with blown apex seals), Mitsubishi Starions/Chrysler Conquests, Datsun 240, 260, and 280Z's, 3rd gen (1982-1992) Camaros, Fox body (1978-1993) Mustangs, and any number of small British sports cars from the 60's and 70's.

The chevette is actually an o.k. car (If I weren't busy with the $50 Yugo right now I'd go out and buy one) Though a little "numb" in the handling department.
RX7's (1st gen) are neat cars, and the early 240Zs are nice too (though later ones begin to edge on up to the heavy side of things)

I would go with a miata. Plenty of parts and plenty of cars.

A bad condition Mazda MX5 for cheap'd fit the bill IMHO

1st gen Mx-5.Fc's are pretty good as well.Or if your willing to do quite a bit of work,their is the Corolla.

Awesome. :sunglasse Thanks for the replies everyone. I really appreciate it. If anyone else has any suggestions, don't hesitate to make them. :biggrin:

i wouldn't go for an FC3S if you're a beginner. the car, or so i've heard from numerous owners, is a very hard car to learn how to drift with.

also, Starions and Conquests are so rare that i doubt you'd find one, and if you DID, i wouldn't drift it because of the rarity...

i haven't heard much about how 1st gen RX-7's (SA22C/FB) are, but they can be had for cheap and seem like a logical choice. there's also the Mk.II MA6X Toyota Supra, which i've heard is a very capable drift car. most can be had for cheap, in fact i know of a few near me for sale for around $1200-1500 Canadian. 240/260/280Z's are great cars if you can find one in proper condition. most of the really nice-ied up ones go for alot. Miata's, if you're willing to spend the more money for one, are great too. but most of the other cars i've named can be had for alot less then an MX-5, which would leave money left over for modification.

hope this helps!

also, check out the "non-aligned drift cars" thread for some other suggestions. mind you not every car in that thread is a good drifter, but there are some good options in there.

happy hunting! :)

also, i wouldn't toss out the 240SX option just because alot of people have them. they are, without a doubt, one of the best, if not THE best, North American drift option, which is why so many people have them. i personally LOVE 240SX's, and have done so for going on 6 years now, so i was around before the car was even popular. i owned one for all of a day, and i'm still on the hunt for my next one. just because a bunch of people own them and are using them nowadays doesn't mean anything to me. i could care less! i'm buying the car because I like it, and it will make me happy to own one, drift one, and modify one. i could care less how many people have one, i'm buying one because i'm a fanatic and i love the car.

just something to think about. :)

Awesome. Thanks for the suggestions, S13! :sunglasse

forgot one that i meant to add to my last post.

Toyota Cressida. stick a 5-er in there from a Mk.II Supra, and you're good to go. RWD 4-door sedan with 5MGE (same engine as Mk.II Supra), sold as the Mark II/Cresta/Chaser in Japan, and they can usually be found for cheap on this side of the "lake".

Thanks for the added info, S13. Oh, also, I was wondering... do you know if the MZ/GZ20 Soarer was sold in the US? I was at the Taka Kaira site and happened to notice a Do-Luck aero kit for the 1986.1-1991.5 Soarer, and I haven't been able to find anything about them online as far as them being available in the US. Any ideas? I really like the aero kit, and it's got me fairly interested in the car now. Here's the link to the aero kit: http://www.takakaira.com/asp/template.asp?id=726&cat=1&prodID=PQqMnNnikJlhoKj

not available in the US. however, there is a company in Alberta, Canada that has successfully imported one and now has it for sale for $8000 Canadian. it's twin turbo and in VERY nice condition. one of the moderators on here, Heep, wants to buy it very badly.

go to www.importconcern.ca and click around until you find it.

Hmm... one prob with that, though. I'm in Cali, lol. Would it even be possible, if I did get that from them, to have it shipped to me and somehow get it to be street legal? lol :banghead:

Hmm... one prob with that, though. I'm in Cali, lol. Would it even be possible, if I did get that from them, to have it shipped to me and somehow get it to be street legal? lol :banghead:

well, here in Canada we have a rule that if the car is 15 years old or over, then no questions are asked. it can be imported legally and registered and driven on the streets legally, even if it's RHD. no special licenses or forms are needed. that's how the car got here and that's how it's street legal. i'm not too sure about Cali's laws...you'd have to talk to a local representative or something.

because of that law, i'm planning on importing an '89 Nissan Cefiro sometime in the next year or two... :biggrin:

DO NOT BUY A 240Z TO LEARN TO DRIFT!!! :nono: goes for anyone, WORLDWIDE (Especially Australia where I am!).
This is a rare, classic, historic even, piece of japanese motoring history that is getting rarer by the year and if wannabe drifter posers buy them and wreck them, its a loss.

240sx is your friend! also wondering, Why don't you want to look like a wannabe drifter poser? thats what most "drifters" are. :rolleyes:
Starion/conquest or RX7 SA22C are probably the best options though, bit better power : weight, and with the StarQuest you can just up the boost to get the tyres turning.

Old celicas (e.g TA/RA22/23 1970's models) are a good option, twin webers and a good exhaust would open up some power on the T series motor.

A datsun 510 bomb would be good too, just chop the rear springs, put good tyres on the front, maybe add weber carbies and good shocks all round (plus good front springs), and it would drift well. Don't buy a good one and slap it into a curb though. buy a rusty piece of shit with good mechanicals. The 2.0 litre L-series datsun motor from a 720 Truck, with aforementioned carby/exhaust/cam mods would give more than enough grunt, cheaply.


Theres some suggestions.
cheers,
floody

DO NOT BUY A 240Z TO LEARN TO DRIFT!!! :nono: goes for anyone, WORLDWIDE (Especially Australia where I am!).
This is a rare, classic, historic even, piece of japanese motoring history that is getting rarer by the year and if wannabe drifter posers buy them and wreck them, its a loss.

240sx is your friend! also wondering, Why don't you want to look like a wannabe drifter poser? thats what most "drifters" are. :rolleyes:
Starion/conquest or RX7 SA22C are probably the best options though, bit better power : weight, and with the StarQuest you can just up the boost to get the tyres turning.

Old celicas (e.g TA/RA22/23 1970's models) are a good option, twin webers and a good exhaust would open up some power on the T series motor.

A datsun 510 bomb would be good too, just chop the rear springs, put good tyres on the front, maybe add weber carbies and good shocks all round (plus good front springs), and it would drift well. Don't buy a good one and slap it into a curb though. buy a rusty piece of shit with good mechanicals. The 2.0 litre L-series datsun motor from a 720 Truck, with aforementioned carby/exhaust/cam mods would give more than enough grunt, cheaply.


Theres some suggestions.
cheers,
floody

nice screen-name, man.

i would have to disagree with using an older RA22 or such. just like the 240Z, they are extremely rare around here and i barely ever see one for sale, and if i do, it's mint and i don't want to see that get wrecked. the newer '70's ones are more common and therefore a better option.

it's a shame that all the wannabe posers are buying my favourite car and ruining it's image. :disappoin

nice screen-name, man.

i would have to disagree with using an older RA22 or such. just like the 240Z, they are extremely rare around here and i barely ever see one for sale, and if i do, it's mint and i don't want to see that get wrecked. the newer '70's ones are more common and therefore a better option.

it's a shame that all the wannabe posers are buying my favourite car and ruining it's image. :disappoin

Thanks :D

Ok, I just assumed that celicas would be easy buying in the USA , because those sorts of quasi-sporting cars seem to have traditionally been big sellers over there. I didn't realise they were that rare! theres plenty on the road here in Aussie...

To be honest, If I was in america, I'd look at a camaro/mustang/firebird or something,especially a 90's V8 stang. They seem about the right weight, and theres plenty of chassis hot up parts to make them handle, not to mention horsepower being a only a few traditional hot up parts (and junking the emissions gear) away.... They'd be cheapest over in USA, right? not to mention there being thousands upon thousands of the things in wrecking yards for parts when you inevitably kerb/power pole it.
People don't realise that a lot of the japanese street drifters are driving things like R33 GTS-T skylines, Laurels, Cefiros, soarers, chaser/mk11 sedans, all of which are BIG, HEAVY cars. More than likely bigger and heavier than those sporty domestic cars, with similar horsepower.

cheers,
floody

Ahem, speaking as the guy who suggested the S30 platform as a drift platform, I'd like to remind you gentlemen that the car is still an inexpensive and plentiful vehicle in its original form.

The 240Z is historic. It's monumental and not many recognize that. Few kids in their Honda Civics and Toyota Supras realize that if it weren't for this gem of a sports car Japanese cars wouldn't have one hundredth of the respect they do in the United States.

But that doesn't diminish its sporting potential, and it certainly doesn't diminish the potential of the certifiably more inexpensive 260Z's, 280Z's, 280Z 2+2's, and 280ZX's. When you consider that, as the volume sales entry level sports car of the 1970's, the original platform Z's were sold up until 1982 you see that there are plenty lying around for beginner drifters, SCCA club racers, and weekend hot rodders to play with.

As for the SA22C RX-7's. They were runner up to the Z in sales in 1978 and have never looked back. I can take 1k and find three usable SA22C's within a one town radius of my house. They were volume sales cars. Why else would the SCCA operate a Spec Class AND an Improved Touring class just for these cars? Because they are cheap, durable, dependable (I know of 12A's that have gone nine seasons of racing at Mid-Ohio without a rebuild) plentiful sports cars.

I love the Z. It's one of the most soulful cars to come from the land of the rising sun. It has character and prestige, and a competition history respected the globe over. But I'd like to see the under-appreciated middle year cars get out on the track or in the parking lot doing what they do best; Bringing the sports car experience to those without much money.

I think the problem with the 240Z, and to a lesser extent the 260Z, is that they actually HANDLE, which is not a positive aspect in a drift car.
They don't have any problems with bad suspension geometry etc.
What someone wants is a car that when lowered and stiffened have severely bad handling, with excessive roll oversteer and, preferably, bad camber and castor change on the rear suspension to cause the tyres to break traction easier.
As such, I'd suggest of jap cars, S12/S13 chassis is one of the prime candidates, as is the 910 bluebird, 510, 610 and NJ810 nissan/datsuns.
live axle cars tend to oversteer in standard form/budget mods, but can be made to do the same thing, if excessively stiff springs/swaybar/shocks/locked diff are involved...

Thanks :D

Ok, I just assumed that celicas would be easy buying in the USA , because those sorts of quasi-sporting cars seem to have traditionally been big sellers over there. I didn't realise they were that rare! theres plenty on the road here in Aussie...

To be honest, If I was in america, I'd look at a camaro/mustang/firebird or something,especially a 90's V8 stang. They seem about the right weight, and theres plenty of chassis hot up parts to make them handle, not to mention horsepower being a only a few traditional hot up parts (and junking the emissions gear) away.... They'd be cheapest over in USA, right? not to mention there being thousands upon thousands of the things in wrecking yards for parts when you inevitably kerb/power pole it.
People don't realise that a lot of the japanese street drifters are driving things like R33 GTS-T skylines, Laurels, Cefiros, soarers, chaser/mk11 sedans, all of which are BIG, HEAVY cars. More than likely bigger and heavier than those sporty domestic cars, with similar horsepower.

cheers,
floody


i love all the heavy drift cars. while i'm a stoic Nissan fan, i must admit i am a big lover of the JZX100 Chaser...

in Canada, there's a rule where, as long as the car in question is 15 years old or older, ANY car from ANY country can be imported into Canada, no questions asked, no special licenses required. because of this law, i plan to import my very own 1988-89 Nissan Cefiro A31 RB20DET sometime within the next couple of years. :biggrin: i got a quote from the import company in Calgary, and they quoted me around $6800-$7000 Canadian for the car fully imported, including all shipping, importation and registration costs. tack on about $400 to that to get the car from Calgary to my house in Toronto, and i've got a fully RHD RB20DET-powered 4 door Japanese drift monster for under $8000. i love Canada. :iceslolan

I think the starion is an awsome way to go! They arent as rare as some may think. And they can be had for dirt. But the other great thing is that people will buy and mod them but when its time to sell the bluebook is nice and low they sell for cheap. One of the main things that would make the starion a good drift car is the large amount of torque that comes out of them. from the factory its 2.6l pulses at 230lbs of torque!!!
small mods also produce ungodly amounts more of extra torque. Owners have taken these cars sub 14's on free mods alone. They come stock with LSD. 14 row FMIC. These cars were built to handle, hence the amazing racing career. Records still stand.
If interested here is a link to a nicely done starion for sale
http://www.geocities.com/linhthi74/STARION.html

Wow, that Starion is beautiful. I would most definitely buy it if I had the cash in hand right now. Although, a new situation has arisen. My parents have informed me that I need to find a car for less than $10,000. It can't be a ridiculous car, though; because, I will be the one paying for gas, insurance, maintenance, repairs, mods, etc. Ahhh yes, the joys of the real world, lol. A Starion might not be a bad choice, though... I'll have to look into that one. Basically, the situation is this: My Z3 was totaled, so they're going to give us money to pay off that, and then whatever is left over I can use to buy a car; OR, my parents can trade in my other car, a 2002 Firebird, to a dealership and we can try to work something out through there. Although, I don't think I'd be able to find a Starion at a dealership, lol. But, basically, I'd like something that gets fairly good gas mileage, and the insurance won't be TOO high. The insurance on the Firebird is $278 a month, and it's only a V6.

Well, there you go. See if you guys can figure something out from that one. :biggrin:

The starion is an older car so you wont have to pay full coverage. And I think they get like 27mpg put an avc-r on there and you can do even beter. If you bought his car for $5k and put even another $2k in redoing the block you would have a drifting beast! Let me put to you like this. At say 260whp these will lay down 330lb of torque easy!!!!!!! If you wanna talk more about this and want info you can email me at phinko@filipino.freeserve.co.uk Ive got all kinds of links so you can plot out your project and save mucho cash.
PS lose the v6 firebird.

I seriously thought about a drift car. The only real rules are for safety equipment - my kinda racing. I would go solid rear axle with coil springs are all four corners. Solid axles are tough and simple, just incase something gets too close. Weld-up the spider gears, and stiffen up the rear springs. The early RX7 are good, but can be expensive to get more power. I tried to blow-up a rotary engine one time; car in neutral with a brick on the gas pedal - literally! Some little beeper was going off, but after 20 mins a got bored and turned off the key. I then ripped ou the rotary and put in a 2L Datsun. Had great torque, and easier to work on.

i should choke you for what you did that RX7 motor...
If you totaled your 350Z, are you sure that you want your primary car to double as your drifter? If you mess up or tap a wall, you're not going to have a car until it gets fixed. Plus you'll be FORCED to buy new tires and repair the trans immediately, instead of saving up.
You're parents okay with that? If not, you'd be better off buying a nice street racer, and modding that.
But 240's and the FoxBodies are nice. I learned to drift in my friend's Foxbody, and now I'm looking for an RX7 to roll in.

(be warned: that fox body has been through 4 -FOUR- rear fascias:icon16: .)