Is drifting something you might be interested in, but the fear of high expenses stops you from trying? It may come as a surprise, but drifting is among the most affordable motorsport, especially for beginners. Unlike racing or rallying, drifting is more like the art of sliding through bends in a controlled and pre-planned way, with as much style as possible.
This article will explain everything you need to know about how to choose a drift car and go through all the necessary upgrades. We will also assume this will be a vehicle you’ll use for this purpose only. If you use it as a daily driver, be prepared for some compromises.
Which Car Should I Choose?
Right off the bat, cars like Toyota Supra or Nissan Skyline may seem like the obvious choice. However, these vehicles are hard to find nowadays and are quite expensive, regardless of their condition. Instead, your choice should be affordable and for which there are plenty of spare parts available — just about any rear-wheel-drive car that is not too heavy and has some decent amount of power. Some ideal drift cars for beginners range from Mazda MX-5 and Nissan 350Z to all older 3-series BMWs.
Weight Reduction
By increasing inertia, the weight will be your biggest enemy while controlling the car at the limit. Lighter cars are nimble and sharp, giving you a better opportunity to balance everything out while sliding sideways. Therefore, start with taking all unnecessary items and pieces of equipment out of the car. Things like carpets and sound-deadening material underneath them are the first and easiest steps on this list. Although we all enjoy the comfort that comes with it, air-con and sunroof add considerable weight.
Most cars have front seats that are quite heavy, so replacing them with aftermarket bucket seats is a logical step. Not only are these lighter, but those bulky sides also offer much better support. A multi-point harness is another useful addition, keeping you strapped in during sharp drifts. And for back seats, you may consider removing them altogether. With all these things out of the car, you can make it at least 100 pounds (≈50 kg) lighter.
Stiffen it up
The next step addresses the suspension and chassis, as stock cars have a certain balance between ride comfort and road handling. The focus is on minimizing body roll during drifts, making the car less shaky and easier to control. The suspension system is the first on our list, so start by replacing factory struts and springs with aftermarket coilovers. Besides being stiffer, these specialized components will also allow you to adjust the ride height and damping rate. Another thing to consider is rubber bushings, which you will find between all suspension components. While having such bendable joints is suitable for road use, these can be too flexible while drifting. Replacing them with hard polyurethane variants will ensure the suspension has sufficient rigidity under extreme loads.
With the upgraded suspension, it is essential to ensure the chassis is up to the job by preventing it from flexing. Installing both front and rear strut braces is among the easiest and most affordable upgrades here. But to take this to the next level, you might consider installing a roll cage. Besides stiffening the chassis to the maximum, it will also act as a protective shell in a potential crash.
Under the Hood
Although you can never have too much of it, having large amounts of power is not that important in drifting. Instead, features like throttle response and overall durability are what you should focus on. Installing an air filter that offers improved flow or a cold-air intake will make the engine breathe easier. On the other end, replacing a restrictive factory catalytic converter with a racing aftermarket version is another thing to consider. It will ensure an improved exhaust flow while keeping the car road legal. These are inexpensive and simple ways to extract some additional power from the engine and make it more responsive.
As drifting puts a lot of pressure on the engine and all drivetrain components, their reliability becomes an essential factor. To make sure your car is up to the task, perform in-depth maintenance and replace all worn parts. We would recommend using racing-grade motor oil and high-power spark plugs, as these can endure extreme conditions. The cooling system is another thing that needs special attention, with bigger radiators and extra fans being a popular upgrade. Besides that, an additional oil cooler will ensure the motor oil won’t degrade under extreme loads.
Break the Traction
In the end, some upgrades help break the traction when needed and keep everything under control while going sideways. This is very important, as it enables you to start the drift at the right moment. One of them is a hydraulic handbrake, which taps into the braking system of your car. Applying brakes to the rear wheels only does a similar job as the classic cable-operated handbrake. Drifters use this device when entering the bend, where they turn in sharply and pull the hydro-brake lever. With the back end sliding out, as a result, the driver can control the drift by combining steering and throttle inputs.
Despite being the last item on this list, a limited-slip differential is an upgrade that no drift car can do without. A differential is a mechanical device that allows the wheels to spin at different speeds to negotiate bends with no adverse effects on driving capabilities. With a traditional open differential, all power can go to one wheel that spins free. Unlike them, limited-slip differentials ensure that both rear wheels will spin at the same speed as the car slides.
Last Words
As you’ve seen in this article, setting up the car for drifting is not that complicated. If you choose the right vehicle and select essential upgrades, it doesn’t even have to be too expensive. With your car prepared, all that is left is to do a lot of practice. However, make sure to do this in a controlled environment where you won’t put anybody at risk.
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