Right after spending the last two years building a running a BMW Track Car for the Compact Cup I need to get a little less serious with my car building now and start to have some fun. I also want to get away from the BMWs as well. Yes I do know an E36 like the back of my hand but feel like it's now time to have a bit of fun...

Well what does everyone recommend for a drift car? Are there actually any drifters on this site? I have done all the other sites and they all recommend either a BMW or a Nissan and I want something a little different from the norm.

Give me your suggestions, This WILL be a budget build once I decide to get it started which won't be for a few months yet since I saving for a trip to America however WILL be hitting it hard once I get back in time for FordFair hopefully (Well that is my target anyway)

 

sierra saph 24v,volvo's are great drifting cars,E30 bmw,sunbeam

 

Lada nova

 

Honestly? A 200sx is the best starter drift car you'll get for your money. Can get an s14 for under 2grand now, and s13's are under a grand. Just check them thoroughly for rust, unless you're good with a welder!
Coilovers and a welder and it'll stay sideways all day!

 

for a beginner mx5

 

I had a year or so racing BMWs so I wouldn't exactly call myself a beginner but I am no way near a level to be competitive yet. Eventually yeah I probably will go either with a BMW or JAP but for now something cheap that I can have a laugh in and won't cost me an arm and a leg.

I was looking at a Volvo 340 the other day but the shortish wheel base puts me off. Given the choice if I can find one a decent Sierra sounds tempting

 

Sierra's are pretty shit for drifting tbh, I'd go for an mx5 over one any day. 200 will be more expensive to run, but hella fun too!

 

mx5 all day, get a 1.8 with a lsd

 

Handy thing with an S-body is there are so many off the shelf parts to make them go sideways all day long and do so reliably.

Sapphs can be made to drift but a lot more fab work has to be done to make them as good the Jap boys.

If you want something a bit leftfield look at maybe a W202/203 Merc... Pretty sure Stav drifted one of them while at Redline with good results.

 

Exactly, they've been used for so long that everyone knows what will break, and people make uprated parts for almost everything.

 

I've got an s13 and it's seriously good fun. No traction control to overcome, the abs is shit admittedly but there a piece of piss to strip out, work on and if you stick with the CA18 instead of the SR20 they're cheap to replace .

 

Get a rascal van and cut the back off and make it into a flat bed!

 

I wouldnt say sierras are shit for drifting mate, with some simple mods they can be pretty good.

 

328 with cheapo eBay coilovers , welded diff and a hydraulic hand brake , said your self you know the beemers in side out so if its just to practice and have a laugh in you won't get a better cheaper option , could build one for well under a grand if it was for track use only and not road legal

 

pick up a cheap 5.0 GT fox body mustang and tuning parts while your in the states

 

Toyota MR2 maybe?

To be honest the Jap stuff does typically seem the best for a starter drift car as theres an established market of off the shelf drifting parts.

 

They are nothing on a 200sx or a 3 series though.

 

This is my 14a



Something a bit different...

740 Volvo?

1jz soarers sound awesome,manuals are hard to find tho...


What about an sr20 in an l200 pick up(the lowdown version off course).

 

An S-body, anything with rear suspo that works the right way, so NOT a sierra, they are crap on direction changes, a 6deg beam will help with traction but you really want a WRC style rear setup, so for Value For Money- BMW or Sbody IMO

 

Mazda b2000 pick up with a v8 or 200sx engine. They do skid well