First, we cover the best drift cars in Forza Horizon 5, before explaining what you need to do once you’ve got your hands on your stock ride to transform it into the perfect sideways tire-slayer!

Introduction

Forza Horizon 5 has proven to be the fastest-growing Horizon game in history. After hitting 3 million unique players just a few days after release, more than 45 million are now enjoying what the latest title in the Horizon franchise has to offer.

Following the shock Horizon 5 PS5 release (that we thought we’d never see!), the player count will undoubtedly continue to climb for the foreseeable future as fans eagerly await the arrival of Forza Horizon 6. (Japan, anyone?!)

It’s easy to see why the game has become so popular among car and driving enthusiasts. Whether you’re into rallying, drag racing, circuit, sprint, off-roading, drifting, or simply going as fast as possible on the straights.

You name it – there’s something for every motorsport fan to enjoy.

One of Forza Horizon 5’s most popular aspects is its online gameplay, where friends (or strangers) can meet up and drive (or drift) their favorite cars around the beautifully scenic open-world map set in Mexico.

FH5 is more of an ‘arcade’ game in the physics department. Its forgiving drifting makes it accessible for just about everyone, and it’s the perfect entry point for those getting started with drifting games.

Getting to grips with sliding around the streets of Mexico is far more forgiving than realistic driving simulators such as Assetto Corsa. Yet, it’s still enough to put real-world advanced drifting techniques, such as the manji, to good use!

If you’re like us, we bet you can’t wait to start tandem drifting around the Mexican streets and lush mountain ranges with the homies.

For that reason, we’ve taken the time to come up with the best drift cars in Forza Horizon 5 to help you find the ultimate pick(s) for your needs.

The 11 Best Drift Cars In Forza Horizon 5

The Forza Horizon series has always had an insane roster of cars from almost every manufacturer imaginable.

The guys at Playground Games also have a habit of outdoing themselves with every iteration. For example, with Forza Horizon 5, they insisted on having more cars available at launch than Forza Horizon 4 – 500 versus 460, respectively.

Through multiple free and paid DLC content updates, Forza Horizon 4 eventually ended up with a massive 750 unique licensed cars on its roster.

If you thought that’s impressive, Horizon 5 now features over 900 cars! With so much choice, it’s easy to see why finding the perfect drift machines for slaying the Mexican streets is challenging.

We could easily cover every drift car available in Forza Horizon 5. However, we’ll save you scrolling through a gigantic list of (mostly) mediocre skidders to help you find the best drift cars in Forza Horizon 5. Let’s dive in!

Nissan 240SX SE (Silvia S13/S14/S15)

No best drift car Forza Horizon 5 list could be complete without the Nissan Silvia, whether you choose the S13, S14, or S15 (Silvia Spec-R).

Known as the 240SX in North America, Nissan’s S-chassis has stood the test of time and continues to be the go-to drift chassis for Horizon 5 fans and pro-drifters. Despite the S13 being over 35 years old, it’s still topping podiums across the globe.

In Forza Horizon 5, the Nissan 240SX S13, S14, and 200SX S15 are among the cheapest drift cars you can get in-game. But, don’t let the low price fool you!

Simple upgrades, such as stiffer suspension, drift tires, chassis reinforcements, and some improvements to the SR20DET engine, are enough to take the Nissan Silvia to the next level.

The awesome S-chassis will remain competitive in B-class, A-class, S1-class, and even S2-class if you opt for an engine swap.

This makes it one of the easiest drift cars in Forza Horizon 5 for beginners, and a super competitive chassis once you start mastering your drifting skills.

Mazda RX-7 ’97

Anime fans will undoubtedly be tempted by the iconic ’90s sports car and paint it mustard yellow as quickly as possible in Forza Horizon 5 – just like Keisuke’s yellow Mazda RX-7 in Initial D!

The rotary-powered rear-wheel-drive B Class Japanese sports car has a competitive chassis for time-attack and circuit racing. However, it’s certainly no slouch when it comes to drifting.

The Mazda RX-7’s 13B two-rotor turbocharged rotary engine churns out 280 horsepower from its tiny 1.3-liter engine. With the help of forced induction, the RX-7’s unique powerplant has enough power to light up the rear wheels for as long as your gas tank has fuel.

Wanna know the best part? You won’t need to worry about the cost and effort of maintaining the problematic rotary in the real world!

Its lightweight chassis and nearly 50-50 weight distribution also help make left-to-right transitions easy when drifting in Forza Horizon 5.

In-game, max power is around ‘only’ 700-horsepower when fully modified. However, for the RX-7’s almost weightless chassis, that’s more than enough to shred rubber on your favorite backroads and mountain passes in Forza Horizon 5.

Need more power? Simply drop in an engine swap, but don’t go for anything too heavy, or you’ll ruin that perfect weight distribution!

Mazda MX-5 Miata ’94

It’s no secret that Mazda made some sweet sports cars in the 90s – two of their most iconic cars made it to our best drift car Forza Horizon 5 list after all!

Mazda’s Miata MX-5 is a short-wheelbase, lightweight two-seater with a relatively tiny four-cylinder engine. The D Class Roadster can be bought from the Autoshow for just 25,000 credits.

Forza Horizon (and real world owners) will undoubtedly know that the humble Japanese roadster can struggle to keep the rear wheels spinning in long sweeping corners in stock form, and they would be right.

This is part of the beauty of the Miata. If you’re a beginner trying to figure out the ins and outs of drifting in Forza Horizon 5, the Miata presents a perfect pick for the best car for getting to grips with the basics of drifting in Forza Horizon 5.

The ample power of the roadster will teach you the skills to start, maintain, and finish drifts around the game’s scenic Mexican roads, and you’ll learn to push it to its limits.

At the same time, a simple rear differential upgrade and stiffer drift-spec springs will help the MX-5 handle transitions perfectly.

When you’ve mastered the basics, as with almost every car in Forza Horizon 5, the Miata’s tuning potential is near-limitless. If you’re after a short wheelbase chassis for tandems, even if you opt for bonkers power, it’s undoubtedly one to consider.

Nissan 370Z

We’re now entering the realm of 300+ horsepower drift cars, able to attack the wide, long sweeping corners easily.

Just like in the real world, the Nissan Fairlady 370Z’s 3.7-liter 332-horsepower V6 will have zero problems when it comes to drifting in Forza Horizon 5.

Since the V6 engine is naturally aspirated, the powerband is smooth and linear, making it great for controlled drifts.

The 370Z is a step up from the three previous cars listed above. And while it’s certainly a little heavier, the weight-reduction upgrades make the 370Z’s power even more usable.

Overall, the 370Z is one of our favorite drift cars for Forza Horizon 5, thanks to its predictable powerband, precise handling, good power, and affordable price.

If predictable power bands and “good” power aren’t exciting enough, you can always opt for forced induction with a turbo or supercharger upgrade. Or, as always, consider swapping the engine out entirely!

You can grab the B Class drifter in stock form from the Autoshow for just 40,000 credits.

Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5

Jumping from the 370Z’s 332-horsepower V6 to the huge V8 in the A-Class Ford Mustang RTR muscle car might seem intimidating at first, but you won’t need to panic.

While the Ford Mustang RTR boasts significantly more power than the Nissan Fairlady 370Z, it also weighs quite a bit more. The extra weight should tame the animal, the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine, featuring 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, before you add any upgrades.

Despite the increase in power, the Ford Mustang RTR is fairly similar to the 370Z handling-wise, with some added power and torque.

Its linear, predictable powerband and controllable chassis help prepare you for what’s to come when you transition to more powerful, purpose-built drift cars on our list.

DeBerti Toyota Tacoma TRD “The Performance Truck”

You’re probably shocked to see a truck here, but this thing is far from ‘normal’!

Once you see the stats, you’ll forgive us for including a Toyota “workhorse” on our best drift car in Forza Horizon 5 list. Under the hood is a sneaky NASCAR V8 with 900(!) horsepower.

That’s not all – it also has a custom widebody and a stock steering angle of 74 degrees, which helps it earn its moniker, ‘The Performance Truck.’

The power and steering angle of the DeBerti Toyota Tacoma TRD alone already screams “drift truck!”.

Despite the mods that made this truck a drifting weapon, it stays true to its roots and remains one of the best trucks in Forza Horizon 5 for dirt drifting and rallying.

The S1 Class performance truck can be acquired for 500,000 credits from the Autoshow.

Hoonigan Mazda RX-7 Twerkstallion

Now, we have three Mazdas among our top drift cars of Forza Horizon 5 list. Mazda made a name for itself in the late 80s and early 90s drift scene, and unique builds such as Hoonigan’s Twerkstallion took things to the next level.

The Mazda RX-7 Twerkstallion is a Mazda in form only. This beast has shed its Wankel rotary engine in favor of a modern American V8.

An engine swap that’s considered heresy for many Mazda purists and rotary lovers, but the results speak for themselves – Twerstallion’s V8 engine produces 600-horsepower without working up a sweat.

That might not seem like much, especially when you’re coming from the DeBerti Tacoma TRD with 900-horsepower, but you’re forgetting one key factor – the Twerstallion only weighs just 2,866 pounds!

We all know that a lightweight chassis combined with bonkers power on tap is the perfect recipe for unmatched sideways capability, and the Twerkstallion certainly delivers on that front.

Your skill is the only limiting factor here. With tons of seat time, along with the tips at the end of this article, we don’t doubt that you’ll soon be able to tame this drift monster with (relative) ease, even if its shorter wheelbase makes it a little trickier than some of the other options.

Hoonigan Ford “Hoonicorn” Mustang

Ah, the custom-built Ford Mustang made for “hooning” around!

Originally driven by Ken Block (RIP), the 1965 Ford “Hoonicorn” Mustang debuted in the series in Forza Horizon 3 as part of the Hoonigan Car Pack. For Forza Horizon 4 and 5, it returns as a standard-issue car.

Since its debut in FH3, the Hoonicorn cemented itself repeatedly as one of, if not the best drift car in the Forza Horizon series for those looking for an all-wheel-drive drifter. AWD not your thing? (We get it!) No problem – a drivetrain swap will have you covered.

With over 1,400 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Hoonicorn is one of the most bonkers off-the-shelf builds in the game.

With this much power under the hood, the Hoonicorn spins all four wheels without a thought, making it the most popular AWD drift car in Forza Horizon 5.

We all know the deal by now. Insane amounts of power in a lightweight chassis make a great drift car. The Hoonicorn is no exception, even if it spins up two wheels too many!

Formula Drift #43 Dodge Viper SRT10

The Dodge Viper SRT10 is already a drift monster capable of 90-degree slides in “stock” (pre-tuned) form.

However, the Formula Drift #43 car driven by Dean Kearney in the real-world series will make even the most seasoned drifters work up a good sweat.

1,350 ground-shattering horsepower from the 8.3-liter twin-turbocharged V10 is certainly a handful for beginners, which is why we placed this car near the tail-end of our best drift cars in Forza Horizon 5 list.

If you’re considering slaying every drift zone within FH5, learn how to master the Formula Drift #43 Dodge Viper SRT10 for maximum control, and it’ll be more than capable.

Formula Drift #91 BMW M2

The Formula Drift #91 BMW M2, known as the “F22 Eurofighter,” is based on the real-world car built by Latvian drifter Kristaps Bluss and the team at HGK Motorsports.

This car was driven in Formula Drift by Swiss driver Yves Meyer. Although Yves might not have revolutionized the game when he gave FD his best shot, it doesn’t appear to be the car’s fault if this tune is accurate.

Once you get behind the wheel of this pre-tuned FD M2 weapon, you’ll soon see what we mean!

The 2020 pro-spec comp car comes pre-tuned with a 6.1L V8 engine producing 822 horsepower right out of the box. Its lightweight 1,292 kg chassis with an ideal 49% front weight distribution creates a great balance for drifting.

The M2’s short wheelbase allows it to rotate incredibly fast compared to longer wheelbase drift cars in Forza Horizon 5. While this can be super useful for experienced players, it’ll be trickier for newbies. Therefore, (unless you like a challenge!), we recommend that new players consider other options initially.

Like other Formula Drift cars in the game, the #91 M2 features significantly more steering angle than the stock M2, making it more forgiving once you get the hang of it.

With the racing 3.0L I6 turbo engine swap, the M2 can produce 1,270 horsepower while maintaining a relatively light weight of 2,643 pounds. This makes it a versatile choice for experienced drifters, assuming you can handle the snappy, short-wheelbase chassis.

Formula Drift #34 Toyota Supra MKIV

You probably already saw this coming – the Formula Drift #43 Toyota Supra MKIV tops our list as the best drift car in Forza Horizon 5.

Powered by the bulletproof 2JZ-GTE straight-six engine used by multiple teams in almost every pro drift comp, the Formula Drift #34 Toyota Supra MKIV makes a staggering 1,035 horsepower and 920 lb-ft torque thanks to the stroker engine taking the 3.0-liter 2JZ to 3.4 liters and feeding it 19 lbs of boost for good measure!

The Formula Drift #34 Toyota Supra MKIV has less power than some of the more outrageous drift cars on this list. However, it makes up for it with top-tier handling, and the FD tune is perfectly capable without requiring much tweaking.

After getting a taste for the rowdy sub-1,500-horsepower beasts such as the Hoonigan Mustang and FD #43 Dodge Viper SRT10, you’ll find the FD #34 Toyota Supra MKIV strikes an outstanding balance between outright power and razor-sharp handling.

Getting Started With Drifting in Forza Horizon 5

If you’re a big fan of the Forza Horizon series, you probably already have a decent idea of how to drift in Forza Horizon 5.

However, if FH5 is your entry into the Forza Horizon series (PS5 owners, we’re looking at you!), you might want to start by reading our useful guide on how to drift. These real-world tips will get you confidently hitting the clipping points on the streets of Mexico in no time.

Despite being a more ‘casual’ racing title, Forza Horizon 5’s driving physics are no slouch – real-life drifting techniques and principles will still be useful when learning how to drift in FH5.

If you’d prefer to learn from a video, we recommend checking out this clip on how to drift by TC9700Gaming to get a good idea of what you can try and do to start burning rubber.

Initial Considerations

In terms of car choices for getting the most out of drifting in Forza Horizon 5, you will ideally make sure that your weapon of choice is built on a rear-wheel-drive platform. Although cars like the Hoonigan are perfect for AWD drifting, it’s not the best way to learn for beginners.

While AWD and even FWD cars can still technically drift, these cars can’t hold a candle to RWD cars in terms of sustained tire-shredding sideways action in Forza Horizon 5.

Learning and understanding your drift car tuning and setup are essential, whether you want to score as many points as possible in Horizon 5’s Drift Zones or confidently tap on your homies’ doors during tandem runs without smashing into their ride!

While there are a ton of free public drift setups that you can download and use in-game, most of these setups are created for a specific player’s driving style and preferences, as well as wheel/controller setup. Given this, these setups won’t necessarily equate to a better drifting experience for you.

With that in mind, we picked only the best drift cars of Forza Horizon 5 from the various performance classes that work well out of the box so that beginners and experienced drifters can spend less time on setups and more time shredding rubber around Mexico.

Once you’ve learned the basics of drifting, here are some things to consider when you start.

Step 1 – Choose Your First Car

Upon starting your career in Forza Horizon 5, you’re given a choice of three cars:

• Toyota GR Supra
• Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray
• Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco isn’t recommended unless you want to go off-road (even though it is technically capable of drifting, to a certain extent!), leaving us with the Toyota GR Supra and the Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray.

You can’t go wrong with either, as both cars feature ideal RWD platforms with tons of power to spare.

On the one hand, the C8 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray instantly beats the slightly tuned Toyota GR Supra out of the box with more power – 515 horsepower versus 433 horsepower.

However, the Toyota GR Supra offers more forgiving drifting characteristics, thanks to its ample power and excellent chassis balance.

In our opinion, going with the car you like the look of most should be your top priority here. Once you’ve earned heaps of points for showing off your skiddin’ skills, you’ll be adding plenty more drift cars to your garage anyway!

Step 2 – Upgrades & Modifications

To get the ultimate drifting experience from your drift car in Forza Horizon 5, make sure that you upgrade all of the following parameters to “drift spec” if they aren’t already:

• Engine Mods
• Brakes
• Suspension
• Drivetrain
• Wheels & Tires
• Aero

If you’re starting with the C8 Corvette Stingray or the GR Supra, you can skip the engine mods.

These cars already boast well over 400 horsepower from the get-go, which is plenty of power to get you sideways around the streets of Mexico.

But, if you’re confident in your sideways abilities, you can consider upgrading each part to ‘Race’ for the ultimate performance.

For beginners, you’re better off spending your cash on Weight Reduction, Anti-Roll Bars, and Chassis Reinforcement. These upgrades improve the overall responsiveness of the car’s chassis when going sideways.

You’ll want to max out everything to ‘Race’ within the ‘Drivetrain’ section, since upgrades such as the Clutch/Flywheel, Transmission, and Differential all influence how your car starts and holds a slide when drifting.

Remember to upgrade your tires to the appropriate ‘Drift’ tire modification. This will give your car the ideal grip levels it needs for drifting.

If ‘Drift’ tires feel too grippy on low-powered cars, you can opt for Sport/Stock tires.

Avoid installing Race tires on your drift car. These tires are designed for maximum traction and will hinder your car’s ability to go sideways.

Finally, make sure you upgrade your suspension to ‘Drift’ spec custom suspension. This upgrade will give your car the adjustability freedom it needs when you begin dabbling in setups and tuning, which we will touch on in Step 3.

One of the things that made the Forza Horizon series such a popular game was that Turn 10/Playground Games gave Forza fans almost everything they needed to tweak and tune their cars in-game easily.

The insane selection of modifications and upgrades allows for a near-infinite number of possibilities, so drivers can roll around the streets of Mexico showing off their unique style.

Step 3 – Tuning

Tuning is a dark art in Forza Horizon 5, and something you’ll need to continue learning as you progress. It’ll undoubtedly feel overwhelming initially, so we recommend keeping things simple.

The performance and handling upgrades we carried out above should be good enough for most casual players to start drifting and learn the basics.

However, hardcore enthusiasts will want to extract every bit of potential from their cars and build their Forza Horizon 5 best drift car setup – this is where tuning comes in.

We’ve created a dedicated drift tuning guide specifically for Forza Horizon 5. In this, we cover everything you need to know to create the ultimate personalized setup for each of your drift cars.

If you prefer to watch a video, we recommend checking this one out:

Step 4 – Turn Off Driver Assists

To make the game even more approachable and cater to a larger audience, Forza Horizon 5 made the driving experience as forgiving as possible so everyone could enjoy the game.

While a few of the Driver Assists work wonders for circuit and sprint races, for drifting, they’ll mostly hinder you from achieving your full potential.

With this in mind, make sure that you configure the in-game Driver Assists as follows to get started:

A couple of considerations depending on your ability level/setup:

• Steering – We recommend ‘Simulation’ for wheel users and ‘Standard’ for controller/keyboard users.
• Shifting – ‘Manual with clutch’ gives you the most control for drifting (the clutch is used often for ultimate precision.) However, ‘Automatic’ will be best to get you started. You can then progress to ‘Manual’ and ‘Manual with clutch’ over time.
• Driving Line – There’s no shame in having ‘Driving Line’ on. It can be super useful when you’re just starting with drifting in FH5. Once you get a feel for the streets of Mexico, you may want to consider turning this off.

These settings should give you precise control of your drifts in-game, but keep the game casual enough to keep you drifting for hours. A win-win in our books!

Step 5 – Seat Time

Unfortunately, in Forza Horizon 5, no car, upgrade, or setup combination will magically turn you into James Deane overnight.

Like any other art form, drifting requires hours upon hours of practice to get perfect, so don’t worry about not getting into the flow of drifting immediately.

A great way to get the hang of the drift physics in Forza Horizon 5 is by finding a wide-open spot where you can practice doing figure eights or even something as simple as donuts.

This will teach you how the car reacts to each input, and you can quickly learn weight transfer from how the car reacts.

After all, if you think about it, wide sweeping corners are just glorified figures of eights, with some donuts thrown into the mix!

Whether you’re playing Forza Horizon 5 with a wheel, gamepad, or keyboard, we’re sure that awesome drifts will soon be achieved with enough practice and the right car.

Another thing you might want to consider is the type of in-game camera to use for drifting.

Although Camera Angles (POVs) are a matter of personal preference, the Chase Camera is probably the best POV for drifting in Forza Horizon 5, especially when starting out.

It offers the widest point of view, so you can easily judge your braking points, apex, and the succeeding corners.

However, if you prefer the realism provided by the Dashboard POV, then by all means, go for it!

Conclusion

As you gain even more experience drifting in Forza Horizon 5, try to start testing various upgrades and tuning to fine-tune your favorite drift car to your needs.

Play around with your car’s settings in small increments (as mentioned in our tuning guide) to understand how each parameter changes various aspects of how the car behaves when sideways.

Lastly, remember to have fun! Horizon is still just a game, after all. With enough seat time, you’ll get the hang of drifting in Forza Horizon 5 quicker than expected.

We hope we’ve covered everything you want to know about finding the best drift car in Forza Horizon 5 in this guide to suit your needs.

Looking to earn some additional credits to purchase your favorite drift cars? You can do so by having fun smashing solar panels, or earn more Skill Points by mastering the Daredevil Skills.

At work or school, and want to play an awesome drifting game right now? Check out Drift Hunters MAX!

Thank you for reading our best drift cars in Forza Horizon 5 guide

If you enjoyed this article, please share it with the buttons at the bottom of your screen.

If you’ve found this information useful, please take a moment to share it with other drifting and Forza Horizon 5 fans. We appreciate your support!

Photography credits

We thank the following entities for the use of their photography in this article:

• THE_PPSH

The post 11 Best Drift Cars In Forza Horizon 5 first appeared on Drifted.com.

Introduction

One of the most exciting aspects of the free-to-play Drift Hunters game is the car tuning prospects.

You can unlock your dream JDM drift cars before tuning and customizing each vehicle to suit your driving style.

One of the best things about Drift Hunters compared to other tuning games is the simplicity of getting your ride to look how you wish, without being too complicated, no matter whether you are on IOS or Android.

We’ve tried everything, from real-world tuning setups and different handling schemes to the most ridiculous designs imaginable, to bring you this ultimate Drift Hunters tuning guide.

Here’s an amusing example of how NOT to execute your drift car stance!

Now, let’s show you how it should be done!

Drift Hunters MAX – An Initial Consideration

Before diving into Drift Hunters tuning, we wanted to let you know there’s now a massive update to the classic game – Drift Hunters MAX.

After years of fan feedback, we teamed up with original creator Ilya Kaminetsky to bring you this Drifted.com exclusive, which delivers what you’ve all been asking for.

Drift Hunters MAX delivers a next-gen experience with the largest selection of drift cars, stunning maps, and features that blow the original away.

The physics have also had a huge overhaul to become smoother and more like what you’re used to in your favorite console/PC games.

Cloud saving via your Drifted account means you can start your sideways journey at home, continue at school, or pick up at work. It also works flawlessly on most modern mobile devices and tablets, with cross-platform sync!

We’ve also added epic new modes like free-roam with AI traffic and ‘Drift Attack’ where you’ll hit clipping points against the clock for maximum points before being judged and rewarded based on your skills.

If you want to know more, we compared the original game with Drift Hunters MAX to help you decide which will suit you best.

While MAX improves virtually everything, some players with older devices stick with the original. That’s why Drift Hunters 2025 now comes optimized for lower-spec setups, though we had to trim some features to keep it smooth.

Some diehards still prefer the original offering, and that’s totally fine. Don’t panic – the classic Drift Hunters game isn’t going anywhere!

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Drift Hunters tuning.

Drift Hunters Tuning

Whether you’re looking to slam your car with perfect drift fitment or go for a crazy oni-kyan (demon camber) style setup, we’ve got you covered.

Basic Upgrades

To get started, we recommend heading to “PARTS” from the main menu and then upgrading the “ENGINE” and “TURBO” to “RACING” with the FREE 25000 in-game credits.

If you’ve already splashed your cash on another car, it may be worth heading to the track to earn some money to carry out these upgrades first, especially the turbo.

Don’t panic if not, as you can always upgrade these later on.

Tuning Your Car

Head back to the main menu and select “TUNING.”

We recommended upgrading the turbo because this will allow you to adjust all of the options within the tuning menu.

Turbo Setup

Firstly, the “TURBO” option in the tuning menu allows us to customize the turbo pressure (assuming you upgraded the turbo).

We keep this to the max, as we like ALL OF THE POWER, no matter whether we’re driving a Toyota Supra or a Mark VI Ford Fiesta ST.

But if you’re just getting started, lowering the turbo boost (pressure) will make the car more predictable and easier to control.

Front Camber

The front camber changes the angle of your front wheels.

Negative camber on the front is often more desirable for drifting. This will provide maximum ground contact when steering into sharp turns at your favourite drift locations in the game.

While this is mostly a personal preference, we typically run around -4 to -5 degrees of negative camber in Drift Hunters for the best combination of style and function.

Rear Camber

As you’ve hopefully guessed, too much positive camber isn’t going to be great in the rear, either!

Traction is everything for the best drifting grip, so try not to go too crazy with your rear camber. Opt for around -1 to -2 degrees to get the optimal grip for the maximum drift.

Front Offset

Stance and fitment can transform a drift car from looking insanely cool to being the butt of the jokes at the track.

As you may have guessed, both these extremes at the opposite ends of the scale are a little too much, and we feel that a front offset of around 3 cm is typically the sweet spot, although it varies from car to car.

For the ultimate fitment, the goal is to get the top of your tire flush with the fender without needing to change rims.

Rear Offset

While a wide track offers superior traction, going too far with the rear offset will once again make the car look ridiculous.

Much like the front, go as wide as you can to get the tire sitting flush with the fender. But don’t be afraid to go a little beyond (or even Kyle Mohan style) if that suits your tastes better.

Brake Balance

We’ve found that brake balance is a matter of personal preference, and we feel it’s best left alone.

However, if you feel as though the car isn’t handling quite how you’d like when you hit the brakes either on straight roads or in corners mid-drift, adjusting this will allow you to control the front/rear ratio of the brake pressure.

Front Height

As you probably guessed, this changes your vehicle’s ride height without spending hours tweaking your coilovers!

We’ve shown the extremes of the front ride height here, which varies between cars.

At this point, if you’ve used excessive camber, your wheels may begin poking through the fenders. However, the sweet spot is usually around -4 to -5 cm if you’ve gone for a sensible setup.

If you’ve found the perfect ride height, but the camber now looks off, you can always return to the previous menu and adjust it.

Rear Height

Let’s face it: few things in life are more satisfying than a drift car with well-executed fitment!

Adjusting your rear height is the final piece of the puzzle for perfecting your ideal drifting setup.

While a slammed look at -8 cm provides a sweet-looking stance, increasing the height to around -5 cm will allow a little more flex in the suspension while still looking fantastic.

Brake Pressure

Since we can’t provide subtle braking in Drift Hunters, with the brake key being an “all or nothing” approach, some players prefer to lower the brake pressure.

As you may have guessed, this is a matter of personal preference based on your driving style. We recommend tweaking both this and the brake balance mentioned above to see which one works best for you.

Further Drift Hunters Tuning Upgrades

Now that you’ve refined your tuning setup, it’s time to head to the track and begin pulling off the most impressive combos imaginable.

Once you’ve earned enough credits, you can purchase all of your dream rides and fill your garage.

Don’t forget that once you’ve found your favorite drift car in the game, you can unlock all of the “PRO” drift upgrades for the ultimate weapon!

With 26 fully customizable, awesome cars, 10 nice tracks for drifting, and a vast array of upgrades, Drift Hunters will surely provide plenty of free-to-enjoy uninterrupted drift entertainment.

Looking for the next challenge after Drift Hunters? Try our Drift Hunters alternatives. We’ve also got plenty more free car games and racing games for you to check out, and you don’t need to worry about installing them or taking up valuable space on your device!

So, there we have it! We hope we’ve covered everything you want to know about Drift Hunters tuning in this guide.

Thank you for reading our Drift Hunters tuning guide.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it with the buttons at the bottom of your screen. If you’ve found this information useful, then please take a moment to share it with other members of the Drift Hunters community. We appreciate your support.

The post Ultimate Drift Hunters Tuning Guide first appeared on Drifted.com.

You can click on a specific car/section below or scroll down to read the whole article.

Introduction

If you’re anything like us, you probably spend far too much time consuming drifting content on YouTube. Let’s face it – it’s hard to resist the tire smoke and the sweet tune of screaming engines.

We’ve been guilty of this since the early days when we’d enjoy our favorite 90s JDM content on dial-up internet file-sharing platforms (after about three weeks of downloading!)

Since then, the drift scene and the sheer amount of free, easily-accessible content online have both changed significantly.

Just a few years ago, you could find an ex-loved, low-mileage BMW E36 from your friend’s grandma with a full history for just a few hundred bucks.

Fast-forward a few years, and supply and demand have seen the unwelcome rise of ‘drift tax’ and, for the more desirable cars, ‘JDM tax’.

For those unaware, drift, JDM, or scene tax refers to the continual escalation of prices for potential drift car platforms.

If it has a semi-decent front engine and puts the power down on the rear wheels, you can count on the price being significantly higher than it would’ve been just a few years ago.

One of the positives of cheap drift cars is that they’re often vehicles that were potentially destined for the graveyard but were instead given a new lease of life and possibly their most enjoyable (or, more likely, painful) years!

Let’s be honest here. The cheaper a car is, the more inclined we are to push it to its limits, whether that limit is the redline, walls, your buddy’s door, or all three!

This has led to a decline in the number of ideal RWD cars available over the years. Many have been damaged beyond repair, while others have become too rusty to justify fixing.

At the same time, the drifting scene has grown phenomenally, with more people looking to take up the sport than ever before. And let’s be honest, we don’t all have Formula DRIFT budgets to throw at our builds.

However, don’t give up hope just yet. That’s exactly why we’ve created this guide – to help you find the best cheap drift cars right now. Believe it or not – there are still bargains to be had!

Let’s look at the current market to help you decide which cheap drift cars suit your needs and budget.

Best Cheap Drift Cars

Everyone’s idea of a cheap drift car budget will be different. So, to start with, we’ll focus on the cheapest drift cars money can buy.

After that, we’ll check out some slightly higher-budget drift car options if you’re considering spending a little more for something more modern or exciting.

We’ll list the current prices on the market in 2025, but remember, cheaper isn’t always better. Getting a decent example can often be worth paying a little more unless you’re confident with carrying out repairs/fixes yourself.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Nissan 350Z

Price: From $4,000

In recent years, the 350Z has become the most popular drift car among Drifted’s fanbase, and it’s easy to see why.

It may not be the cheapest option, but the combination of stunning looks and the opportunity for roof-down skids makes it easy to see why it’s such a sought-after choice.

There’s no question that The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift helped boost the popularity of the 350Z. Despite this, it’s remained a cheap drift car and undoubtedly deserves a spot on our list.

With respectable power being produced from the stock 3.5-liter VQ35DE V6 (or later-model VQ35HR), an LSD in most trims, and a solid six-speed manual gearbox, the 350Z was practically born to drift as soon as it left the factory.

Not only is the 350Z capable of proving itself when it comes to drifting, but it’s also an excellent choice for a daily driver (assuming you don’t need too much space in the back!) and generally more reliable than most of the alternatives in our list.

With its drift-ready capabilities, sleek styling and interior, and modern-day conveniences such as AC, the 350Z could be the ultimate choice.

The only major downside of the 350Z is the lack of rear seats. If you often need to carry back-seat passengers, this could be a potential deal-breaker!

With the introduction of the Nissan 370Z, prices are now more impressive than ever, so this could be the perfect time to grab a bargain.

If you decide to purchase a 350Z, visit our 350Z tuning guides section, where we’ll help you choose the perfect upgrades.

Lexus IS/Toyota Altezza

Price: From $5,000

The Lexus IS was sold in the U.S. market, while the same car was sold in Japan as the Toyota Altezza.

Although Lexus is typically known for its luxury conveniences rather than drifting abilities, this is a fantastic chassis that can be had for a bargain. However, the luxury comfort will likely be a thing of the past once you’ve slammed it on coilovers and fitted a bucket seat!

If you’re looking for an IS, we highly recommend the IS300. It provides capable power in stock form from the naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE engine (the N/A sibling of the infamous 2JZ-GTE), producing around 215-230 horsepower.

If you’re considering upgrading the power further down the line, we’ve compared the best IS300 turbo kits to help you build the perfect NA-T 2JZ.

Are you unsure whether turbocharging will be worth it? Well, let’s say there are plenty of turbocharged 2JZ-GEs out there pushing out 700+ horsepower!

We’d avoid the (temptingly) cheaper automatic options on the market unless you can conveniently source the conversion parts for a manual swap. Otherwise, you may well regret it later.

While manual conversion kits are available for the IS, they can be costly, and some parts are becoming discontinued.

With the right modifications, the IS, particularly the IS300, has excellent potential at a bargain price and is one of the strongest contenders in our list.

For those in other markets or with a smaller budget, the IS200/Altezza AS200, with its 155 horsepower inline-six, can also drift well despite its lower power output.

The JDM Altezza RS200, with its awesome high-revving 210 horsepower 3S-GE BEAMS engine, is another excellent option, but unfortunately, it’s not likely to be found for a bargain!

BMW 3-Series (E36/E46)

Price: From $2,500

Over the years, the BMW 3-series, particularly the E36, has become the love/hate car of the drifting scene.

With immense popularity in its prime, there was once a huge selection of various E36s available on the market at bargain prices, and drifting enthusiasts ensured that they’d live their final years mostly spent on the limiter.

This is undoubtedly one of the best value-for-money choices, and OEM and aftermarket parts are extremely easily sourced.

However, we’ve personally grown a little tired of seeing bashed-to-hell missile E36s over the years, which has made them a bit of an eyesore.

Admittedly, once you’re behind the wheel and enjoying what this fantastic chassis offers, that’ll most likely soon be forgotten. The near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution and rear-wheel-drive setup make it predictable and stable even at the limit.

Just don’t expect the photographers to climb over one another to get photos of your beat-to-hell E36!

Over time, the E46 has become more reasonable than ever, making it a more tempting proposition. While slightly heavier than the E36, it didn’t lose its impressive ability to hang sideways during the generation switch.

If you’re lucky enough, you may even be able to find a reasonable E9x series that could do with a few simple repairs, depending on your budget.

Although these are much more modern, they’re still very capable with the right modifications. Expect your pockets to empty a little quicker than you’d like, though!

Although the most desirable option in each generation is undoubtedly the M3, its value constantly increases, and we doubt you’ll find a bargain these days.

Ensure you opt for the straight-six engine variants (M50, M52, M54). Weld the diff, grab a bucket seat and hydro, and you’ll be good to go.

With five seats and the ability to be a comfortable and reliable daily driver, BMW’s 3-series will certainly tick most people’s boxes. The only thing lacking is the originality factor!

Be sure to check out our E36 tuning guides if you decide to make this your weapon of choice.

If you’re looking for something a little more original, make sure you also consider the slightly chubbier 5-series! After shedding a few lbs, it could potentially be a serious bargain contender.

Mazda Miata/Mazda MX-5/Eunos Roadster

Price: From $4,000

Yep, you guessed it – the Miata returns!

Although it probably doesn’t come as a surprise, this small and humble two-seater roadster is not only a bargain, but it’ll also provide you with heaps of fun for a fantastic price.

They’re not the most powerful cars on our list, nor are they particularly easy to drift due to their short wheelbase layout. The snap oversteer tendency makes them challenging (but rewarding) to master.

However, once you get the hang of them, they’re up there with the best for all-around drifting experience – plus, you get the wind in your hair in the process. (Assuming you have a roll cage, of course!)

With its 50-50 weight distribution and front-engine rear-wheel-drive configuration, it’s one of the top budget drift platforms.

We like the early 1.8L variants for a budget drifter, and there are plenty of supercharger and turbocharger variations for each generation on the market if you think you may have a few extra bucks to splash later on.

There’s also a factory turbo offering for a little extra cash – the Mazdaspeed NB is the only turbocharged variant ever produced.

If you keep it stock, expect a lot of clutch kicking and foot-to-the-floor, balls-to-the-wall type driving, and in return, you’ll be rewarded with the biggest, cheesiest grin you’ve ever experienced!

However, consider upgrades like a limited-slip differential, coilovers, and extended steering lock knuckles for better drift performance.

One of the main downsides with these can be rust, so depending on which state you’re purchasing from, we highly recommend taking a thorough look underneath in case it may have some imminent costly repairs looming.

Pay special attention to the rocker panels, chassis rails, front fenders, and trunk areas, where rust commonly develops.

We’ve compared a huge selection of aftermarket parts for the Miata, so make sure you take a moment to plan your future upgrades.

Infiniti G35

Price: From $3,000

The G35 is another popular choice at Drifted. Simply by looking at it sitting sideways with a smoke cloud pouring out the back, it’s easy to see why.

Despite the premium badge, G35s can now be found surprisingly cheap – often for less than $5,000 for decent examples.

The G35 is nearly identical to the 350Z, but it’s a little more friendly if you’re looking for a daily driver since Infiniti has loaded it with luxury comforts. Although, let’s be honest, you’ll probably be ripping those out anyway!

Its 8″ longer wheelbase provides more stable drifts but slightly less snappy transitions than the 350Z.

Despite being a little heavy, the VQ35DE V6 engine (260-306 hp) offers plenty of power and tuning potential.

Look for manual transmission models, and consider weight reduction to improve handling. Most 350Z drift modifications work perfectly on the G35, including coilovers, angle kits, and limited-slip differentials.

Avoid the AWD variants (G35x), as these aren’t suitable for drifting unless you like AWD drifting. Also, watch out for oil consumption issues in “rev-up” engines.

If you’ve spotted a bargain G35 in the wild, we recommend grabbing it immediately!

Our Infiniti G35 Guide outlines everything you need to know about this fantastic car. If you decide it’s the ideal choice, there’s also a huge selection of aftermarket upgrades.

Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S/Toyota GT86

Price: From $9,000

Until recently, these epic lightweight sports coupes weren’t considered cheap drift cars. However, now that they’re getting a little older (and with the launch of the newer GR86 model), earlier variations are becoming surprisingly affordable.

The spiritual successor to the legendary AE86 has been dominating podiums in drifting competitions across the globe in recent years and is arguably the ultimate drifting platform you can still buy used right now.

However, there’s a small downside – the competition-spec ones certainly aren’t running stock power.

While the naturally aspirated 2.0L flat-four (producing around 200hp) is okay for beginners, most serious drift builds involve turbocharging the stock FA20 engine or swapping in something more powerful like a 2JZ, VR38DETT, or even a V8.

Supercharger kits can bump power to around 270 hp, or turbo kits can push them well beyond 300 hp. But admittedly, once you’re on the quest for serious power, they won’t be such a cheap drift car anymore.

If you’re looking for a long-term build that you can keep improving, this chassis could be the perfect option. We’ve got plenty of guides to help you along the way, too!

Mazda RX-8

Price: From $4,000

The RX-8 is one of those hidden gems in the drift scene – a car you can pick up for absolute peanuts these days, often for less than $4,000 for decent examples.

Why so cheap? One word: ROTARY!

While we absolutely LOVE these high-revving engines (that 9,000rpm redline is pure music), they’re notorious for reliability issues.

The Renesis engine’s apex seals typically fail around 80,000-100,000 miles, so be sure to check the service history carefully.

They’re awesome for drifting when they work, with a responsive, smooth power delivery and that distinctive rotary sound. But when they don’t… your wallet feels the pain.

If you’re interested, we’ve included more information on the rotary engine in our in-depth RX-7 Guide.

For this reason, we wrote this RX-8 motor swap article to summarize the potential of this incredible chassis with a more reliable powerplant under the hood.

Perhaps you’ve found a bargain shell with a dead engine? Or one that’s had an LS swap? These are surprisingly common and often the most cost-effective way to own an RX-8.

If this is the case, you could well be on to a winner! Although they can be a handful, they also have a lot of potential, and plenty of aftermarket upgrades are available.

Mercedes C-Class

Price: From $4,000

Although this may seem like an unlikely choice, that’s the beauty of it!

Most drifters aren’t looking for Mercs, meaning they’re not suffering from bonkers price inflation. You’ll also benefit from an awesomely rare drift car – win-win!

The downside here is that most of these typically luxury cruisers have an auto gearbox, with the manual being much rarer.

The 5-speed manual is most sought-after for drifting. However, if you end up with an automatic, a transmission swap is always an option further down the line, but expect to pay the price.

If you want to be truly unique, you can also go down the diesel route and strap a giant turbo to it in true Euro-style.

Some enthusiasts have even built high-horsepower diesel drift monsters using the C-Class platform – check out some Turbo Diesel Builds videos on YouTube for inspiration!

These are certainly not among the most common cars, but use that to your advantage and grab yourself a bargain!

Ford Mustang

Price: From $5,000

Okay, we’re going to hold back on the jokes here. If you’re looking to shock the crowd, why not consider purchasing yourself a Mustang?! (Sorry, we couldn’t resist!)

Jokes aside, the Fox Body Mustangs are extremely cool in their own right, providing a true dose of ‘Merica, whilst also providing the rarity factor when it comes to drifting events.

The modern-day Mustang has been extremely successful in Formula DRIFT for James Deane, Vaughn Gittin Jr., and Chelsea DeNofa.

While their FD-spec wheelie-poppers are a far cry from cheap drift cars, that doesn’t mean there aren’t more affordable alternatives.

You can find Fox Body Mustangs with under 100k miles for around $5-6,000, which is a steal for what you’re getting – a lightweight chassis with a big V8 and decent aftermarket support.

We highly recommend trying to get your hands on one of the V8 options, but the V6s can often produce capable power to be kept sideways.

If you can deal with being the victim of endless crowd-based jokes at the track, you could use their reputation to your advantage to bag yourself a bargain!

Nissan 300ZX

Price: From $9,000

If you’ve considered a Nissan 300ZX for your next cheap drift project but perhaps have been persuaded otherwise by your buddies or someone on social media who tells you it’s a bad idea, we recommend reconsidering.

While the 300ZX isn’t a traditional choice for drifting, it offers a unique opportunity to stand out.

Although it was once a real bargain, it’s been hit with scene tax since. However, given that it can still be found for under $10k, it’s worth considering for the rarity factor if you have a little more to spend.

With 283-300 hp produced from the Z32s twin-turbocharged VG30DETT 3.0L V6 powerplant in stock form, we’ve seen several builds that achieved the 500 hp region while maintaining reliability.

If you’re looking for a cheap drift car that’ll turn heads on the streets and stand out at the track, the 300ZX is one of our favorite cars for proving the naysayers wrong as you rub doors before leaving them lost in your smoke cloud.

While it might not be as agile and nimble as other choices, it’s a more than capable chassis for most circuits.

Lexus GS300

Price: From $4,000

Want to take the whole family drifting? Look no further than our next choice – the comfortable yet powerful Lexus GS300 luxobarge.

Coming from Toyota’s posh cousin, the GS300 is undoubtedly comfortable. There’s nothing quite like drifting around corners while sitting (well, sliding) on comfortable leather seats!

But let’s be serious for a second. If you want to unleash the drifting potential of the GS300, you’ll need to strip some of this fancy weight out. That means saying goodbye to the gorgeous wood trim pieces and other fancy accessories.

Under the hood, the second generation (1997-2005) came with several engine choices, with the naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE inline-six being the most popular choice. You can consider turbocharging the existing 2JZ-GE (creating an “NA-T” build).

For those looking for even more power, consider the JDM Aristo, which features the holy grail twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE from the Toyota Supra MKIV. With the 25-year import rule, early-model Aristos with the twin-turbo setup are now legally importable to the US.

This was only available in the Japanese market Toyota Aristo (the JDM equivalent of the GS300), not in the US-market Lexus models. Given that the Aristo can sometimes be found for under $10k, they could be another great consideration if you have a little extra spare cash!

Higher Budget Alternatives

You’ve probably noticed that we’ve missed many of the ‘obvious’ drifting choices in this guide. That’s mainly due to the drastic changes in the market over the years.

With soaring desirability and decreasing availability, many of the most loved drift cars, particularly the JDM offerings, have become out of the budget drift car range.

However, some of you may have a budget that can stretch a little further.

While it’ll likely seem expensive initially, you may also want to consider a pre-built, fully specced drift car rather than the time, effort, and money it’ll take to build your own.

Sometimes, it’s worth spending that little extra cash at first if you can afford to do so, particularly if the car already has some expensive goodies attached to it or if it allows you to get a newer, cleaner example.

Here are some additional considerations if none of the above cars are tickling your fancy so far:

Nissan Silvia 180SX/200SX/240SX (S13/S14/S15)

Price: From $15,000

The S-chassis is possibly the most iconic drift chassis of all time, but the prices have soared in recent years.

Prices vary wildly, but expect to pay around $15,000 for some of the cheaper 240SX offerings and $50k and beyond for a clean Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R JDM import.

Our jaws dropped when we saw this totally stock 119,000-mile Nissan 240SX S14A fetch over $31k last year. Bonkers.

Nissan Skyline R33

Price: From $12,000

The R33 is the cheapest and possibly the most common variant of Nissan’s Skyline family. If you can take the ‘boat’ jokes on the chin, these can be a potential winner!

Prices for R32s and R34s have soared in recent years. You can forget about getting a GT-R unless you have around $30k-100k to spend, in which case you’re in the wrong guide!

Lexus SC/Toyota Soarer

Price: From $10,000

There are still the occasional bargains floating around for these awesome 1JZ-powered drift weapons, so keep your eyes peeled.

Honda S2000

Price: From $14,000

A stunning modern-day two-seater roadster with a revvy VTEC (yo) engine. It’s not the most refined platform for drifting, but if you’re willing to stretch your budget, it’ll provide heaps of fun.

Toyota Corolla AE86

Price: From $25,000

What’s not to love about the humble AE86? You’re unlikely to get Keiichi Tsuchiya’s weapon of choice for a bargain now, and it will need some upgrades if it’s still in stock form. It could be a great investment for the future, though.

Mazda RX-7 FC & FD

Price: From $15,000 (FC) or $35,000 (FD)

Although the RX-8 can sometimes be had for a bargain, the RX-7s have sealed their places in the history books and often come with a premium price tag, despite (typically) still having the rotary under the hood.

If you’re lucky enough, you may be able to find a cheap FC, but we don’t expect the FDs to go down anytime soon.

Toyota JZX/Chaser/Cresta/Cressida

Price: From $10,000

We absolutely adore these luxury barges from Toyota, and if you can get your hands on one, you certainly won’t be disappointed.

These came with the highly sought-after 1JZ engine from the factory (besides the Cressida), and the earlier variants are eligible to import into the U.S. as long as they’re over 25 years old.

With a 1.5JZ upgrade, these are the ultimate VIP drifters. And you know what they say about more doors!

Toyota Supra (MK3)

Price: From $10,000

With MK4 prices skyrocketing, you’ll have to settle for the slightly older, yet capable, third generation unless you have $40k+ (or $230k!) to spend.

Pontiac GTO

Price: From $12,000

The GTO was once a cheap drift car contender, but just like JDM tax, those that left the factory with LS engines have also seen a significant price increase in recent years.

This long-wheelbase chassis features a more than capable powerplant lurking under the hood. Based on the Holden/Vauxhall Monaro on International markets, this features the awesome LS1 or LS2 engines in stock form, capable of 350 and 400hp respectively.

If you’re looking for some GTO inspiration, those with a good memory may remember Rhys Millen winning the Formula DRIFT Championship in 2005 in his Pontiac GTO build.

They’re certainly not the lightest choice in our list, but the power potential is there, and with some weight-saving and suspension mods, you could well be onto a winner.

A murdered out GTO could also make a perfect street sleeper.

Chevrolet Camaro (Gen 5)

Price: From $12,500

The fifth-generation Chevy Camaro offers a great mix of price and performance for those looking for an American muscle drifter.

We recommend going for the SS for a mix of performance and value, which left the factory with the 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine, which produces up to 426 horsepower and has plenty of aftermarket support.

Cheap Drift Car Essential Additions

Once you’ve got your cheap drift car, you’ll want to consider some essential items to unleash its full potential within your budget.

Therefore, before you get too carried away by looking at cars, here are some basic features to make your drifting experience live up to your expectations.

Welded/2-Way Differential

We won’t discuss differentials in-depth here since we’ve already created the perfect guide to explain everything you need to know.

As a quick explanation, having an LSD in your car will completely transform its capabilities when it comes to drifting.

Alternatively, a welded differential is the cheaper option. It involves opening the case and welding the parts solid internally so they can no longer function normally. This will allow both rear wheels to spin simultaneously, letting you execute a “proper” consistent drift.

Welding your diff or fitting an LSD avoids the embarrassing ‘one-wheel peel,’ which is typically followed by an inevitable trip face-first into the wall and a lot of embarrassment when your buddies’ video goes viral!

Hydraulic Handbrake/Hydro/E-Brake

Whatever name you decide to give it – get one!

We all like to think we’ll get behind the wheel and be the next drift king, where a simple clutch kick, stomp of the throttle, and a brake pedal are all we need, but a hydro is an extremely helpful tool to have in your drift car, regardless of your skill levels.

There’s a huge range of options on the market to suit any budget, and we’ve compared all of the best choices available in our hydraulic handbrake guide.

Bucket/Racing Seats

Once you’ve mastered the basics and head to your first real drift day at the track, you’ll likely regret your decision if you don’t fit a racing seat.

Perhaps you’ve got a luxury barge for drifting with some nice leather seats you don’t want to part with? Believe us when we say the only benefit you’ll see is a faster trip into the passenger seat mid-corner!

Bucket/racing seats offer increased safety, support, and additional protection. The various subframes on the market (or DIY alternatives) can also improve the seating position.

If you’re on a budget, you could replace the driver’s seat for the time being and give your passengers the option of flying around the car or waiting until you can afford to upgrade theirs!

In our ultimate racing seats guide, we’ve also compared the cheapest (to the best) bucket seats to help you choose the perfect option for your budget.

Fire Extinguisher

Don’t be that “it’ll never happen to me” guy who later has to beg his buddies for GoFundMe payments on social media because he thinks that their cheap drift car wouldn’t need a fire extinguisher.

These can be had for very little money, and since drifting often pushes a car to, and sometimes beyond, its limits, this is a necessity.

As you’ve probably guessed, we’ve got a guide for the best choices here, too. So, look at our best car fire extinguishers article and grab yourself a bargain.

Roll Cage

If you’re practicing in an open parking lot, this might not be immediately essential unless you severely lack talent and are likely to hunt down that single lamppost!

However, we highly recommend fitting a roll cage for tandems with the homies or putting your skills to the test as you scrape the walls at your local track – or if you have a convertible, of course!

These can improve handling while increasing your car’s safety and structural integrity. A crash that could potentially write off your cheap drift car could be saved with a roll cage, and, in the worst-case scenario, potentially your life.

There are often off-the-shelf options, or if you know someone good with a welder, they may be able to fabricate one for you – but make sure they know what they’re doing. Safety definitely isn’t worth saving a few bucks over.

If you’re a 350Z owner or considering copping one soon, you’re in luck, as we’ve created a 350Z roll cage guide just for you!

Tires

Drifting is all about burning rubber, so paying attention to the tires you use is important.

You’ll soon become very familiar with these black circles, and the good news is that most of the cheap drift cars in our list will only require some part-worn street tires to get you started.

Although semi-slicks dominate the tire game in competitions, they’ll provide too much grip for a low-powered car, leaving you struggling to spin up the rear wheels.

Skills!

As a complete beginner, you’re likely to be lacking in skills. So, we highly recommend looking at our how-to-drift article, which will be the perfect place to (clutch)kick-start your drifting career!

And don’t get discouraged – we all have to start somewhere!

Also, don’t forget that Drifted.com is here to guide you through your journey in drifting.

Additional Safety Gear

With more tracks than ever requiring additional safety gear, you’ll probably need to consider upping your safety game before you know it. Check out our handy guides below to up your safety (and style) game!

• Racing Suit Guide
• Racing Helmet Guide
• Racing Gloves Guide

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed our top picks for the best cheap drift cars in 2025. Although prices fluctuate slightly, most should remain fairly consistent for the foreseeable future.

Don’t let anyone tell you that drifting on a budget isn’t fun – it’s often the best way to learn.

After all, there’s no worse feeling than buying the car of your dreams, only to realize that you don’t have as much talent as you hoped on your first outing at the track!

Our primary consideration when buying a cheap drift car would be the condition.

Sometimes, it’s not worth saving a couple of hundred bucks if the car has likely been bounced off the limiter for several thousand miles. At the same time, it may already have all the parts needed to head straight to the track.

One of the main positives with a modified, cheap drift car is that you could drive it into the ground and swap your modifications over to a cleaner chassis later, which you hopefully don’t intend to wreck quite so quickly!

If you’re not ready to purchase your first car yet, VR sim drifting and other drifting games that you can play anywhere, such as Drift Hunters MAX, are perfect for improving your skills for when the day comes.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide and that it’ll help you choose the perfect cheap drift car to enable you to keep drifting fun!

Thank you for reading our Cheap Drift Cars guide

If you enjoyed this article, please share it using the sharing buttons at the side and bottom of your screen.

Photography credits

We thank the following entities for the use of their photography in this article:

• h080 on Flickr
• Moto “Club4AG” Miwa on Flickr

The post 11 Best Cheap Drift Cars In 2025 first appeared on Drifted.com.

Introduction

We’re all too aware that trying to find a bargain-priced drift car in 2025 isn’t quite the same as it used to be. We remember back in the day when you could scroll through the classifieds with pages of cheap Nissan 240SXs on offer for pocket change.

If we compare the typical prices now, comparing the average $1k drift missiles from the early 2000s. Well, you’re looking at nearer $4-5k for something now. Meanwhile, many of the $5k-ish offerings at the time have now skyrocketed to $15k+.

As an example, for those not already aware of how crazy 240SX prices are now, how does $31k sound for a stock 240 with 119K miles on the clock? We wish we were kidding!

Thanks to ‘Cash for Clunkers,’ the $3 billion US federal scrappage program, far too many perfect potential drift weapons met the crusher way too soon, leaving far fewer offerings on the marketplace. (We won’t deny that many of them met their fate at the track, too!)

What remains now is mostly a bunch of overpriced “I kNoW wHaT I gOt!!!” marketplace listings. Throw in the drift tax (yep, that’s a thing) and the JDM tax (double whammy), and you start to wonder if it’s even still worth trying to find a reasonably priced drift car these days. (Teaser: It is!)

While the crazy $1k glory days may be long gone, you shouldn’t give up hope of finding something decent in 2025 for cheap. Things have obviously changed, but plenty of drift-friendly platforms remain affordable, while some awesome modern alternatives have even been given hefty discounts in recent years.

On top of that, many of these cars are actually becoming decent investments – assuming you don’t send them straight into a wall!

Initial Considerations

Your first decision will be whether you want to buy a stock car or one with basic mods. Hoping to find a 1,000+ horsepower 2JZ-swapped big-angle monster? If so, this budget article probably isn’t gonna be the one for you!

We recommend playing it simple with these mods if you want to start stock. If any of them aren’t already installed, you’ll need to price them into your considerations to get the car sideways-ready:

• Rear-wheel-drive – Non-negotiable. Sorry, FWD Honda heroes!
• Welded/locked diff – Unless the car already has an LSD/welded diff, budget $100-300, depending on whether you or the homies are handy with a welder.
• Manual transmission – We’re not saying auto is impossible, but… It’s uhh.. Not out first choice.
• Bucket seat(s) & harness(es) – Unless you enjoy ending up on the passenger’s lap mid-drift, we recommend these. We always recommend buying safety gear brand new, if you can afford to do so. (Boring, I know!)
• Coilovers – Even the cheaper offerings ($500ish) will be far superior to stock setups.
• Hydro handbrake & racing wheel – Super handy to have, but not deal-breakers. Try to tick off as many of the above as you can first.

Stock Or Drift-Ready?

While it might upset the ‘bUiLt NoT BoUgHt’ crowd, buying a pre-modded drift car will often save you quite a bit of cash. We recommend researching the cost/labor of having those parts fitted to a stock version of the car you’re interested in.

One downside of drift-ready cars is that they might have spent most of their life bounced off the rev limiter. On the other hand, the marketplace listing with a single 80-year-old owner (it still happens!) isn’t quite so likely to have had a hard life (body panels aside!)

If it’s not obvious already, it’s worth mentioning that most of these cars are on the older side, so make sure you check the engine as well as you can and look for rust in every potential spot on the car.

Drift builds often spend the weekend getting thrashed a few times a year, then sit neglected on the driveway for far too many months waiting for repairs. So, try to avoid those that will likely cost you more to fix the day you get it than the price you paid for the car itself!

Now, let’s look at the drift cars you can (hopefully) afford to buy in 2025 without selling a kidney…

BMW 3 Series

While it isn’t likely to turn any heads at the track (since everyone and their dog seemingly has one), there are plenty of reasons why the 3 Series remains so popular and affordable.

For the ideal options in 2025, look at the E36 and E46. These two generations hit the perfect mix of cost and capability. You can still snag a fairly high-mileage E46 for under $5k, while E36s can be even cheaper if you’re willing to do a bit of searching and/or maintenance.

Both rock the 50/50 weight distribution and come with solid engines straight from the factory. The M50/M52 in the E36 and M54 in the E46 will happily drift all day without throwing a tantrum.

Our recommendations would be:

E36 (1990-2000)

As with everything, they’re getting harder to find clean examples, but when you do:

• Budget: $3,000-6,000 (fairly decent ones can be found for around $4k)
• Best model: 328i (the extra power does make a difference)
• Watch out for rear subframe cracks.

This is a great entry-level drift weapon. The 328i and 325i engines are your best bets. Most non-M E36s came with open diffs from the factory, so consider welding the diff or an aftermarket LSD.

E46 (1997-2006)

• Budget: $5,000-8,000 for something drift-worthy
• Best model: 330i
• Budget for subframe reinforcement plates (unless you enjoy expensive surprises)

The (arguably) slightly superior choice. The 330i is the golden ticket here – the ZF trans and 3.46 diff ratio (from the auto) along with a welded diff/LSD are basically made for skids. While the 325i is still decent, the 330i’s extra grunt makes a noticeable difference when you’re trying to hold those longer slides.

Why have we not included the E30? Well, unless you’ve got money to burn, forget it. It’ll cost you way too much, and the above are superior in almost every way. The E30 might be a better investment, but we’re not looking for garage queens.

What about the E9x? Sure, they’re newer, fancier, and (controversial opinion) better looking, but they’re also heavier, far more complex, and the diff setup isn’t exactly drift-friendly. Plus, when something electronic inevitably goes wrong, you’ll need a computer science degree to fix it.

While the 3 Series might not be the most exciting or unique, they’re so common as budget drifters because they just work. Plus, they make surprisingly decent daily drivers.

Mazda Miata

While prices have definitely crept up over the years, Miatas remain affordable if you’re not looking for a perfectly clean example. Realistic prices range from around $5-10k, depending on how perfect you want it to be.

One of the main benefits is the short wheelbase and perfect 50:50 weight distribution, which make these ideal for learning proper technique.

Sure, there’s only around 116-142hp when stock, but the lightweight chassis (2,100-2,500 lbs) means you don’t need massive power, especially if you’re just starting out. You’ll learn momentum and weight transfer instead of relying on raw horsepower to save you.

For drifting, target the 1994-1997 NA or any NB with the Torsen LSD. The Sport Package NBs are ideal – you get Bilstein shocks, a strut tower brace, and an LSD straight from the factory.

Earlier 1.6L cars can be found cheaper, but the 1.8L’s extra grunt makes a noticeable difference. Plus, if you want to add power, the 1.8L handles boost better.

Our recommendations would be:

NA (1989-1997)

• Budget: $3,000-7,000
• Best models: 1994-1997 with 1.8L and factory LSD

NB (1998-2005)

• Budget: $4,000-8,000
• Best model: Sport Package with Torsen LSD
• Slightly stiffer chassis and better suspension than NA

You’ll definitely want to look out for rust on both models, especially rear quarter panels and rocker panels. They’re both known for suffering from this, especially in saltier areas.

Consider finding one with some slight mechanical issues but good bodies – working on these simple engines is way easier on these than rust repair (for most!)

Nissan 350Z

While 350Z prices have risen a little in recent years (as with everything, it seems!), you can still snag one for around $5-7k, but a lot of them would’ve lived pretty hard lives at this point!

The 350Z has two main offerings – the VQ35DE (2003-2006) and VQ35HR (2007-2008).

The earlier DE pushes out up to 300hp and loves to party in the low end, making it super forgiving for learning to drift. The torque peak at 4,800 RPM means you won’t have to bounce off the rev limiter just to keep things sideways.

The HR pushes out 306hp and revs to 7,500 RPM. It’s got less low-end grunt but rewards smooth inputs, making it ideal if you’re already comfortable with your drift game.

Pre-2005 DEs love drinking oil, and the “Rev-Up” engines (2005-2006) are even thirstier. The HR fixes these issues but brings its own party tricks – mainly expensive gallery gasket failures.

Transmission-wise, anything before 2005 uses the weaker CD00x box. The later CD009 (2005+ DE and all HR) is much more drift-friendly.

Our recommendations would be:

2005-2006 (DE engine)

• Budget: $5,000-8,000
• The sweet spot of affordability and durability
• Keep an eye on oil consumption

2007-2008 HR

• Budget: $7,000-12,000
• More powerful and reliable, but also more desirable
• Check the gallery gaskets

The 350Z might be heavy (3,200-3,400 lbs), but the aftermarket support and tuning potential are massive. Parts are everywhere, whether you’re keeping it stock or planning a big turbo build.

These cars have probably lived a hard life, so be sure to give the engine a good look-over. Check the subframe (especially pre-2007), and (as always, it seems) look for rust.

Infiniti G35

Known as the 350Z’s luxury sibling, the G35 is often a far more affordable alternative. They’re often available for around $5k, often substantially cheaper than equivalent 350Z prices for similar-condition cars. Not bad for what’s essentially a luxury 350Z with a bit more space!

The G35 shares the same platform as the 350Z but with an 8-inch longer wheelbase (112 inches total). This makes for super predictable, stable slides – perfect if you’re just getting into drifting.

The trade-off? Slower transitions and more weight due to the luxobarge accessories. But they can always be stripped out (the day you get it, of course!)

The VQ35DE pushes out 228-306hp depending on the year, which is plenty for getting sideways. However, you might consider factoring in more power eventually since these aren’t exactly lightweights (3,500-3,900 lbs).

Watch out for the RevUp engines (2005-2006 manual coupes). As mentioned, they love drinking oil. The non-RevUp DE engines (2003-2004, auto 2005-2007) tend to be more reliable for budget builds.

Since the 6-speed CD009 manual transmission is solid, so we recommend finding one with that.

Our recommendations would be:

2003-2004 (Non-RevUp)

• Budget: $4,000-7,000
• More reliable oil consumption
• Watch for typical VQ35DE issues

2005-2006 (RevUp)

• Budget: $5,000-8,000
• More power but thirstier for oil
• Better transmission (CD009)

We’d skip the 2007+ V36 models – they’re heavier, more complex, and don’t offer enough benefits to justify the extra cost.

The G35 makes a great daily drifter if you’re after something a bit different from the usual 350Z crowd. That longer wheelbase means it’s more forgiving when learning, even if it won’t be as snappy on the track as some other options.

Lexus IS300

IS300s still remain surprisingly affordable in 2025 (with some obvious exceptions like the one above, of course!) We found some higher-mileage examples for around $4k, though you’ll need to look a little harder than you used to.

The IS300 is best known for its 2JZ-GE engine. While it’s the baby brother to the Toyota Supra’s legendary turbo 2JZ-GTE, the naturally aspirated inline-six is incredibly durable. We’re talking 250,000+ miles with basic maintenance, and you’ll be blown away by this 415,000-mile teardown that showed minimal wear.

Its double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension setup make for some predictable handling. Most post-2000 models came with a factory LSD, which is a huge bonus if you can find one.

Most IS300s come with a 5-speed auto, which (obviously) isn’t ideal for drifting. Manual swaps are common though, usually using either the W58 or CD009 transmission. The aftermarket support is massive, so finding parts isn’t an issue, but you will want to budget accordingly.

Our recommendations would be:

2001-2005 IS300 Sedan

• Budget: $4,000-8,000
• Look for factory LSD models
• Manual trans if you can find one (although rare!)

SportCross Wagon

• Budget: $6,000-10,000
• Rarer and heavier, but way cooler
• Auto only from factory

At 3,300 lbs, they’re not exactly lightweights, but the 215hp is enough to get you sliding. Want more power? The 2JZ-GE loves boost – you can reliably push 400+whp on stock internals with a proper NA-T setup.

These make fantastic daily drivers that can handle heavy drifting duty on the weekends. The wagon SportCross variant provides an added dose of cool if you want to do something a little different.

Volvo 200, 700, 900 Series

Although these Swedish bricks might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think “drift car,” they’ve gained quite a following in grassroots drift scenes. Why? Well, it might not be for their good looks (admittedly subjective.) However, they’re cheap, nearly impossible to kill, and surprisingly capable when set up right.

You can sometimes find these for under $3k, or even less if you’re not too picky about aesthetics. While they won’t earn you as many cool points as some of the alternatives, there’s something epic about sliding a wagon that weighs as much as a small house.

The 240 is typically considered the better drift platform of the bunch. At around 2,800 lbs when stripped, it’s lighter than its 700/900 siblings and comes with a 4-link rear suspension that’s more drift-friendly. The B230 engine might only push out 114hp stock, but these things regularly clock 300,000+ miles with basic maintenance.

As for the 700/900 series, they bring some advantages too. The chassis is stiffer than the 240, and if you can find a turbo model (740/940 Turbo), you’ll get the B230FT engine, with around 160hp stock. Plus, wagons offer better weight distribution while standing out when being thrown sideways at the track.

Our recommendations would be:

240 Series

• Budget: $3,000-5,000 (non-turbo)
• Lighter, better suspension setup, but less power
• Watch for rust (especially floor pans)

700/900 Series

• Budget: $3,000-8,000 (turbo models)
• Stiffer chassis, more power in turbo form
• Heavier but often cheaper than 240s

The B230FK engine can easily be tuned to around 220hp with basic mods, and these things will run forever. You’ll seriously have to try really hard to kill one! This, combined with the space in the wagons, makes them perfect daily drivers.

Ford Mustang SN95

The SN95 Mustang remains one of the most affordable ways to get into drifting in 2025, with examples often available for around $4k.

Parts are everywhere thanks to sharing components with F-150s and Crown Vics, which means you won’t be waiting weeks for that replacement part to arrive from Japan.

The 1994-1995 models came with Ford’s impressive 5.0L V8, pushing out 215-240hp and 285 lb-ft of torque. Later models (1996-2004) got the 4.6L Modular V8, which might not love bolt-ons as much, but they’ll run forever with basic maintenance.

While the suspension design might be older than most of us (hello, 1970s technology!), it responds well to basic drift mods. However, you’ll definitely need to consider a welded diff, coilovers, adjustable control arms, and a Panhard bar.

Our recommendations would be:

1994-1995 GT (5.0L)

• Budget: $4,000-7,000
• More tuning potential
• Simpler to work on

1999-2004 GT (4.6L)

• Budget: $5,000-8,000
• More reliable
• Better looking (matter of taste, of course!)

Skip the 2003-2004 Cobras unless you’ve got serious cash – while the supercharged 4.6L with 390hp is awesome, it comes with a price tag to match.

One downside is weight – at 3,200-3,400 lbs, they’re far from lightweight. Interior stripping helps, but you’ll never make it as light as most of the other options. The stock steering angle is also pretty limited, though removing the rack limiters can help.

For pure budget builds, these Mustangs are hard to beat. Just don’t expect massive power gains without forced induction.

Mazda RX8

You can pick up an RX8 for around $5k in 2025, which (on paper) seems like an absolute steal (especially compared to an RX7)…. Until you realize why they’re so cheap.

Unfortunately, the Renesis rotary engine is both the best and worst part of this car.

Let’s start with the good stuff. The chassis is awesome, with near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution and a longer wheelbase than an MX-5, making it less twitchy when sliding.

Manual models come with a factory LSD, and that double-wishbone front/multilink rear suspension setup is perfect for drifting.

The 1.3L Renesis (13B-MSP) rotary pushes out 212-238hp (depending on the year) and revs to 9,000 RPM. However, there’s a catch – torque is mostly non-existent below 5,500 RPM, so you’ll be working it hard, which brings us to our next (obvious) point… Reliability.

These engines need to be babied and require constant attention and costly rebuilds. We’re talking anything from $4,000 to over $7,000, depending on where you go.

Series 2 models (2009-2012) got some improvements, like a third oil injector per rotor, but you’re still looking at a rebuild every 80-100k miles. And finding someone who actually knows how to rebuild these properly isn’t easy.

Our recommendations (if you’re brave enough) would be:

Series 1 (2004-2008)

• Budget: $4,000-7,000
• Manual trans only
• Check compression before buying

Series 2 (2009-2012)

• Budget: $6,000-9,000
• Improved oiling system
• Still needs regular maintenance

Whichever one you choose, always try to find one that’s had a fairly recent rebuild by a reputable garage.

Unless you’re a rotary enthusiast or know a good rotary mechanic, we’d recommend either finding one that already had an engine swap or looking at something else entirely. If you’re feeling incredibly brave, you could always consider the forced induction route!

The chassis is brilliant, but the engine requires serious commitment.

Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S

While prices vary wildly (partly thanks to the huge modding scene on offer), it might come as a surprise that you can now find these for around $6k in 2025. Obviously, you won’t get a pristine one for that, but it’s still pretty impressive for such an awesome modern chassis.

The FA20 2.0L boxer engine puts out 200hp and 151 lb-ft of torque stock. While it isn’t designed to win any drag races, the high-revving nature (7,400 RPM redline) is great for getting started. Headers and a tune can bump you to 210-220hp on pump gas or around 230hp on E85.

The chassis is the real star here. At just 2,700 lbs with near 50:50 weight distribution, it’s no surprise they’ve become the modern-day choice for so many pro-spec competition builds.

The FR-S actually comes with slightly softer front springs than the BRZ, which can help reduce understeer when sliding, but we’d recommend upgrading to coilovers regardless.

Our recommendations would be:

2014-2016 Models

• Budget: $6,000-10,000
• Skip the 2013s (valve spring recalls)
• Keep your eye out for ECU/injector issues

2017+ Models

• Budget: $10,000-18,000
• Most reliability issues sorted
• Better suspension setup

While it’s desirable, proceed carefully with heavily modified examples. While forced induction can get you 300-350hp, make sure it’s been done properly. Engine swaps (2JZ-GTE, K24) are also common but can get expensive fast.

There are plenty of reasons that the BRZ/FR-S platform will be the top choice for many, and quite rightly so. They make fantastic, fun daily drivers with a modern design and gadgets. They make great skid cars, too!

If you can’t afford one of these, but you’re eager to get behind the wheel and start showing off your drifting skills in just a few seconds, give Drift Hunters MAX a try!

The post Budget Drift Cars That Are Still Cheap In 2025 first appeared on Drifted.com.

The eagerly awaited addition to the Drift Hunters series arrives, bringing an incredible free online drifting experience to your browser.

This all-new 2025 edition is developed exclusively by Ilya Kaminetsky, the creator of the original Drift Hunters game.

What’s New in Drift Hunters 2025?

We’ve worked closely with the fans to bring plenty of exciting new changes that bring the old-school vibes of the hugely popular OG Drift Hunters game to the modern day:

Next-Level Graphics

The latest update brings stunning visual upgrades with exclusive Drifted branding throughout each track. The improved graphics provide a more realistic, visually appealing, drifting world.

Enhanced Physics Engine

With the new and improved physics engine, the gameplay is now smoother and more enjoyable than ever before. The enhanced realism and satisfying drift mechanics provide the most authentic driving experience to date.

Expanded Track Selection

With a selection of 15 varied tracks, Drift Hunters 2025 offers plenty of environments to put your drifting skills to the test. From racetracks to playgrounds and challenging touge roads, there’s a perfect setting for every drifting enthusiast.

All-New In-Depth Tuning Menu

Forget the old upgrade system. DH2025’s new polished and refined upgrade section introduces a new tuning menu that makes upgrading your car more exciting and comprehensive than ever before.

Optimized For iPhone/Mobile Devices

Although many Drift Hunters MAX players have been enjoying the game on iPhones, some devices struggle to play it perfectly. The same users have reported that Drift Hunters 2025 is more iPhone-friendly.

Drift Hunters 2025 Car List

Drift Hunters 2025 brings a lineup of 26 cars, ranging from JDM legends to European classics and American muscle.

If you’re looking for them in the in-game car list, they’re under the name in brackets below in the following order:

1. Toyota Trueno GT-APEX (AE86)
2. Datsun 240Z (S30Z)
3. Nissan 240SX (S13)
4. BMW E30 M3 (E30)
5. Subaru Impreza WRX (GR)
6. Mitsubishi Evolution VIII (EVO)
7. BMW E36 M3 (E36)
8. Toyota GT86 (86)
9. Honda S2000 (S2000)
10. Nissan S14 240SX/200SX (S14)
11. BMW E46 M3 (E46)
12. Nissan Silvia Spec R (S15)
13. Infiniti G35 Coupe (G35)
14. Mazda RX-7 FD3S Type R (FD3)
15. Ford Fiesta ST (FRS)
16. Nissan 370Z (Z370)
17. Toyota Supra MKIV JZA80 (JZ90)
18. BMW 1M Coupe (E82)
19. Mercedes Benz AMG CLA Saloon (CLA)
20. Lexus GS350 (GS)
21. Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R (R34)
22. Ford Mustang Fastback (GT500)
23. Dodge Challenger Hellcat (SXT)
24. BMW 335i (F82)
25. Nissan GTR (R35)
26. Porsche 911 GT (993)

Drift Hunters 2025 Track List

The game features 15 tracks, each providing its own unique challenges:

1. New Zealand (Racetrack)
2. Nevada (Playground)
3. Fog Mountain (Touge)
4. Countryside (Playground)
5. Icefield (Racetrack)
6. Ohio (Racetrack)
7. Ocean City (Playground)
8. Akagi (Touge)
9. Container Yard (Racetrack)
10. Fukushima Hills (Racetrack)
11. Karting Loop (Racetrack)
12. Spain (Racetrack)
13. City Streets (Playground)
14. Waterfront (Playground)
15. Green Stone (Racetrack)

Optimal Tuning & Upgrades In Drift Hunters 2025

Understanding how to tune your car effectively is crucial for mastering Drift Hunters 2025. Here are the various upgrade sections in the tuning menu and how they impact your car’s drifting performance.

Performance Upgrades

The performance section offers four tiers for each upgrade, with the new tuning menu clearly explaining what each upgrade achieves. Here’s what you can tune:

• Engine
• Turbo
• Gearbox
• Weight reduction
• Coilovers
• Brakes

It’s important to remember that more power isn’t always better when upgrading your car, especially if you’re a fan of the tighter tracks.

For example, a lighter car with optimal weight distribution, a refined suspension setup, and upgraded brakes will likely outperform a high-powered vehicle with turbo lag on the touge.

With this in mind, consider your upgrades wisely for certain components, like the engine and turbo, for optimal control on the smaller circuits.

Stance Adjustments

The stance section allows you to fine-tune your car’s suspension. With each tier of the suspension upgrades, you gain access to more advanced adjustment options. These include:

• Ride height: Lowering your car helps improve handling and reduce body roll, but too low might cause bottoming out, especially on mountain roads.
• Camber: Negative camber (tilting the wheels inward at the top) can improve cornering grip, which is crucial for drifting. However, too much camber will have the opposite impact.
• Offset: Adjusting wheel offset can change the car’s track width, affecting stability and steering response while allowing you to fill out the fenders for the perfect fitment and stance.

These adjustments are all optimized specifically for drift cars, allowing for better weight transfer, increased grip when sideways, and improved overall control.

Body Paint

This section offers a fully custom color palette for your car’s body. You can create unique colors and choose between various finishes:

• Gloss
• Metallic
• Matte
• Chrome

This level of customization allows you to create a truly personalized look to make your perfect ride stand out.

Rims Paint

After selecting your body color, you can customize your wheel color to complement or contrast with the body. The same finish options are available, providing endless possibilities for creating the perfect look.

Wheels

The wheel selection in Drift Hunters 2025 is based on popular real-world drift car wheels. You’ll likely recognize many of these designs if you’re familiar with the drifting scene. Choosing the right wheels isn’t just about aesthetics; different wheels can affect your car’s weight and performance.

By carefully tuning each of these aspects, you can build your own unique drift car that looks great and performs optimally on your chosen tracks. Remember, the key to success in Drift Hunters 2025 is finding the right balance between power, weight, looks, and handling for each specific track and your individual driving style.

Don’t panic if you don’t get it quite right the first time. You can keep returning to the tuning menu until you have it perfected!

Tips and Tricks For Drift Hunters 2025

Make sure you quickly master the new game and make the most of what it offers with these pointers:

Optimize Your In-Game Settings

To ensure you’re making the most of the new experience, head to the settings menu and set the “GRAPHICS” to “HIGH.” With this, you’ll be treated to the incredible new visuals that Drift Hunters 2025 brings to the virtual drifting world.

If your game is lagging or stuttering or you’re experiencing framerate issues, you may need to consider opting for “MEDIUM” or “LOW” graphics settings. Give each a try and see which works best for your gaming setup.

Master The Manual Gearbox

Within the Settings menu, change the “GEARBOX” to “MANUAL.” This configuration provides the most realistic and challenging gameplay, providing a sequential manual gearbox that allows for rapid shifts and full control over the engine revs.

Opting for Manual instead of Automatic is an excellent way to develop real-world drifting skills without worrying about clutch control. It might initially feel intimidating, but stick with it, as you’ll soon reap the rewards.

Throttle Control Is Key

Don’t be afraid to lift off the throttle for optimal car control, especially if you need to scrub off some speed without it affecting your angle. Remember, you can’t stall the car without a clutch, so focus on mastering your throttle inputs.

Maximizing Your Score

To collect in-game currency as quickly as possible, do the following:

1. Maintain continuous sliding to keep your combo alive.
2. Use advanced techniques like manji drifts on straight sections.
3. Run close to walls for higher multipliers, but be careful not to crash.

If grinding for points is your goal, start with the faster, sweeping, less technical tracks. Racetracks are generally easier for maintaining long combos without obstacles. On the other hand, the Touge tracks will be the most challenging tests and perfect for showing off your skills to your friends.

Once you’ve refined your skills in Drift Hunters 2025 and want to show off your abilities, we recommend checking out Drift Hunters MAX.

This Drifted-exclusive free online browser drifting game offers similar physics but with additional cars, a unique Drift Attack mode with clipping points and challenges, and online leaderboards to compete against other players worldwide.

Store

Coming soon – the option to buy new cars/tracks or game money.

The post Drift Hunters 2025 first appeared on Drifted.com.

What Is A JDM Car?

Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars are built specifically for the Japanese market and are immensely popular among drifting and tuning enthusiasts.

While it’s common for people to apply the ‘JDM’ label to any Japanese car, true JDM vehicles were never intended to leave the motherland and often pack features and performance capabilities that you won’t find in their international equivalents.

For example, the Nissan S14 is a great example of showing the difference. In Japan, the S14 came equipped with the highly-regarded SR20DET engine, pushing out 220 horsepower in stock form. However, the high-revving turbocharged 2.0L powerplant can reliably handle 350+ horsepower with basic upgrades, making it hugely popular among the drifting community.

Meanwhile, the American equivalent is the Nissan 240SX. Despite looking identical outside, the 240SX gets a KA24DE truck engine (no, we’re not kidding!), a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter unit that makes a measly 155 horsepower.

This huge difference in performance potential explains why genuine JDM imports are so sought-after (and often have price tags to match!)

Top USA-Legal JDM Cars In 2025

You can click a car you want to dive into on our list above or continue reading as we look at our top JDM cars you can legally bring stateside in 2025.

Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

For many, the R34 GT-R is the holy grail of JDM imports, and it finally becomes legal in the US in 2025. Unfortunately, there’s been a bit of a queue forming in recent years, and if you want one, you’ll need deep pockets.

Clean examples are already getting slapped with price tags of $150,000+, while the rarer variants like the V-Spec II Nür have sold for more than $300,000. That’s supercar money, but you’re buying into perhaps the most iconic JDM car ever made, which will likely be a worthwhile investment.

Under the hood, the legendary RB26DETT officially made 276 horsepower due to Japan’s “gentleman’s agreement.” In reality, stock cars typically dynoed closer to 330 horsepower. With basic bolt-ons and proper tuning, 500 horsepower is easily achievable while maintaining reliability. The aftermarket support for RB engines provides endless tuning options (if you’ve got the cash to spare!), even in 2025.

While the ATTESA-ETS all-wheel-drive system isn’t ideal for drifting, it can be persuaded. The system typically sends 100% power to the rear wheels until slip is detected, and many owners have modified the AWD for more rear bias or converted to full RWD for drifting, although this is less common now, given the price tags!

If you want the R34 styling without the astronomical price tag, you can also consider other options like the GT-T variant, which features the RB25DET engine. It’s naturally rear-wheel drive, still highly tunable, and costs significantly less than the GT-R.

Nissan Silvia S15

The S15 Silvia represents the final evolution of Nissan’s iconic S-chassis lineup, and it’s arguably the best (as an S15 owner, I might be biased!) While we got the watered-down 240SX in previous generations, America missed out entirely on what we consider the ultimate Silvia. Thankfully, that finally changes in 2025 – you’ll just need to ensure you get one of the earliest (1999) models.

With the S15, you’ve got two main choices – the turbocharged Spec-R and the naturally aspirated Spec-S.

The Spec-R is unsurprisingly the most desirable, packing the final and most impressive version of the SR20DET, pushing out 250 horsepower from the factory with heaps of tuning potential. There’s also the convertible Varietta, but they’re… Uhh, a refined taste?

The Spec-R isn’t just about the engine, though. You get a 6-speed manual (versus the Spec-S’s 5-speed), uprated stock suspension (which, let’s face it, will be swapped out pretty soon anyway), and a helical limited-slip differential (again, consider the two-way upgrade for skids!) Combined with the S15’s already excellent chassis, it’s pretty much a drift car straight from the factory.

It’s clear that all S-chassis were built for upgrades, and the SR20DET responds incredibly well to tuning. Basic bolt-ons can safely get you to 300 hp, while built motors can handle 500+ hp all day long. There’s still heaps of aftermarket support in 2025, though prices for genuine parts can often be a real pain due to their rarity factor, even in the motherland.

For a clean example imported into the US, you’ll likely be looking at around $50,000. If you’re looking for a drift car that doesn’t have the cleanest history, you might be able to get one shipped for nearer $30k.

Toyota Supra JZA80 (MKIV)

Toyota’s A80 Supra (also known as the MKIV or Mk4) isn’t one of the most sought-after JDM imports since the US has already been treated to a decent version for a change. However, the JDM models now legal for 2025 bring some features that might make them worth considering.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room – once again, the prices have gone crazy. Thanks to its Fast and Furious fame combined with the epic 2JZ-GTE powerplant, even US-spec Supras are fetching $100,000+ now.

For JDM versions, you’re looking at similar money. However, you’ll get unique features like different rear lights, upgraded interior options, and special editions that never made it to the US market. Plus, you get to say it’s “JDM, yo.” That’s gotta be worth something, surely?

Of course, the twin-turbo 2JZ is the star of the show. The US and JDM models are both treated to this, although the JDM variants came with a “claimed” 276 hp (yes, another one!) versus the American 320 hp rating.

Don’t let that fool you, though – the stock JDM cars typically put down similar numbers on the dyno, and the tuning potential remains legendary. If you don’t already know, the 2JZ can reliably handle 800+ horsepower with the right supporting mods. As for upper limits, drag cars are out there running 3,000+ horsepower 2J’s, but they aren’t likely to make the most reliable daily drivers!

The Mk4 Supra is a rare choice that will require some consideration for drifting. While the chassis is more than capable, and the engine can handle serious power, you’ll probably struggle to forget you’re sliding something worth six figures. The aftermarket support is endless, and the Supra remains one of the most tuneable JDM (and USDM) cars ever made.

Toyota Chaser Tourer V (JZX100)

The JZX100 is another of our personal favorites, packing the 1JZ-GTE engine, essentially a slightly smaller (2.5-liter) version of the Supra’s 3-liter 2JZ. Stock power? The usual “276 hp” (wink), but they’re once again famous for handling serious power with basic mods. We know many owners who have driven them daily for years at 400+ hp without breaking a sweat.

Talking of daily driving, this is where the Chaser shines, alongside making an incredibly practical drift car. You know what they say – “four doors, more whor…” Uhh… family members in the back during the week! It’s perfect for hitting the track at the weekend, and you can take friends and family along to spectate, too. The trunk space is bonkers, the interior is deliciously luxurious (before you strip it out), and it’s built with Toyota’s legendary reliability. What more could you want?

Clean examples are currently fetching around $35,000, with pristine ones pushing $45,000. That might seem steep for a 25-year-old Toyota sedan, but you’re getting supercar-beating sleeper potential in a comfortable daily driver that can handle school runs and drift events equally well.

While the 1JZ is nearly as bulletproof as its bigger brother, the parts availability isn’t quite as good as the 2JZ. Still, there’s plenty of aftermarket support in 2025, and most Supra parts can be adapted to fit.

Toyota Aristo V300

If you’re hunting 2JZ power but can’t stomach the bonkers Supra prices, you might be pleasantly surprised to hear that the Aristo packs the exact same 2JZ-GTE engine under the hood. Awesome, huh? Toyota stuffed its flagship twin-turbo powerplant into this luxury sedan to create the ultimate factory sleeper.

Although it might look recognizable as the USDM GS300, the JDM V300 variant is the one you want, featuring the twin-turbo setup that US-market cars never got.

As you might have guessed, there is a slight downside – the automatic-only transmission. But that shouldn’t be a total deal-breaker. The R154 5-speed manual gearbox is a common swap, though you should budget accordingly! The last time we checked, you’d likely be looking at $3k+ in parts alone, but as with all JDM tax, it’s probably increased by now!

Stock power? You guessed it – the magic “276 hp.” But, just like the Supra, the tuning potential is near-limitless. An added bonus is that the engine bay is actually more spacious than the Supra’s, making it easier to work on, and you get plenty of space for upgrades without cutting your hands to shreds.

Decent examples are currently around $30,000, with clean ones pushing nearer $50,000. That’s a bargain for a 2JZ-GTE-equipped vehicle in 2025, especially considering you’re getting a truly luxury interior (if you keep it) and enough space to convince the family it’s “just a sensible sedan.”

With the right modifications, these can make a great drift car, and you could have the ultimate sleeper on your hands with everyone thinking you’ve “only” got a GS300!

Toyota Altezza RS200

You’ll probably recognize this as the USDM Lexus IS200/IS300, but like the GS300/Aristo combo, Japan kept (what is arguably) the best version for themselves. The Altezza RS200 came with the legendary 3S-GE BEAMS engine – a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter that revs to 7,700 rpm and puts most Honda VTEC units to shame.

Don’t let the lack of forced induction fool you. The BEAMS motor pushes out 207 hp from the factory with a ridiculous throttle response that’ll make most turbocharged cars look lazy at the lights. Plus, the high-pitched induction noise is simply awesome.

Interestingly, while US buyers got the 2JZ-GE-powered IS300, making 217 hp, many still prefer the BEAMS engine. Sure, the 2JZ undoubtedly has more tuning potential. However, for those more interested in staying (relatively) stock, the BEAMS offers that raw, high-revving character that made 90s JDM sports cars special.

The four-door Altezza has epic handling straight out of the box. While it wasn’t designed for drifting, the balanced chassis and responsive engine make it a joy to throw around.

It’s not the most expensive, either. Clean examples are fetching around $20,000, with mint ones pushing around $30,000.

There’s one catch – if you’re looking for big power, you might want to look elsewhere. Although the BEAMS engine can be tuned, it’ll never match the numbers the IS300’s 2JZ-GE can achieve if you’re willing to throw cash at it. But if you value driving experience over outright power or aren’t interested in mods, this might be your perfect JDM daily.

Mazda RX-7 FD3S

Mazda’s FD RX-7 represents peak 90s JDM design, and 2025 opens up some of the most desirable variants ever made. While early FDs have been legal for a while, the later Japanese models feature some worthy improvements over the US equivalents.

The most sought-after is the RX-7 Spirit R – the FD’s final and most refined version. Limited to just 1,500 units, they came in three variants: Type-A (two-seater manual), Type-B (2+2 manual), and Type-C (two-seater automatic). If you’ll settle for nothing less than the holy grail, expect to fork out $150,000+ for an imported JDM Spirit R in 2025.

For most, that will be way out of budget, which is where the Type RZ and RS models are great alternatives, featuring many of the Spirit R’s performance upgrades at a discount. You’re still looking at around $75,000 for a clean example, but that’s considerably less than Spirit R money.

Under the hood of both lies the legendary 13B-REW twin-turbo rotary engine. Stock power was 276 hp (another “gentleman’s agreement” special, of course), but the sequential twin-turbo setup delivers power so smoothly that it feels significantly faster. With proper tuning and maintenance, 400+ hp is achievable (which is crazy for a 1.3-liter!), though you’ll want to budget for regular rebuilds if you’re pushing big numbers – the joys of rotaries!

The FD’s perfect weight distribution, RWD drivetrain, and lightweight engine make it one of the most balanced platforms available for drifting, but maintenance will quickly get expensive. Aftermarket support remains strong in 2025, though rotary parts aren’t cheap. It’ll all feel worth it when you look back and admire its beauty, though!

Mitsubishi Evolution VI Tommi Mäkinen Edition

The Evo VI TME stands as the most desirable Evo ever made. Built to celebrate Tommi Mäkinen’s fourth consecutive WRC title, it represents everything awesome about 90s Mitsubishi. It’s essentially a road-legal rally car with a license plate.

Under the hood sits the awesome 4G63T engine, officially rated at, uhhh… 276 hp. Ignore the “official” numbers (again) – the TME undoubtedly pushes out well over 300 hp from the factory in stock form. It also got some serious upgrades over the standard Evo VI, including a titanium turbocharger, lower ride height, and a faster spooling setup.

When it comes to tuning potential, the 4G63T can reliably handle 450+ hp with the right supporting mods, and there’s still decent aftermarket support out there.

While drifting obviously isn’t the goal, the TME excels at pretty much everything else, which is why it deserves a spot on our list. The razor-sharp handling, brutal acceleration, and touring car-like grip levels make it an absolute weapon on both road and track.

Plus, you can use it year-round thanks to the all-wheel-drive system, although we wouldn’t recommend it if you live in a gritted area. Ignore the rumors – JDM cars still rust (ask us how we know!).

Clean examples are fetching $75,000+, with pristine ones pushing well into six figures. That might sound crazy for a 25-year-old Mitsubishi, but they’re only getting rarer and represent the peak of 90s rally performance. It’ll undoubtedly be a good investment if you have the cash to spare.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GC8G)

The GC8 STI showcases 90s Subaru at its best. However, if you’re considering one, we recommend deciding whether the differences between the USDM and JDM variants justify the extra cost (unless you bagged a bargain.)

The JDM models pack the celebrated EJ20 rather than the USDM EJ25, making the same “claimed” 276 hp versus the American-spec’s 300 horsepower. The JDM engine revs higher and feels more responsive, but both powerplants handle similar power figures when modified.

You do get some JDM-exclusive goodies, though. The Version V and VI models feature improved DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential) systems, better interior materials, and, of course, the factory pink STI badges. Plus, certain special editions never made it stateside.

Like the Evo, the GC8 STI offers brutal performance all year round. The boxer rumble, epic handling, and rally pedigree are awesome. While we’ve seen some Imprezas modified for drifting, it’s not something we’d consider unless you’re keen for something different!

Clean JDM examples fetch around $50,000, with rare special editions commanding significantly more. That’s steep compared to USDM cars, especially when the performance differences are minimal. Unless you’re specifically after a JDM special edition or that EJ20 character, you’d probably be better off sticking with the USDM offerings.

Suzuki Cappuccino

Looking for something hilariously different? The Suzuki Cappuccino might be the most awesome JDM car you can import in 2025. This tiny convertible weighs just 1,600 lbs (725 kg) and packs a 657cc turbocharged engine, making 63 hp to meet the Japanese kei car regulations.

While the numbers seem laughable, there’s more to this miniature hero. Its lightweight chassis and perfectly balanced front mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive setup make it more fun than many cars with triple the power.

The engine might be tiny, but it loves to rev and actually responds well to mild tuning. Many owners push them to 100+ hp, which is more fun than you’d ever imagine in something this small. Just remember – you’re not buying this for straight-line speed or drifting (unless you’re really brave).

Clean examples currently fetch around $15,000, with pristine ones pushing $25,000. While it’s certainly not cheap for what it is, there’s a real market for these, and it just might be a decent investment.

Just one warning – it wasn’t designed for typical American situations, and at under 1,400mm tall, you’ll be eye-level with most SUV bumpers! However, if you’re looking for the ultimate weekend toy that’ll put a smile on your face every time you drive or look at it (along with the bystanders), the Cappuccino offers the ultimate tiny JDM package.

What Is The 25-Year Rule?

A new batch of sought-after JDM cars becomes legal for US import every year due to America’s 25-year rule. For 2025, that means anything built before 2000 can now legally be imported.

Given that the late ’90s/early 2000s saw so many of the ultimate JDM cars hit the market, the past few years have been particularly exciting, opening up plenty of new options.

The import process is pretty straightforward for most states – if the car’s 25 years old, you’re good to go. However, it’ll come as no surprise to many that things are a little different in California. Once again, their strict emissions laws mean many JDM cars will struggle with the mandatory smog testing.

For the rest of the US, 2025 brings some seriously exciting JDM cars to our shores for the first time, from highly tunable drift weapons to rare special editions.

Importing A JDM Car in 2025

While all the cars on our list are now legally importable thanks to the 25-year rule, there are still some important things to consider before pulling the trigger.

The actual import process is pretty straightforward. You’ll need documentation proving the car’s age and origin, but most reputable Japanese exporters will handle all this paperwork for you.

We’d strongly recommend working with established import agents rather than trying to navigate the process yourself – the savings rarely outweigh the headaches.

One of the main hurdles is state registration. While federal restrictions no longer apply to these vehicles, individual states have their own rules. As we mentioned with California, you’ll need to undergo smog testing for most vehicles, which most JDM imports struggle with. Unless you’re importing something crazy old like a Hakosuka, you’ll need to do some extra homework.

Budget-wise, when looking at prices, remember you might need to factor in shipping costs, import duties, and potential compliance work beyond the purchase prices you see. You’ll also want to set aside some cash for maintenance when it finally lands on US shores. It’s no secret that these cars aren’t getting any younger, and unfortunate niggles will often arise when you go digging!

The post Top JDM Cars Available For US Import In 2025 first appeared on Drifted.com.

Drift Hunters Pro Summary

This free multiplayer drifting game brings extensive customization options, an epic car list, and a wide selection of tracks to choose from.

Whether you want to head to the city, the touge, or slide around containers at the port, Drift Hunters Pro offers something for everyone.

But, best of all? You get to shred tires behind the wheel of your dream rides while bashing doors with your friends on multiplayer!

One of the great things about Drift Hunters Pro is that any points you earn for showcasing your sideways skills become credits.

This means it’s quick and easy to earn plenty of cash to buy your favorite cars and upgrade them to the max before showing them off to your friends in the multiplayer lobbies!

Drift Hunters Pro Controls

Keyboard (Browser)

You can access these buttons anytime using the “Information” icon in the top right of the game.

• W/Up arrow – Accelerate
• S/Down arrow – Brake
• D/Right arrow – Turn right
• A/Left arrow – Turn left
• Space – E-brake
• Shift – Nitrous
• C – Change camera
• M – Rear-view mirror
• R – Reset car
• U – Toggle KMH/MPH
• I – Start/stop engine

Mobile

• Use the on-screen buttons

How To Play Drift Hunters Pro

You have two choices in Drift Hunters Pro:

Multiplayer Mode

Whether you want to find new like-minded drifting friends online or to tandem with your buddies, Multiplayer is the perfect option.

Here’s how to activate the Drift Hunters Pro Multiplayer Mode:

• Click “Play” from the main menu
• Choose “Multiplayer” – you don’t need to choose a track at this point
• Here, you can choose to join an existing public lobby or one that your friend(s) created
• Simply click the “Join” button if you wish to do this
• Alternatively, you can also fill out the “Nickname” and “Room name” boxes
• Then, choose the track you want to use at the top
• Then click “Create Room”
• This will create your own room where you can invite your friends to join

Single Player Mode

Single-player is great whether you want to brush up on your drifting skills in preparation for joining your buddies later on or simply earn enough cash to unlock cars and upgrades quickly.

Here’s how to activate the Drift Hunters Pro Single Player Mode:

• Hit “Play” from the Main Menu
• Then, choose the track you want to visit
• Then, hit “Single Player”

Drift Hunters Pro Car List

You’re gifted a free car at the start (Honda Integra DC5), but you also have 25000 credits in your account, which goes a long way in this game.

With these free credits, you can upgrade your ride immediately if you wish. Alternatively, you can consider using the cash to upgrade your free DC5 to something a little more impressive from the following list (along with their prices):

• Honda Integra DC5 (FREE)
• Honda S2000 (12000)
• Mazda RX7 FD (15000)
• Nissan 350Z (18000)
• Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno (20000)
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XIII (25000)
• Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R (28000)
• Nissan 240SX S14 (30000)
• Toyota Supra MKIV (32000)
• Nissan Silvia S15 (35000)

This means you have the option of 6 cars to choose from with your 25000 right away. There’s a great selection, with some featuring widebody kits in stock form.

If you can’t afford your perfect drift car immediately, consider going straight into the game to hone your skills and earn a little extra cash.

Thankfully, the game is very generous when it comes to earnings, so you won’t need to grind away for hours. Just ensure you’re showing off your best sideways abilities, and you’ll soon be rewarded.

Drift Hunters Pro Tuning & Upgrades

There’s plenty of choice when tuning your car in Drift Hunters Pro. From the main menu, head to “Garage”. From here, you have the following options:

Upgrades

You can use your credits to upgrade each of the following options, all of which have four upgrade tiers:

• Engine
• Turbo
• Gearbox
• Handling
• Weight

Remember, if you upgrade to another car later, the parts won’t transfer to any other cars you purchase. You’ll need to upgrade each one, so try to spend your balance wisely.

Tuning Options

Within the tuning section, you can carry out comprehensive suspension changes and fine-tune the brakes and turbo with the following options:

• Front Height
• Rear Height
• Front Camber
• Rear Camber
• Turbo Pressure
• Brake Pressure
• Brake Balance

You can use your mouse to rotate the car in the garage to check out your setup changes from different angles to get the perfect drift car stance.

Styling Upgrades & Customizations

Once you’ve got your car driving how you want it to, it’s time to give it a sick redesign and make it look like a true drifter.

Wheels

You’ll want to upgrade the ugly stock steel wheels right away. Thankfully, you have a wide selection of alternative options available, each costing 2000 credits.

Paint

In the paint booth, you have a full-color palette at your disposal, allowing you to choose literally any color you can think of. This will set you back 300 credits.

Simply hit the “Wheel Color” button at the bottom to set your wheels apart from the bodywork. Again, you can use any color, but it will only cost 150 credits.

Get The Ultimate Drift Hunters Experience

While Drift Hunters Pro is awesome for its multiplayer capabilities, if you’re looking for the ultimate Drift Hunters experience, head over to Drift Hunters MAX.

This Drifted-exclusive game features a unique drift attack mode, where you undertake challenges with clipping points, and you also get to compete on a worldwide leaderboard against other Drift Hunters fans.

That’s not all; it features a crazy huge car and track selection, alongside far superior graphics and physics. It needs to be played to believe how good and addictive it is, which is why we feel it’s a must-play free online browser game.

The post Drift Hunters Pro first appeared on Drifted.com.

In the automotive customization scene, there are builds that turn heads and creations that completely redefine what’s possible. This Corvette-turned-drift-kart that we spotted on Cars & Bids is the perfect example of the latter.

The story begins with a C5 Corvette that met an unfortunate (or fortunate; we’re not quite sure) end in May 2018 with “minor to moderate” rear-end damage after an unfortunate encounter with a concrete barrier. Rather than restoring it to stock, the owner saw it as the perfect opportunity to create something truly unique, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.

What’s Left Of The C5?

As you can see, the stock fiberglass Corvette body is long gone, replaced by a custom aluminum frame. There’s a custom steering setup, front crash bars, and a roll bar. The side frames are professionally mig welded aluminum, and the crash structure is (tig welded) chromoly steel.

At 82 inches wide, it’s nearly 10 inches wider than a stock C5.

While at first glance, you’d be hard-pressed to identify any traces of the original Corvette, a few key components remain. These include front and rear suspension cradles, wheel bearings, and the OEM brake rotors and pads behind the upgraded 18″ Weld wheels, assisted by a Wilwood brake booster.

Given the weight (or lack of), which is just 1,550 lbs, the need for upgraded stopping power is probably not too essential!

“Built To Rip The Tires Off”

The owner states the above in the listing, and looking at the rubber shows he isn’t kidding! Given the custom kart’s insanely low weight, just a fraction of the original C5’s 3,245 lbs, he didn’t insist on downgrading the engine to make the power manageable.

Quite the opposite, in fact, which will come as absolutely no surprise if you’ve seen those sketchy-looking giant nitrous bottles that reside just above the driver’s head! After all, there’s a reason he named it “The Suicide Booth.”

The powerplant of choice is a mid-mounted upgraded 6.0-liter GM Performance LS V8, which appears to be the LS2 from the later 2005 model C5. Obviously, that wasn’t powerful or ridiculous enough in stock form, so the upgrades began, including:

• LS3 cylinder heads for improved airflow and higher RPMs.
• LSXHR high-rise intake manifold from Fuel Air Spark Technology.
• A massive 103mm Nick Williams Performance throttle body.
• 8-2-1 stainless steel exhaust. The crazy-looking custom setup, complete with a giant muffler, makes it look as though it’s ready to launch into space.

The owner states, “The engine is rated by GM at 450hp. With the nitrous installed and tuned I expect power at the wheels to be considerably higher than that.”

These upgrades, especially with the nitrous engaged, likely push the output beyond 500 hp. In a vehicle weighing only 1,550 pounds, this creates a power-to-weight ratio that would put most supercars to shame.

Here’s how it looked (and sounded) when an earlier version of the build headed to the track for a tire-shredding session:

Built For Sideways Action

The heart of the drivetrain is a built Hydra-Matic 4L65-E 4-speed automatic transmission. While drifting purists are likely upset at the lack of a manual and clutch, we can’t deny that it suits the single-seater kart vibe pretty well!

Already capable of handling massive torque loads, the gearbox also features upgraded internals to ensure lightning-fast gear changes that can be controlled via paddle shifters. The owner also states in the comments that it could be converted to manual with various transmissions.

The transmission is paired with a 4.10:1 limited-slip differential (LSD), which provides aggressive gearing and tire-destroying explosive acceleration. The aptly named Terminator X Max engine and transmission management system tie it all together.

While there’s limited information on the suspension setup, we can see aftermarket arms, and the listing includes an “aftermarket coilover setup.” It’s certainly sitting low!

As for top speed, the owner reports hitting 110 mph; he wisely chose not to push further. However, he says his “Best guess it around 150 although I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Street Legal? Not Quite

While technically still titled as a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette “Convertible” (they got that part right!), the creation isn’t quite road-legal currently, but it’s surprisingly close.

The seller notes that headlights, mirrors (included), and other basic equipment must be added for street use in some states. Emissions compliance may pose a greater challenge, though, likely requiring 5″ catalytic converters at the very least. However, it may be easier to register as a kit car rather than a Corvette.

Given the crazy low ride height and the fact that it only has a tiny amount of clearance under the 3D-printed carbon fiber front splitter, you certainly wouldn’t want to take it over any speedbumps!

It Sold For Way Less Than It Was Worth

The final sale price of just $10,300 is crazy cheap, considering everything included in the package.

Not only did the buyer get this one-of-a-kind, LS-powered drift machine, but the owner also threw in a MaxJax 2-post car lift, various tools, the forged Weld wheels pictured, and an additional set of wheels with new tires (plus two extra new tires).

We absolutely love this crazy creation and wish we could’ve snapped it up. It’s awesome to see what eventually emerged from what most would consider a total loss, proving that not everything should end up in the junkyard in the sky!

More Footage Of “The Suicide Booth” In Action

If you’re like us and can’t get enough of this beast, here are a couple more videos. It also shows why it might not be the most convenient daily driver!

The post This Drift Kart Is The Coolest Thing You’ll See All Week first appeared on Drifted.com.

Chelsea DeNofa, 2023 Formula DRIFT champion, ventures to Europe for the “Up In Smoke Tour” (no, not the Aftermath one!)

On this multi-day European drift road trip, Chelsea (and his wife, also Chelsea DeNofa), along with around 20 other petrolheads, tear through the UK, France, Spain, and Portugal in a convoy of drift cars. Now, that’s our idea of a good holiday!

The adventure begins in the UK, where Chelsea picks up a basic-spec M54B30-powered E36 BMW (who would have guessed?!)

The car gets a ’90s DTM-inspired white-on-white look and some “don’t try this at home” questionably modified suspension, an angle kit, and other drift-specific mods.

With the smell of fresh paint lingering, Chelsea and crew scrape and crash their way onto the Channel Tunnel train to France. “This is definitely my first time driving a car into a train to go underwater!”.

As they resurface in Europe, they waste no time hunting down unique drift spots. An abandoned petrol station provided the perfect opportunity for some sideways action, and it’ll come as no surprise that they took full advantage.

Shortly after, the real test begins as Chelsea’s E36 develops a personality of its own. A ripped exhaust provides an impromptu soundtrack, and a fuel system issue provides fresh concerns.

Meanwhile, as he keeps the revs high, the E36’s broken speedo states that he’s doing 0mph. At this point, it’s starting to sound like our typical drifting road trips!

Near the end of the video, the group encounters what Chelsea describes as “literally an off-roading trail,” resulting in scrapes, bangs, and nervous laughter as expensive aftermarket parts scrape their way to the other side.

When they roll into the first track day, Chelsea’s E36 is battered but still ready to knock on doors. At this point, The Up In Smoke Tour has only just begun, promising more adventures, more challenges, and undoubtedly, more tire smoke in the days to come.

The post Chelsea DeNofa’s European Drift Road Trip Begins first appeared on Drifted.com.

Brian Wilkerson of MA-Motorsports in Maryland decided to try something a little different with his BMW E36 M3, dubbed “MA36RS.”

An Unconventional Choice

Instead of a traditional BMW engine upgrade or a popular LS V8 swap, he opted for the Ford Mustang’s turbocharged 2.3L Ford EcoBoost. He aims to create a unique and versatile 3-Series capable of competing in both drifting and rallying.

Key Components & Upgrades

When fully built, the EcoBoost engine can produce over 900 horsepower to the wheels alongside a significant weight reduction of approximately 200 lbs compared to the original BMW inline-six. These improvements, alongside the EcoBoost’s strong low-end torque, make the MA36RS the ideal drift/rally combo.

Wilkerson opted for a JEM Sport kit for the swap, providing essentials such as custom engine mounts, a clutch kit, and an adapter plate for the BMW manual ZF transmission. Additional mods included a Ford Ranger oil pan for better fitment, a Radium PCV baffle plate for improved oil control, and a BMW power steering pump with a JEM Sport bracket.

Custom Fabrication

Despite plenty of convenient off-the-shelf engine swap parts, extensive custom fabrication work was still required. The MA-Motorsports team crafted bespoke intercooler piping and mounts, a power steering reservoir, and a cooling overflow tank. They also modified the thermostat outlet to accommodate AN fittings and created a custom fan shroud using a CNC plasma table and manual press brake.

Unsurprisingly, the EcoBoost swap presented its share of challenges as the team encountered issues with the cooling system, which they resolved by fabricating a custom radiator setup and overflow tank.

Wiring complexities were addressed using HP Tuners for ECU adjustments, though Wilkerson is considering a future switch to a standalone ECU. The fuel system also required attention, with the team replacing a corroded fuel tank and sending unit.

Switchin’ It Up – From Drift To Rally

One of the most impressive aspects of the MA36RS is that it can be switched between drifting and rally setups with minimal changes.

For drift events, they run a stiffer suspension setup and a specific wheel/tire combo optimized for tarmac. When heading off-road, they switch to longer travel suspension, add mud flaps, and change to a gravel-oriented wheel and tire package, allowing the MA36RS to compete in both disciplines without extensive downtime or effort.

Future plans for the MA36RS include further engine tuning to optimize power delivery, especially at the top end, where the team has encountered some challenges. Suspension refinements are also on the agenda, intending to improve handling characteristics for both drifting and rally.

With the unlikely Ford EcoBoost engine swap in an E36 chassis, Wilkerson created a unique and adaptable car showcasing the versatility of the modern EcoBoost platform.

It’s refreshing to see unique drift engine choices compared to traditional BMW engine upgrades and increasingly common LS V8 swaps. We look forward to seeing this thing shred on the track and blasting through the rally stages!

The post BMW E36 M3 Gets A Ford EcoBoost Swap first appeared on Drifted.com.