16 of the Best Drift Cars (2024)

The IS 300 comes with Toyota's indestructible 2JZ straight-six, and could be optioned with a manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Pair those things with a nice long wheelbase and solid Japanese build quality, and you've got yourself a great base for sideways action.

There's no beating the versatility of the Honda S2000. It works no matter what kind of driving you're into—canyon carving, autocrossing, track days, drifting, you name it. The S2000 can do it all.

The 240SX has become the hallmark of any good drift event. Go to any Clubloose weekend and you'll run into tons of them, all modified differently for drifting. A balanced chassis, long wheelbase, and massive aftermarket are big reasons why.

The Focus RS was one of the first mass-production cars to offer a standalone "drift mode" for people who want to go sideways. That should tell you all you need to know.

The AE86-generation Corolla was made famous by the drift-centered Initial D anime. It's solidified itself as a legitimate collector's car, but that hasn't stopped owners from having fun with it.

The 350Z may not be the greatest driver's car on earth, but it's pretty great for drifting. Prices are low, and it checks all the boxes needed for you to go have fun on a twisty course.

Of course, if you want to drive something vintage, Nissan has a good selection of rear-wheel drive, front-engine compacts to choose from. The 200SX is one of the best.

No matter the generation, the BMW M5 is a full-blown drift weapon. Big power going to the rear wheels combined with a long wheelbase makes for one hell of a time. Though the new one is all-wheel drive, it has a rear-wheel drive mode to ensure you can still get sideways on demand.

Depending on how you feel about a live axle, the Mustang can be a wonderful car to take drifting. The V-8 has enough power from the factory to keep you sliding, and aftermarket support is plentiful.

Like the Mustang, the GTO has the perfect formula for spinning tires: A big V-8 with a manual transmission sending power to the rear wheels.

The RX-7 is like many other cars on this list: Front-engined, manual, and rear-wheel drive. Where it differs is the power source. Because rotaries aren't well-known for their reliability, many drifters do some sort of engine swap (V-8, 2JZ, SR20, etc.) to keep it moving on track.

Similar to the Focus RS, lots of new AMG cars have a dedicated drift mode built in. The GT 63 S, above, is one of them. Since most of the lineup has gone all-wheel drive, it's a welcome feature.

While the E30-generation 3-Series has become a sort of collectable, the E36 sits in a nice middle ground of being cheap enough to take drifting, and simple enough so that it can be easily repaired or upgraded.

The E46-generation 3-Series has become cheap enough where drifters are starting to adopt the platform as well. It's a bit heavier, but just as balanced.

The GT86 broke the record for longest continuous drift last year, spanning five hours and over 100 consecutive miles. The record was broken by the new M5, but nonetheless, that should tell you all you need to know about the BRZ-86 twins' drifting capabilities. And now, used examples are getting cheap enough where they make sense to take to actual drift events.

The Miata makes for a fine drift car if it's set up correctly. Because it has a short wheelbase, it's more prone to snap into oversteer, making it harder to hold a slide. Plus, it doesn't have much power. But dial it in correctly, and you'll be sideways for days.