THE CARs
Basically you can drift with any car. But these cars are considered the best for drifting.
FRs (FRONT-ENGINE REAR WHEEL DRIVE)
Toyota Sprinter Trueno (AE86) (aka Hachi-Roku)
pic : GT-Apex model, considered by some the highest spec model of the Trueno
Considered by many to be the one of the most popular car for drifting. This is because of its low price (although here in Malaysia it has been overpriced) and being a FR. Years ago, cars like this would have been written-off like old junk and stuff like that and number of these cars in good condition were few. But thanks to the influence of the Japanese anime/manga Initial D, this car is enjoying extreme popularity especially in Japan. There is also some people who take care of their Trueno properly. The 3-door model is popular, although coupe versions are quite a rare sight. Oh yeah, its main weakness is its 1.6 litre 4A-GE engine which could only generate 130hp, but there is a lot of performance parts available for the car and there is people who either turbo-charge or supercharge (btw, the 4A-GE have a supercharged variant, the 4A-GZE) the car, or put in a 4A-GE from the later generations (AE101 or AE111, which featured variable valve timing, VVT for AE101 and VVT-i for AE101).
Toyota Corolla Levin (AE86)
pic : GTV model
The twin brother of the Trueno and is better in some aspects being 40kg lighter. Other than weight, the main difference is the front. The Levin is motorsport-proven, once being the weapon of choice in rallies and circuit racing. Also appeared in the same Japanese anime/manga, Initial D. Same problem, that it is underpowered. Also the same solution, but I have seen people who put a Nissan-made SR20DET engine into a Levin. Also being overpriced here in Malaysia.
Mazda RX-7 (FC3S)
pic : Infini model
They are quite inexpensive to buy and pack that rotary punch. The 13B twin rotor turbo engine it sports is high revving and pulls hard. There is rumours heard from some people that they are difficult to drift and you can't use the e-brake because it only locks when stopped. Despite that drawback it's still an awesome drift machine. Also made an appearance in Initial D.
Mazda RX-7 (FD3S)
pic : RS model (1999)
Drum roll please.........one the most sexiest and popular sport (and sometimes, drift) car of all time. And it is quite driftable. Other than that, there is TONS of aftermarket parts available for the car, from intergrated headlights to bodykits to larger turbos. There is a lot of websites dedicated to the car. Also have the 13B-REW 2-rotor engine, except using twin turbos instead of a single turbo in the FC. Have a facelift model in 1999, in which the car returned with more wicked looks and power (from 250hp to 280hp - the maximum legal limit for Japanese cars).Production ended in 2002 with the release of the final model, the Spirit R. Yup, it also appeared in Initial D and it is one of the coolest car in the anime/manga. The car has extreme tuning potential. Just like other rotary-engined cars, fuel and expensive maintenance remains a problem, but the fun factor of the car is there. And the FD is a car that you will find modified, even if the modifications is few. The price of an FD is becoming cheaper day by day, but don't expect the price of the 1999 model to drop sharply.
Nissan Silvia series (S13, S14, S15)
This is where the popular SR20DET powered cars take over. The SR20DET is a popular engine with extreme tuning potential. Like the RX-7, there is also TONS of aftermarket parts for the SR20DET powered car.
pic : S13
When the S13 first appeared in 1988, it was powered by the CA18DET but later is powered with SR20DET engine. At standard (SR20DET version), it could generate 205hp. The S13 is also a rather light and agile car, so it is good for drifting. Also appeared in Initial D, albeit it is the CA18DET version and never saw serious action. It is also rather inexpensive, and it is better to take the Silvia K's model.
pic : S14
(face-lifted)
The S14 Silvia K's is an awesome drifting car, although not as good as the S13. It's powerful, agile and light. If you don't know the S14 before the changes came is called the Round Eye because of the shape of the headlights and the S14 after the facelift is referred to as the Shark Eye because of the newly styled slanted headlights as seen in the picture on the top. The Shark Eye model is far cooler. It is a wildly powerful car in the East (about 240hp), but in the US (where it is known as the 200SX, although there is an 2.4 litre version known as the 240SX which is weak) it is an extremely soft car because the one available there is the normally-aspirated 240SX version. In Initial D there is a character that drives a S14 (Round Eye version) who specialized in rainy courses (it is dangerous to drift in the rain!) and the car has the worst colour for a car (orange!). Quite rare but not very expensive (for the price of one you can either get a Honda Integra DC2 or Civic EK4 or........the list goes on).
pic : S15 Spec R
The most powerful Silvia of all time, this is the best Silvia. Not only is it light and agile but it also sports the newer SR20DET which now pumps out 250PS. With that much power under the hood of a car this size it makes it easy to get sideways. It comes with a 6 speed transmission. Made an extremely short appearance in Initial D. Rather expensive and rare here.
pic : RPS13 180SX Type X
Why is it here in the Silvia series list? The answer is simple. Most of its mechanicals is shared with the S13, but it has a better front rear balance ratio (and it looks cool). Most models are powered by the SR20DET but occasionally you will see the CA18DET powered models. These can easily be identified by the front bumper which has two slots in it between the headlights which is referred to as the pig nose front bumper. There was a styling change in '96.5 which featured a restyled front bumper, side steps, rear wing and taillights. Price is almost the same with the S13 and I have seen a few 180SXs which are usually standard ones.
One special mention of the Silvia series : the Sil-80 (or Sil-Eighty)
Began its early life as an experiment by 180SX owners who suffered accidents on the front end and found it is hard (or expensive) to repair it, it is done by slapping a whole S13 Silvia front end. Basically, it is a hybrid of a Silvia and a 180SX, either with a Silvia S13 front end and a 180SX back or the opposite. Initially was recognized as a lost member if the family. But because of their rising popularity Nissan started manufacturing the Sil-Eighty for some time, complete with its own name-badges (instead of 180SX or Silvia name-badge, it was given the Sil-Eighty name-badge), thus confirming its own identity. The Silvia front model is more popular. Availability here : Don't even dream of owning an original Sil-Eighty. I have only seen ONE for sale, and it is unknown that is it an original or converted from a 180SX. But I have also seen a Sil-Eighty with a S15 Silvia front once.
4WDs (WHICHEVER WAY, AS LONG AS IT IS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE)
4WDs are generally not recommended for drifting. This is because being in the 'middle' class (in my terms, which mean that they are neither true front-driven nor rear-driven vehicles) they tend to power slide when a drift is attempted. But it is not totally impossible to drift in one, with the proper setup.
Subaru Impreza WRX (GC8)
pic : Sti version 6
The rumble of the flat-4 Boxer engine..........yup, it is the one of the Boxer-engined cars that are famous (the other one is of course, Porsches). It is also a quite an OK drift car if you are able to drift with one. With its illustrious rally career, being the rally car of the champion Colin McRae for a few seasons. Began its life in rallies (in World Rally Championship) as a Group A car, it moved to the WRC (World Rally Car) class in 1999. It also uses Subaru's refined 4WD system (they call it AWD - All Wheel Drive), Ok, so it's drift prowess is rather unknown, but it is slowly (and may be one day) be the main weapon of choice. Now it is the newest permanent car in Initial D (STi version 5 coupe version).
THERE WILL BE MORE UPDATES SOON....