Drifting is one of the most rewarding and technically demanding motorsports out there. Whether you’re dreaming of linking your first corner or building a competitive drift car, getting started the right way is everything. The barrier to entry is lower than most people think—but the margin for error once you’re sliding at speed? That’s where the challenge begins.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to start drifting, what you need to look for in a beginner-friendly drift car, how to make your first modifications count, and how to start dialing in your technique. If you’re already deep into the build phase, make sure to check out our Drift Car Setup Guide – Engineering Essentials for Maximum Performance for an advanced look at chassis tuning, geometry, and part selection.
Step 1: Choose the Right Drift Car to Start With
When you’re just getting into drifting, your first car shouldn’t be your dream build—it should be reliable, affordable, and have good parts availability. The best beginner drift cars are almost always:
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Rear-wheel drive
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Manual transmission
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Lightweight or balanced chassis
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Supported by the aftermarket
Common platforms include the E36 BMW, Nissan 350Z, S13/S14 240SX, and Mazda MX-5 Miata. These cars are popular for a reason—they have a low cost of entry, predictable handling, and tons of upgrade paths.
Step 2: Learn to Drift Stock
Before diving into modifications, you need to learn the car. A stock drift car with only minor upgrades (welded differential or limited-slip, and upgraded tires) will teach you weight transfer, throttle modulation, and how to initiate and maintain a slide.
Practice the following techniques:
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Clutch kicking for initiations
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Feint or Scandinavian flick for momentum drifts
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Handbrake initiations into tight corners
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Throttle steering to hold the slide
Master these fundamentals first before chasing horsepower or extreme angle.
Step 3: Start With the Right Modifications
Once you’ve found the limits of your car in stock form, it’s time to start upgrading. These are the most effective first mods:
1. Coilovers
A quality set of drift spec coilovers is the foundation of control. They allow you to fine-tune ride height, dampening, and weight transfer—all critical for predictability in a slide.
2. Angle Kit
Increasing steering angle helps prevent spinouts and gives you more control mid-drift. Kits like the SLR angle kit provide a range of adjustments and Ackermann tuning that will transform the front-end grip and steering behavior of your chassis.
3. Seat and Steering Wheel
Driver feel is crucial. A fixed bucket seat and solid-mounted steering wheel help you stay locked in and in control of the car’s behavior.
4. Toe and Camber Tuning
Dial in alignment settings that promote better rear-end grip and faster transitions. Combine this with SLR toe plates to quickly measure and adjust trackside.
Step 4: Drift Events and Seat Time
Nothing replaces experience. Once your car is dialed in with the basics, start hitting local drift days. The community is often welcoming, and you’ll learn more in one event than months of theory.
Set a goal for each day: learn to connect turns, practice entries, experiment with throttle control. Log your settings, tire pressures, and alignment so you can refine between sessions.
Step 5: Analyze and Refine Your Build
As your skills improve, revisit your car setup. That’s where our Drift Car Setup Guide becomes essential. It dives into:
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Chassis bracing
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Rear grip theory
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Alignment and caster
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Angle geometry and bump steer
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Proper spring rates and dampening
The difference between a basic build and a truly competitive drift car comes down to how well you understand and tune these systems.
Bonus: What NOT to Do
Avoid these common beginner mistakes:
❌ Chasing horsepower too early
❌ Overbuilding the car before understanding driving fundamentals
❌ Ignoring seat time
❌ Skipping proper alignment and setup
Drifting isn’t just about smoke and style—it’s about balance, technique, and car control.
Ready to Drift?
Starting your drift journey doesn’t require a six-figure build or pro sponsorship. All you need is a solid platform, a bit of mechanical understanding, and the commitment to keep learning.
When you're ready to take your setup further, revisit our detailed Drift Car Setup Guide and start turning laps that not only look good—but feel good too.
