Drifting Myths and Tips

Don’t waste your time and money on misconceptions. We want you to enjoy drifting and have those well-deserved taco nights!

Following myths in drifting could prove to be very costly. Especially for newer enthusiasts getting into the sport. A collection of random and unnecessary misconceptions on the internet can lead to you spending way more money than you should. So get this: You spend a bunch of money to fund your passion (possibly even lose a kidney in the process), then you realize a couple of drift sessions and car smashes later that you probably wasted your money, and could have had those late-night taco dinners you've craved all along. Now your bank is on your ass, future is deterred, your life sucks and you still haven’t had the damn taco!

Well, we have your back and want to make sure you are on the right path and are enjoying drifting as much as possible. No regrets, just a fun time and sustainable experience.

So, here are some of the myths and misconceptions about drifting, plus tips and advice to help you in your journey.

MYTH #1: You need to invest close 5-6 figures into your drift car.

This is completely false. Yes, drifting could get costly but the truth is that it’s not as expensive as you would think. A good tip to start small and progress from there. You know the basic stuff you need: a good driftable car, appropriate suspension and all that jazz. No need to start replacing your doors, adding intercoolers, bash bars, and plopping off your roof.

All you really need to do is get a fairly cheap drift car with a smart reliable chassis (like 350z, Miata, or 3 series): usually around $2,000 - $5,000. If you have really good negotiation skills, you can possibly even get it at a lower cost. Look at it this way: you are looking for a car to essentially drive into destruction. Why not just get a less expensive, easier to maintain and probably more haggard one, and make it sustainable for you and your budget. As you get better, you can then start considering getting another ride (but only when you really need to).

MYTH #2: You’re gonna kill it on your first track!

There is nothing more false than this myth. Even if you have supernatural abilities, you will most likely struggle a bit before you finally get the hang of it. Probably around 5% of people who drift for the first time are actually good at it. The rest of us need a lot of guidance, practice, practice, practice, and then some more track time, and more practice. At some point along the way, it will hit you hard, that you finally can drift like the best of them. Everyone gets there. Some faster than others. It takes time. 

The honest truth is that going sideways at 60-90 mph is not something normal for drivers so it is 1000% okay if it takes some time getting used to. The main tip here is to keep at it and not allow failure to deter your progress. Trust us, you’ll get it. Take baby steps and keep challenging yourself. Try doing a couple of first gear donuts and figure eights, then some second gear donuts and figure eights. Once you’re comfortable, start adding cones and setting targets and then progress from there to a road course. Before you know it, you’ll be racing tandem comfortably with your buddies.

MYTH #3: You can drift a FWD car

Correction: you can probably only slide it, which is still fun nonetheless, but just not drifting. When you are drifting, the power from your rear wheels works with your car’s inertia to continue the slide and essentially turn your action into drifting. So with a front-wheel-drive car, you can power slide at most, but you really won’t be able to get as much out of drifting as with a rear-wheel-drive car.

MYTH #4: You can’t drift an automatic transmission vehicle