Drifting is a form of art that first originated in Japan around the ‘70s. Driving fast in a straight line, or sticking to corners at ridiculous speeds is both joyous in their own right, but drifting looks to maximize car control to allow drivers to express themselves in a show of skill by stitching one move with another; leaving a ribbon of tire smoke in their wake.

Updated June 2023: Drifting, like every other track event, requires serious driving skills, style, and, most importantly, a suitable car. While the used car market is a goldmine of great drift cars, as a beginner, you'll need something cheap and a car you won't mind hitting against the barrier occasionally in pursuit of the perfect angle. We have therefore updated this list to include the cheapest drift cars that beginners can easily get on the used car market.

That brings us swiftly to the sort of cars that are purchased for drifting, which frequently tend to be used cars that are rear-wheel drive and can easily be modified to within an inch of their peak capabilities. It’s also important to ensure that you can get lots of practice in to perfect your balance and precision before purchasing a car for drifting, which will help you to pull off stunning It takes a lot of practice to get the balance and precision needed. If you're a beginner and want to go drifting, starting off with the right car is important. Getting a good drift car will make it much simpler to pull off drifting stunts. The good news is that you don't have to spend much money on getting your first great drift car.

The ideal purchase should feature a rear-wheel drive layout, limited-slip differential, manual transmission, balanced and lightweight chassis, a nice long wheelbase, an easy-to-tune suspension, and, of course, a front-mounted, simple-to-tune engine. That doesn’t mean that these are absolute must-haves, but each one contributes to turning a good build into a perfect one. To help you understand what the best choices on the market currently are, we’ve narrowed down a list of the 10 cheapest drift cars you can buy and modify into genuine drift weapons.

Note: Using sources like Carsurvey to determine the average owner reception and databases such as Bring a Trailer to find out average prices, we’ve put together a detailed list of the 10 cheapest beginner’s drift cars you can buy right now.

10 1990-1999 BMW 3 Series E36

Starting Used Price: $2,000

1997-BMW-E36-M3-Coupe-5-Speed-(Yellow)---Front
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Despite the wave of Japanese drift cars that emerged during the ‘90s, the E36 proved to be an unexpected rival that had just as much scope for customization as anything that Japan had to offer. It’s exactly why you should choose a BMW E36 3 Series as your first drift car. It has just enough power for fun, sideways driving, while also being pretty reliable despite the hard labor. The stock engine puts out nearly 200 horsepower and can handle modifications for up to 350 horsepower without demanding a major engine rebuild. This means you won't have to worry about breaking things prematurely and can use the stock platform for years. It also comes with a solid manual transmission that can withstand abuse.

Pricing

Excluding the M3 trim level, the remaining four models that were sold in the US remain extremely affordable, with the 318i going for as low as $2,000 these days. If you do have slightly deep pockets and can afford to buy the range-topping M3, we couldn’t be more supportive.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
318i $2,000 - $6,000 $22,900
323i $3,000 - $8,000 $26,900
325i $4,000 - $10,000 $29,900
328i $5,000 - $12,000 $33,900
M3 $10,000 - $20,000 $38,900

9 1989-1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Starting Used Price: $2,000

1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata front view
Mazda

The Mazda Miata is another excellent choice for beginners because it's easy to work on and has earned itself the title of ‘the world’s best-selling convertible’ as a result of its notorious reliability. However, the stock engine doesn't have the best drifting potential and probably won't be enough for serious competitive events. So, the best option is an engine swap, preferably being an LS3, which can be purchased from GM for around $10,000. Otherwise, Mazda Miata is also a great option because it's lightweight and has a tight turning radius. While the prospect of an electric Mazda MX-5 Miata excites some, we think we’ll stick with our internal combustion engine versions for a while longer.

Pricing

Given the sheer volume of MX-5s that entered circulation, it comes as no surprise that they can be had for next to nothing. Your search will likely return examples that are as low as $2,000, but we’d recommend splashing a little more cash to make sure it’s been looked after and maintained to a good standard.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
Sport $2,000 - $6,000 $26,830
Club $5,000 - $10,000 $30,290
Grand Touring $10,000 - $15,000 $32,590

Related: The Real Story How Japan Created The Awesome Drift Culture

8 1982-1994 BMW 3 Series E30

Starting Used Price: $5,000

1991 BMW 318is
Via: Bring a Trailer

The E30 316i is a great starting point for a first-time drifter since it has rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, and an engine bay that is big enough for an engine swap. Since the standard engine doesn't have enough power for proper drifting, you will be needing an engine swap. The most popular and easy examples of suitable blocks include the LS V8s, 2JZs, SR20s, and VQ35s.

Pricing

Given that E30 BMW M3 prices have skyrocketed, the other trim levels are slowly rising as well as the demand for these truly gorgeous cars is only increasing. Luckily, they’re not so high that they can’t still be purchased, with examples on the market for as low as $5,000.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
318i $5,000 - $12,000 $22,300
323i $7,000 - $15,000 $27,400
325i $8,000 - $18,000 $29,600
M3 $30,000 - $60,000 $36,900

7 1996-2001 Toyota Chaser

Starting Used Price: $5,000

White 2000 Toyota Chaser Tourer V
Via importavehicle.com

The Toyota Chaser is another great first drift car for beginners, thanks to a solid chassis that will last for moon miles and a powerful 1JZ-GE engine that gives it a solid start off the line. They are cheap and easy to find in good condition, and tons of mods are also available. You could make this car seriously fast with just a few alterations, like a bigger turbo, an updated intercooler, and new headers. And because it's so reliable, you could use it for years, making it a calculated risk to purchase.

Pricing

Buying a Chaser of this generation feels even sweeter that they can be easily imported now, and plenty of people have done so already. The big advantage to that is that the market has no shortage of examples roaming around. We’d recommend opting for the GX100 version since they are not only the best of the bunch, but also because they can still be had for reasonable sums of money.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
VVTi $5,000 - $12,000 Not sold in the US
Tourer V $7,000 - $15,000 Not sold in the US
Avante $6,000 - $13,000 Not sold in the US
Tourer S $6,000 - $14,000 Not sold in the US
LX $8,000-$15,000 Not sold in the US
GX100 $10,000-$20,000 Not sold in the US

6 2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

Starting Used Price: $8,000

Nissan 350Z silver sports car
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If you're looking for a cheap drift car that you can drive almost right out of the box, the Nissan 350Z is your jam. You'd be hard-pressed to find another car that can go from mild to wild so quickly for a similar price. The 350Z is an easy car to work on. You can upgrade it with simple modifications like an angle kit or a welded diff. This car also has a huge aftermarket scene, making finding new parts, repair shops, and modifications easier. The standard car alone has around 270 hp, which means there is plenty of potential to be toyed with here. No wonder the Nissan 350Z is such a great first drift car.

Pricing

Prices can waver quite substantially for the 350Z, and that could spell trouble for those on a budget. The chances are that previous owners of examples that are now on the market have got their money’s worth by driving their 350Z hard and fast for a few years, and that will inevitably take its toll. Find a good example, and be strong in your negotiating, and you could just bag yourself a bargain for $10,000.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
Base $8,000 - $14,000 $26,809
Enthusiast $9,000 - $16,000 $28,369
Performance $10,000 - $18,000 $30,309
Touring $11,000 - $20,000 $33,059
Grand Touring $12,000 - $22,000 $36,859
NISMO $15,000 - $30,000 $38,070

5 1993-1998 Nissan Silvia S14

Starting Used Price: $8,000

Nissan Silvia S14 JDM
Japan Car Direct

The S14’s legend in the drift community is well documented at this point and has therefore been widely accepted as one of the go-to cars to start your drifting career with. That’s one of the main reasons why we love the Nissan Silvia S14. It comes with either an SR20DE or SR20DET engine – the latter is a turbocharged engine that can be tuned up to as much as 500 hp. The downside is that these engines are expensive to upgrade to their full potential when compared to other engines that can do it for cheaper, like the 1JZ. But if you’re happy to spend the money, you will not regret it.

Pricing

Silvia S14s are still surprisingly low cost, with the cheapest high-mileage examples selling for around $8,000 at present. These won’t be the nicest ones on the market, though, and you’ll be looking at spending closer to $20,000 for one of those.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
K’s $10,000 - $18,000 Not sold in the US
Q’s $8,000 - $15,000 Not sold in the US
Q’s Aero $9,000 - $16,000 Not sold in the US
Spec-S $10,000 - $18,000 Not sold in the US
Spec-R $12,000 - $20,000 Not sold in the US
Club Selection $20,000-$30,000 Not sold in the US

Related: This Secret Underground Car Meet In Tokyo Was Like Real-Life Tokyo Drift

4 1979-1993 Ford Mustang Fox Body

Starting Used Price: $5,000

Red 1993 Ford Mustang Fox Body
Mecum Auctions

Often overlooked, many forget that the Mustang is more than just a straight-line performance car, especially the Fox Body Mustang. Coming off the '70s oil crisis, Ford made the Mustang as lightweight as possible. Under the hood, it got a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four or a 5.0-liter Windsor V8 engine. While both motors are great for drifting, the latter offers way more grunt, making it easier to control your slip angle and minimize driver error. Beyond that, models produced between 1979 and 1993 came with a standard stick-shift transmission and rear-wheel drive. You can see why the Ford Mustang is a great first drift car now, right?

Pricing

Finding one in good shape today isn't difficult, considering Ford sold over a million examples during its lifetime. And being a Mustang, the car has great aftermarket support. This means you can have a drifting beast with a few mods, such as upgrading to a limited-slip differential and stiffening the car's chassis. But first, you’ll need to buy one, which shouldn’t be difficult given that they start at just $5,000.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
LX $5,000 - $12,000 $10,670
GT $6,000 - $15,000 $16,215
Cobra $10,000 - $25,000 $19,895

3 2003-2012 Mazda RX-8

Starting Used Price: $5,000

2004 Mazda RX-8
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Over the last decade, prices for the RX-7 have started getting out of reach as people start to realize it is one of The Fast and Furious’ most underrated JDM’s. Luckily, you can turn to the RX-8 to get your rotary fix thanks to a more than reasonable market price at present. The RX-8 boasts incredible rotary power, a screaming 9,000-rpm, and a fantastic drifting chassis – something only a few cars can claim to have. Top that off with a front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive layout, and a standard limited-slip differential, and you have the ideal sideways-driving monster for any aspiring drifter. Weighing in at just 3,050 pounds, the RX-8 offers incredible handling thanks to its near-50:50 weight distribution and low center of gravity. The overall package is a perfect candidate for an engine swap if you are terrified of rotary maintenance.

Pricing

We won’t beat around the bush here: rotary engines cost a bomb to maintain. But the RX-8 is also the perfect candidate for an engine swap if rotary maintenance terrifies you that much. With a host of suitable engines on offer, you can find yourself a clean example for $5,000 and get to work on creating your dream high-pitched build.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
Sport $5,000 - $10,000 $26,795
Touring $6,000 - $12,000 $31,640
Grand Touring $8,000 - $15,000 $32,960
R3 $10,000 - $18,000 $32,820

2 1985-1989 Merkur XR4

Starting Used Price: $3,000

Green Merkur XR4Ti Turbo Motorsports Car
Via: BringATrailer.com

The XR4Ti was basically a German-made version of the European Ford Sierra RS, sold in America as the Merkur XR4Ti from 1985 to 1989. The XR4Ti, therefore, borrowed its sporty ergonomics from the high-performance Sierra RS, a car designed specifically to race in Europe's Group A racing. Born a drift car, the XR4Ti is lightweight, has a long wheelbase, easily tunable independent rear suspension, balanced chassis, and a great power-to-weight ratio. The XR4Ti had a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that churned out 175 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. On top of that, it came with a five-speed manual transmission, completing the perfect formula for a tire-burning drift car. While the XR4Ti is rare, finding one is relatively cheap and easy since most drifters and tuners often overlook them.

Pricing

High-mileage examples are dirt cheap, costing about $3,000, while good-condition XR4Tis can fetch about $26,750. It depends on the standard variables by which a used car’s price can be judged, including its maintenance record and how much work has been done to it.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
XR4Ti $3,000 - $8,000 $18,638

Related: Why The Nissan 240SX Is A Great And Cheap JDM Drift Car

1 1992-2000 Lexus SC300

Starting Used Price: $5,000

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Boasting Supra internals, luxury features, and stunning looks, the Lexus SC300 is an underrated drifting gem. Although not the 2JZ-GTE engine you'd find in the highest-spec MKIV Supra, the non-turbocharged 3.0-liter 2JZ-GE inline-six is equally capable, rated at 225 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Besides the engine, the SC300 and the MKIV Supra shared other parts such as electronics, transmission, brakes, and sub-frames. That means the SC300 benefits from the Supra's off-the-shelf parts since the Supra is among the most popular tuned drift cars today. From bolt-on mods like headers and exhaust mods to intercoolers and coil-overs, you won't struggle to find aftermarket parts for your drift car. But the SC300 has the edge over the Supra in that it is also luxurious and handles incredibly. So, if you want a drift car to take to the track and the club, the Lexus SC300 is the perfect cheap JDM.

Pricing

Only one trim grade officially arrived in the US and went for close to $40,000 back in its heyday. Now, good examples can be found for as low as $5,000, but we’d recommend spending a little bit more to ensure that you get your money’s worth in the long run.

Trim Avg. Used Market Range Original MSRP
Base $5,000 - $15,000 $38.305