Plenty of people want to get into drifting, but often their bank balance is holding them back. Luckily, there's a low-budget solution that makes driving sideways a lot cheaper, especially when compared to some of the insane real life drift cars we've seen over the year.
Updated June 2021: If you're interested in some cheap sideways action, you probably already know that RC drift cars are more popular than ever — which might have something to do with the pandemic we're in. It has a low barrier to entry when it comes to both skill-level and upfront costs, and we've updated this article with the latest and greatest RC drift cars to help you get the car that best suits your needs.
RC Drift Cars can be divided into three different categories, ready-to-run drift cars, drift car kits, and drift car chassis. Ready-to-run cars are the simplest, just buy the car you want/need, take it out of the packaging, install and charge the batteries, and start crashing into stuff. With the kits the car will normally need to be assembled, but there are some advantages to purchasing a kit over a ready-to-run car. If it's involved in a severe crash, and that's pretty much guaranteed to happen, it's possible to purchase and replace the broken parts, with a ready-to-run car, that's not always the case. Finally, there's the possibility of buying just the chassis, this can be very similar to buying a car kit, but it can sometimes be cheaper to buy a chassis and a shell separately. Let's take a closer look at some of the best RC drift cars on the market today.
13 HPI Racing Micro RS4 Drift Fail Crew Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R
Beginners might want to start out with a smaller 1:18 scale RC car, and the HPI Racing Micro RS4 Drift Fail Crew Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R might just be the best one on the market. In fact, this thing is so good, we dare say it's not just for beginners.
Granted, it's a bit smaller than the regular RC drift cars, but it still delivers everything we need and want, such as 4WD, 2.4Ghz radio system, 1200mAh battery, and cool features such as the double-wishbone front suspension with coil-over shocks and a belt drivetrain. Not to mention, it just looks awesome, especially if you're a fan of the classic R34 GT-R.
12 Tamiya TT-02D
Tamiya caters to a wide range of car enthusiasts by offering the TT-02D in guise of several iconic JDM cars, such as the Nissan Skyline, Toyota Supra, and Mazda RX-7. The TT-02D is definitely one of our picks for the best 1:10 scale ready-to-run RC drift cars on the market. The TT-02D offer quality that's on par or superior to almost all other RC cars. There's also plenty of aftermarket support with easily-installed upgrades, and every spare part imaginable is readily available.
The TT-02D also offers the staple features we're looking for in a great RC drift car, such as the double-wishbone suspension, 4WD, adjustable wheels and gear ratios. To top it all off, it's a great entry-level drift car that won't require much tinkering as it's is ready to race straight out of the box. Of course, there's a downside; it commands a premium price and certain electronics, such as the charger, battery, and steering servo are all sold separately.
11 HPI Racing RS4 Sport 3 1987 Warsteiner BMW E30
Those who are into classic German cars will love HPI Racing's Warsteiner BMW M3 E30 RC drift car. Back in the late '80 and early '90s, the BMW M3 E30 dominated various touring car series around the world, and now the Warsteiner Bimmer is ready to dominate the drift tracks as well... at least as a 1:10th scale model.
The car uses the HPI Racing RS4 Sport 3 Touring Car Chassis, and features shaft-driven 4WD, a fully sealed drivetrain, waterproof 2.4 GHz electronics/radio gear, fully independent double wishbone suspension and adjustable oil filled shocks. While we might not ever get behind the wheel of the original, we can at least enjoy some sideways action with this tiny beast.
10 Redcat Racing EPX Drift Car
The body of this car is made with polycarbonate and it is suitable for adults and children. It comes in two styles. One style is modern and sleek while the other has the shape of a salon car.
It has oil-filled shocks capped with aluminum and can undergo forward and reverse transmissions with 2.4GHz as the frequency of transmission, 22-23mph speed, and 7.2Volts 2000mAh battery power.
The controller requires AA batteries, which may be purchased separately, but includes the car charger. This remote control can be used for more than one car simultaneously with convenience.
It has a wheel diameter of 26mm and 27T 540 brushed motor, which makes drifting easy. This 4WD drift car can cut-through corners whilst maintaining balance and gets back on track, thanks to the plastic chassis.
9 Exceed RC Electric DriftStar
This 4WD RC Drift car is built like a modern salon car and can move in rough terrains. It is powered electrically and uses an RC 540 motor. The popularity of its previous versions leads to the upgrade with high-performance tires and wheels, with the ability to move very fast at a speed of 30mph even on a rough surface.
It uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency which could control more than one car at the same time. The battery power is about 7.2volts 1800mAh, and it's suitable for indoor drifting and outdoor escapades.
A large foam is embedded in the front bumper to avoid damage resulting from sudden hits and is designed for easy upgrade.
8 Super GT RC Sport Racing Drift Car
The Super GT RC car has a well-molded and strong build quality that resists all forms of scratch. It offers more fun with its smooth and hard tires made for drifting, and two rubber belt tires for the road.
It is durable and very fast, and its 2.4GHz transmitter is best for racing and controlling multiple cars without interference from other wireless devices. The battery can last up to 20 minutes when fully charged for 90 minutes.
This Sports racing drift car is highly sensitive and can drift in different shapes and situations including round-drift, U-shaped, and 8-shaped.
7 Exceed RC MadDrift Limited Edition
This RC MadDrift Limited Edition has a modern design and it's low when compared to other drift cars but has great stability even at high speeds because of its small center-of-gravity.
It has a good build quality and oil-filled shocks which gives the ability to withstand high impacts in rough terrains. The Pistol transmitter has a frequency of 2.4GHz and uses 4 1.5V AA batteries and the capacity of the battery used by the drift car is 7.4V 3300mAh Li-Po.
It is powered by a 540L 2150KV brushless motor for maximum performance. The speed of this vehicle is offered by the updated control unit which gives the driver complete control of the car.
The arm braces with front and rear differentials also offer more control. The sway bars give the ability to maneuver well in sharp corners during fast racing, and the foam bumper protects it from damage when it.
6 HPI Racing Falken Nissan S13
The HPI Falken Nissan S13 is a 4WD RC car with a full-licensed body and Nitro Star 3.0 engine which provides power for drifting. It has a bathtub type Nitro and RS4 chassis with a thickness of 0.078, an adjustable motor, and a battery holder.
The Nissan S13 has a transmitter frequency of 2.4GHz which enable it to race with other cars at the same time without interference from other wireless devices. It also has an independent suspension, and the drift tires make drifting easy on paved parking.
Dirt cannot enter the gears because of the enclosed drive train, and this helps reduce maintenance cost and reliability. It has a large bumper that protects the vehicle from damage, and the chassis and suspension are molded for durability and excellent performance.
5 Exceed MadSpeed DriftKing With Brushless Motor
This MadSpeed DriftKing has good wheel-spinning action and powered by a 380L 3000KV high-performance brushless motor. It comes with a responsive radio-controlled transmitter of 2.4GHz and a flamboyant shell with beautiful colors on the window.
Its 35A brushless ESC ensures that, during high-speed drifting, there is a complete grip of the car tires on the road, and the foam bumper protects it from sudden impact. The low center-of-gravity and design help the car maintain balance even at high speeds.
The interior is decorated with colored LED lights while the headlights and taillights come with bright LED lights for a good visual at night. Other features include the side mirrors and rear wings perfect for racing cars, and chrome exhaust pipes for elegance.
4 HPI Racing Sprint 2 Drift
The HPI Racing Sprint 2 Drift is a 4WD car that can withstand different weathers with its fully waterproofed body. It is controlled by a 2.4GHz radio transmitter enclosed in a receiver box, and water-resistant steering. This radio transmitter allows other racing to occur at the same time without interfering with the signals by preventing frequency conflicts and automatically changing the frequency if interference occurs.
The speed controller can control speed up to SC-15, to allow drifting at any time. There is an electronic failsafe which help to bring the car safely to a controlled stop if power is lost.
The RTR Sprint 2 Drift is complete and easy to drive, and with its transmission, it can handle high-power electric motors. Other features include complete ball bearings, 2.4GHz radio transmitter, silicone oil-filled shocks, and waterproof electronics.
Its chassis is made with aluminum, and a foam protects the car from damage when a collision occurs. The battery power is about 7.2V 2000mAh and can be easily charged.
3 Redcat Racing Lightning EPX
The Racing Lightning is a 4WD drift car made with good materials. It has a lightweight plastic chassis and a top speed of 30mph which may be increased to 40mph with a push. It uses the engine of a small RC drift car but competes with other cars of greater value.
The Racing Lightning can be controlled easily with its realistic tires. It is equipped with front and rear gear differentials, aluminum-capped oil-filled shocks, full bearings, and adjustable independent suspension.
It is powered by a 7.2V 2000mAh battery for optimum performance, and the plastic chassis also contributes to its overall performance. This vehicle operates with a 27T 550 electric brushed motor with battery backup power to avoid worrying about downtime. Although it takes about 8 hours for the battery to charge fully, it has a short operation period.
2 Jada Nissan Skyline
This Nissan Skyline RC drift car has a high-performance drifting action and a top speed of 10mph. It has a turbo button for high speed and the best budget gift for kids. Although it is not a match with some high-end drift cars, it's easy to control with a pistol-grip controller.
It can be easily charged with a USB and comes with an extra set of tires necessary for drift cars as may be needed at some point.
1 Kyosho Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 is molded like a real car by a Japanese big brand in RC cars called Kyosho. This prestigious company has been in the business of manufacturing replicas of real cars for decades.
Although it is not cheap, it's best for amateur drifters, because it can be controlled easily with a pistol-grip controller. This model of RC drift cars is sold out fast because of its features.
The body is factory-assembled, detailed, and licensed for excellent realism, and the radio-controller can deliver excellent drifting experience.