As most of you know, the latest thing to hit the import scene is the insanity known as drifting. we've put together this guide for you explaining which platforms are viable and why. By no means is this the Holy Grail in top drifting cars, we've merely touched on each car. We only hope to give you a glimpse into what is recognized as the fastest growing sport among car enthusiasts and their weapons of choice.
Nissan 240SX
| SPECIFICATIONS |
| YEAR: | 1989-1994 |
| MAKE: | NISSAN |
| KELLY BLUE BOOK: | *$2,555-$4,235 |
| MODEL: | 240SX-(S13) |
| ENGINE & TRANSMISSION |
| CONFIGURATION: | (1989-1990) KA24E 2.4-LITER, SOHC, 12-VALVE, 4-CYLINDER ENGINE (1991-1994) KA24DE 2.4-LITER DOHC |
| ASPIRATION: | N/A |
| DISPLACEMENT: | 2389CC / 146 CU IN |
| POWER: | 140 @ 5600 RPM |
| | 155@ 5600 RPM |
| TORQUE: | 152 LB-FT @ 4400 RPM |
| 160 @ 4400 RPM |
| BORE: | 89.5MM/3.52 IN |
| STROKE: | 96MM/3.78 IN |
| COMP. RATIO: | 8.6:1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM: | SEQUENTIAL MULTI-PORT |
| FUEL INJECTION | >
| DRIVE TRAIN: | VISCOUS LSD WAS AVAILABLE ON 1991+ MODELS ALL SUPER HICAS (ALL-WHEEL STEERING) CARS(ONLY FASTBACK/HATCHBACKS) CAME WITH LSD AND ABS. |
| TRANSMISSION: | 5-SPEED MANUAL OVERDRIVE |
| 1ST GEAR RATIO: | 3.321 |
| 2ND GEAR RATIO: | 1.902 |
| 3RD GEAR RATIO: | 1.308 |
| 4TH GEAR RATIO: | 1.000 |
| 5TH GEAR RATIO: | 0.759 |
| 6TH GEAR RATIO: | NOT AVAILABLE |
| FINAL DRIVE RATIO: | 4.083 |
| BODY / CHASSIS |
| CURB WEIGHT: | 1991-1998 SE FASTBACK/HATCHBACK (2684 LB); XE COUPE (2658LB); 1992-1993 (COUPE- 2699 LB), (SE- 2712 LB), (HATCHBACK-2730 LB) AND (SE- 2747 LB) |
| LENGTH: | 178 IN |
| WIDTH: | 66.5 IN |
| HEIGHT: | 50.8 IN |
| WHEELBASE: | 97.4 IN |
| FRONT TRACK: | 57.7 IN |
| REAR TRACK: | 57.5 IN |
| BODY/FRAME: | ALL-STEEL UNIBODY |
| WEIGHT DIST.: | (FRONT/REAR) 52/48 |
| SUSPENSION |
| FRONT: | INDEPENDENT, MACPHERSON STRUTS W/COIL SPRINGS AND STABILIZER BARS |
| REAR: | INDEPENDENT, MULTI-LINK DESIGN W/COIL SPRINGS AND STABILIZER BARS |
| STEERING TYPE: | RACK & PINION W/POWER ASSIST |
| TURNING RADIUS: | 30.8 FT |
| BRAKES |
| FRONT: | POWER ASSISTED VENTED DISC |
| REAR: | SOLID DISK ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) OPTIONAL |
Factoids1989-1994 Nissan 240SX (S13)High-performance potential with a used-car price makes the S13 the most popular car among drifting fanatics in the U.S. Although the S14 is considered top of its class in Japan, the majority of the North American S13 owners have regarded the drift ability and horsepower potential of the 240SX as the most sought after front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport compact on the market today. The popular SR20DET motors produce 200+ hp in factory turbo form. It's not uncommon now to see the SR motor being transplanted into the North American Spec S13, and S14s. The 240SX were also available with Super Hicas steering (4-wheel steering system) in a number of cars. If you plan on drifting your car, Hicas is not recommended.
Toyota Corolla GTS
| SPECIFICATIONS |
| YEAR: | 1985-1987 US PRODUCTION |
| MAKE: | TOYOTA |
| KELLY BLUE BOOK: | *$2,000-$2,500 |
| MODEL: | COROLLA GTS |
| ENGINE & TRANSMISSION |
| ASPIRATION: | 4A-GE TWIN CAM |
| VALVETRAIN: | DOHC 4 VALVES/CYL |
| DISPLACEMENT: | 1587CC |
| COMP. RATIO: | 9.4:1 |
| HORSEPOWER: | 112 HP @ 6600 RPM |
| TORQUE: | 97 LB-FT @ 4800 RPM |
| BORE: | 81.00MM |
| STROKE: | 77.00MM |
| HP/LITER: | 106.77 HP/L |
| TRANSMISSION: | LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL (LSD), 5-SPEED MANUAL |
| 1ST GEAR RATIO: | 3.587:1 |
| 2ND GEAR RATIO: | 2.022:1 |
| 3RD GEAR RATIO: | 1.384:1 |
| 4TH GEAR RATIO: | 1:1 |
| 5TH GEAR RATIO: | 0.861:1 |
| 6TH GEAR RATIO: | NOT AVAILABLE |
| FINAL DRIVE RATIO: | 4.30:1 |
| BODY / CHASSIS |
| CURB WEIGHT: | 2094 LB |
| LENGTH: | 168.7 IN |
| WIDTH: | 63.9 IN |
| HEIGHT: | 52.5 IN |
| WHEELBASE: | 100.4 IN |
| FRONT TRACK: | 52.5 IN |
| REAR TRACK: | 52.9 IN |
| BODY/FRAME: | UNIT STEEL |
| WEIGHT DIST.: | 53/47 |
| SUSPENSION |
| FRONT: | MACPHERSON STRUTS W/ DOUBLE-ACTING TELESCOPE SHOCK ABSORBER |
| REAR: | 4-LINK W/ COILOVER SPRINGS DOUBLE ACTING HYDRAULIC TELESCOPIC SHOCK |
| STEERING TYPE: | RACK & PINION: POWER ASSISTED |
| TURNING RADIUS: | 5.2M |
| BRAKES |
| FRONT: | VENTED HYDRAULIC DISC W/ VACUUM BOOSTER ASSIST |
| FRONT SIZE: | 8 IN |
| REAR: | HYDRAULIC DISC W/ VACUUM BOOSTER ASSIST & ABS |
| REAR SIZE: | 8 IN |
Factoids1985-1987 Toyota Corolla GTSThe 1985-1987 Toyota Corolla GT-S (otherwise known around the world as the AE86, its chassis code) was sold in mass quantities around the world, including Japan and the U.S. The Corolla GTS is unique to the import industry due to the lightweight rear-wheel drive, twin-cam engine that can rev freely to 7500 rpm. Factory equipped with a limited slip differential (LSD) and excellent 53/47-weight distribution, the Corolla is the second most popular car in the drifting community among novice and expert drivers alike. Although the Corolla is approaching its 19th year since its debut for Toyota, the Hachiroku is still the weapon of choice for professional D1 competition drifters in Japan.