RC Car Drifting is derived from the driving art derived from Japanese mountain rally and European rally. These drivers realize that sometimes, pitching a car sideways enables car to get through a turn faster, and have a higher exit speed as opposed to the normal grip racing line. You can try drifting with RC cars before drift with a full size car.

A car is said to be drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, and the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right), and the driver is controlling these factors.

How to Choose Best Radio Control Car to Drift With

Before you start drifting RC car, Differentiate facts from myths about drifting RC. Here are few things you need to know.

4WD vs. 2WD

If you are an entry level drifter, best suggestion to follow is buy a rc car with four wheel drive because it is easier to get sideways. Sure you too can drift with 2wd but 4×4 is easier to control and drift with.

Electric vs. Nitro

One common misconception that: only certain RC cars can drift. Well the fact is all RC cars can be drifted, both electric and nitro engine cars. Though, it's easier to do it with electric RC drift cars.

Electric RC is easier to handle, it also doesn't require much maintenance; you don't have to spend hours of time tuning and replacing expensive nitro parts.

However there are some downsides. One of the greatest disadvantages is you will have to spend more money at one time to buy an electronic speed control (ESC), batteries, and an appropriate battery charger unless your kit already comes with them. Also, electrics don't have the capability to produce the sounds and smoke only a nitro can.

When getting an electric car or motor, remember that faster (a lower-turn motor) isn't better. Higher turn motors are always better than brushless and lower-turn motors. A good range is 17 turns and up.

This is primarily left to one's opinion and preference. Both drivetrains are fine, but they act differently at times. To make thing simple, here are some of the key points regarding each drivetrain.

It is recommended that you use a shaft drive RC car rather than a belt driven transmission for your drifter. The shaft drive provides good throttle response, where as the belt drive cars might give some backlash due to the belt design. Good news is a lot of people use belt drive cars for drifting without problems. But if you are starting from scratch, shaft drive cars may be the best drifters.

Drift Version RC Cars You Start Drifting With

Electric Drift Cars:

• HPI RS4 Pro 4
• HPI Sprint
• HPI Sprint 2
• Team Associated TC3
• Team Associated TC4
• Team Losi XXX-S
• Yokomo MR-4TC SD CM Drift Package
• Yokomo MR-4TC SD CGM
• Yokomo MR-4TC SSG/Black Special
• Tamiya TT-01
• Tamiya TT-01R
• Tamiya TT-01 Drift Spec
• Tamiya TL-01
• Tamiya TA-04
• Tamiya TA-05
• Tamiya TA-03
• Tamiya TA-03F Pro Drift Spec

Nitro RC drift cars:

• HPI Nitro RS4 (Any version)
• Team Associated Nitro TC3
• Yokomo GT-4
• Yokomo Nitro Drift

Buyer's Guide

As you find this article useful for you. You might also want to dig deeper, and browse RC cars collection from our recommended online hobby store.

• HobbyTron offers big discount on every RC package purchase
• Raidentech offers generous 10% off on every RC cars, trucks, and more. Don't forget to use discount coupon code: CJ10 ($50.00 minimum purchase required)
• Trend Times has a wide selection of RC Cars, some of them you might not even get from any online hobby stores.