You may have run across the term \u201cdrift car.\u201d Perhaps you\u2019ve wondered what a drift car is and how it differs from other kinds of RC cars? If thats the case let me explain what they are and more importantly, which one is the best.<\/p>\n
What is the Best Drifting RC Car? In my opinion the Redcat Racing Lightning EPX (Click here to see the price on Amazon<\/a>) is a great choice, it is quite fast with speeds up to 40mph. And you can tune the car, for those that enjoy this. It is a great beginner drift car as with its ease of use, which makes it a great choice.<\/strong><\/p>\n Drift cars can be an exciting challenge for beginners and for truly advanced RC car drivers. They are not easy to master, but with a lot of work and patience, drift car driving can be a highly satisfying hobby. In this\u00a0 post, we\u2019ve provided further information about drift cars and what makes these particular models so special.<\/p>\n Before you know for sure if you want to buy a drift car, it is good to know what exactly a drift car is and what its competitors are. There are several different types of RC cars, and I\u2019ll briefly explain each kind so you can learn the differences.<\/p>\n Dirft Cars are effectively a type of On-Road RC Car. On road cars drive well on flat surfaces. They look like cars you\u2019d see in the Indianapolis 500. These cars are slick, low to the ground, and aerodynamic. They also come in two types: street cars and today\u2019s focus, the drift cars.<\/p>\n Much bulkier and often more closely resemble monster trucks. Like the name implies, the off-road cars are built to travel over any obstacle.<\/p>\n They have better suspension and are capable and transitioning between different surface types. Their tires may come spiked to give them necessary grip on rough terrain.<\/p>\n Those same large tires that help them to travel also prove a disadvantage on flat surfaces, however. Their bulk also prevents them from travelling at the same speeds as the on-road cars.<\/p>\n These are cars that are basically a hybrid of on-road and off-road RC cars. They still aren\u2019t as fast on flat surfaces, but they are much faster than their off-road cousins. They come in two different types as well:<\/p>\n Drift racing is when a vehicle races through turns by forcing their tires into a slide. As the car slides into the turn, it drifts sideways and comes out of the turn already facing the right direction.<\/p>\n With a skillful driver, this allows the car to turn at much higher speeds. It takes a lot of control, but it is a beautiful skill to watch in action when mastered. Race car drivers have been using this technique as early on as the 1930s in the Grand Prix races.<\/p>\n Drivers in Japan have been drifting, themselves, since the 1960s. It was begun by a group of racers known as the Rolling Zoku.<\/p>\n These early racers used the mountain roads to perfect their drifting skills and increase their speed as they challenged each other on the sharp and dangerous mountain paths. These races are still continued today, and they are held both legally and illegally.<\/p>\n The drivers do it for the rush and as a part of their heritage. Many of them inherited the love of drifting from their fathers and grandfathers. Some are even driving the same vehicles. The largest legal drift race is known as the All Japan Touring Car Championship.<\/p>\n As drift racing became popular among full-sized vehicles, RC cars began to pick up on the excitement, too. Now, many different models and types are available that range from as little as $16 to nearly $300.<\/p>\n Obviously, the cheaper models aren\u2019t going to have the same capabilities and durability as the more expensive models, but there are some very nice mid-range cars, as well.<\/p>\n Like their full-sized cousins, drift RC cars are equipped with smooth tires that enable them to slide through the turns. High-end RC drift cars also usually have four-wheel drive (4WD) to offer more control and stability, while low-end cars may only come with two-wheel drive (2WD).<\/p>\n In this section, we\u2019re going to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of some of the top drift cars.<\/p>\n The GT RC Sport Racing Drift Car (click here to see the price on Amazon)<\/a><\/strong> is quite possibly the best drift car you can buy for the price. Sold by Hobby-Ace, this car is suitable for everyone, from children starting at 4, to adults of any age. It is 11.8 inches tall, 4.7 inches wide, and 3.1 inches high.<\/p>\n The remote control works up to 30 meters (98.4 feet) away, so it has a pretty impressive radio range.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>This car moves quickly and comes with two different kinds of tires. You can decide if you want to use the \u201cspeed\u201d tires and \u201cdrift\u201d tires. The speed tires allow for faster driving on flat surfaces, while the \u201cdrift\u201d tires allow you to slide. It\u2019s a perfect beginning car for those who are just getting started.<\/p>\n It comes with a rechargeable 700 mAh NI-Cad batteries with 1.5 volts. The charger is included, but it takes 90 minutes to recharge and only gives you about 10-15 minutes of run time. Upgrading to more powerful Ni-MH batteries will give you better run time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Redcat Racing Lightening EPX car (Click here to see the price on Amazon)<\/a><\/strong> is at the top drift car. The Redcat is approximately 14 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 5 inches tall.\u00a0 The Redcat is an impressive car (Click here to see if it the same as HSP)<\/a> for any age, and can thrill both children and adults.<\/p>\n It is a very aesthetically pleasing vehicle and is very aerodynamic. It\u2019s very affordable for a drift car, and has adjustable independent suspension. It is also very fast, and can reach speeds up to and over 40 mph.<\/p>\n Due to its aluminum capped, oil-filled shocks, you can also tune the car to fit your needs. The chassis (the bottom of the car that houses all the parts) is light-weight and made of plastic. It has an excellent recovery after a prolonged drift.<\/p>\n It comes with a brushed motor, which, while somewhat limiting, is suitable for casual hobbyists. It doesn\u2019t run for very long (approximately 15 minutes) on the batteries that come with the car, but you can upgrade to more powerful batteries for even faster and longer performance. It is an excellent gateway car into drifting, and makes it easy to learn and master the skill.<\/p>\n Their have been a few\u00a0 reports that the car arrived damaged and poor customer service, but fortunately that seems to be the minority of cases.<\/p>\n Another Thing to consider is, the radio controlled range may be a bit limited, so if you need a long range I would not get this.<\/p>\n The Redcat comes with a 2v rechargeable battery for the car, but you\u2019ll need 8 AA batteries for the transmitter.<\/p>\n This is the most durable car on this list. It is 25.6 inches long, 11.8 inches wide, and 7.2 inches tall. The car is equipped with 4WD and a 2.4 GHz radio. It has an enclosed drive train to keep dirt out of the gears.<\/p>\n This reduction of dirt reduces maintenance and repair costs. Unlike some of its very aerodynamic competitors, the Falken has a massive bumper that protects it from being damaged in a crash, and it also has a bathtub-type chassis which makes it fairly indestructible.<\/p>\n The body is a different story, for though it has few low reviews, many of those who have complained about it have said that body was damaged by collisions. It\u2019s a fantastic car for someone who is just learning how to drift.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>It is also easy to improve with different parts, including upgrading the body to one with a little more strength. The car comes with a NiMH power back and charger, but unfortunately it takes about eight hours to fully charge and only gives you about twenty minutes of run time. Many enthusiasts recommend getting a second battery.<\/p>\n The Exceed RC MadSpeed Drift King (Click here to see the price on Amazon)<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is another excellent choice. This car is 17.3 inches long and 7.5 inches wide. I was unable to locate the specifications on its height, but it has a very low-center of gravity and is very aerodynamic.<\/p>\n This car has 4WD. Most drift cars can only drive on smooth or flat surfaces, but this car is unique. Due to the drifting rubber on its wheels and its light chassis, the Drift King can actually drive on almost any terrain.<\/p>\n The 2.4 GHz (gigahertz) radio system is very responsive and provides excellent control for even a beginning driver. The Drift King also comes with a brushless motor, which provides more power and less friction when compared with the brushed models.<\/p>\n The details on this model add to its impressive quality. It even comes with LED headlights! Its upper deck, center drive, and motor mount are all made out of light-weight CNC aluminum, which is durable without being too heavy.<\/p>\n It comes with a 7.2v Ni-MH 1800mAh battery and has the charger included. If you want to upgrade this vehicle, switching to LiPo batteries would really amp up this brushless vehicle\u2019s power.<\/p>\n The few reports of have described models that arrived already broken or that broke within the first week, but for the most part, this car exceeds expectations.<\/p>\n The Ford GT RC Drift Car (Click here to see the price details on Amazon)<\/strong><\/a> is manufactured by Traxxas, which has an excellent reputation in the RC car industry.<\/p>\n It is a high end, quality selection. This Ford GT Drift Car is an exact replica of the life-sized Fort GT car. It even has replica black chrome rims and replica brake discs with calipers. Traxxas has a pretty good reputation for providing powerful, durable cars, so this can be an excellent choice for someone who wants to start driving professionally.<\/p>\n These cars are recommended for drivers of 14 years old and up, and they come with 4WD.<\/p>\n I was surprised to find out that they do not come with a battery or charger, but require either a 9.4V NiMH battery and charger or a 2-cell LiPo battery with charger.<\/p>\n In the related questions below, I\u2019ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages for each kind of battery so you can decide which will be best for you.<\/p>\n The gears are also plastic instead of metal, but unless you\u2019re a professional racer, that shouldn\u2019t be too disadvantageous for you. I was a bit surprised to learn that this car contains a brushed motor, but is brushless-compatible, should you decide to upgrade.<\/p>\n The transmitter is 2.4GHz. Honestly, though this car is a popular choice for drift cars, but if you\u2019re looking for a really speedy premium quality car, you might want to purchase one that already has a brushless motor and includes a LiPo battery.<\/p>\n However, if you are simply looking for a car that excels at drifting, the Ford GT does drive to the top. It has a smooth undercarriage that reduces drag that can slow the car, and it comes with a fine-tuned suspension that allows better grip and performance. It can hit up to 30 mph on a brushed motor, which is pretty impressive for said motor type, and it is also waterproof.<\/p>\n RC drift racing is very addicting to watch and to master. As you read through these recommended cars, keep in mind that faster cars are harder to control. Brushless motors will provide you with more speed, but brushed motors are excellent motors for beginning drivers.<\/p>\n Often, it\u2019s good to start with something a little cheaper until you get the hang of drifting, and then save some money and buy a car with a bit more kick. Every drift car enthusiast is going to have a different opinion on which car is the best, but the above choices should help you get started.<\/p>\n What are brushed and brushless<\/a> motors? <\/strong>Brushed cars use a system where a wire coil rotates and \u201cbrushes\u201d up against electrodes in order to power the motor. As the electrodes touch the end of the wire, the polarity of the wire inside the motor changes, which causes the wire to rotate within a circle of magnets.<\/p>\n As the wire rotates, it powers the motor. However, where it brushes against the electrodes, friction occurs which limits the speed at which your motor can run. This friction also eventually wears down the \u201cbrushes,\u201d and they will eventually need to be replaced. The brushed motor system is reliable and perfectly acceptable for casual RC hobbyists. Unless you are running your RC every day, the brushes are unlikely to wear down for a long time.<\/p>\n Brushless motors use a column of electromagnetics, instead of wire. These electromagnets are powered by electricity from the battery, and the electricity changes the polarity, which causes the electromagnets to rotate within their circle of stable magnets.<\/p>\n Nothing is touched because everything is simply powered off of electricity. Therefore, nothing wears down and there is next to no friction, so the motor is able to move unfettered and cause the RC car to travel at much faster speeds. Brushless motors are currently being used by more and more professional RC racers.<\/p>\nDrift Cars Vs. Other RC Cars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Drift Cars and how they Relate to On-road RC cars<\/h3>\n
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Off-road cars<\/h3>\n
Rally Cars.<\/h3>\n
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Drift Racing History<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Best RC drift cars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Super GT RC Sport Racing Drift Car<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Negatives:<\/h4>\n
Redcat Racing Lighting EPX<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Negatives:<\/h4>\n
HPI Racing Falken Nissan S13 <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Exceed RC MadSpeed Drift King<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Negatives:<\/h4>\n
Ford GT RC Drift Car <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Negatives:<\/h4>\n
Best Drift Car Wrap-Up<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Related Questions <\/strong><\/h2>\n