So I was thinking of getting a supra MK3 but they seem to be heavier, with parts hard to find/expensive.

What are some somewhat uncommon drift cars?

I see a lot of people going for
MX5
240sx
mr2

Is there something that is on the cheaper side (around $5,000-$8,000) that still looks sharp, parts are abundant/cheap, and isn't overly common?

Ideally this would be my first project car/first RWD car. I have a 2013 subaru wrx that has taken a pounding and it's currently sitting at around 33k HARD miles. I have been drifting it and have a mountain I was hitting HARD. I don't want to continue beating it so I was thinking I would trade it in, get a Civic EX with low milage + manual transmission for around $10,000 as my DD to pussy foot around in. I'll take what is left over to get my project car, tools, parts, whatever else I might need. I'd also like to have some left over for a few other projects I've been really wanting to do. I was looking at the Supra MK3, but it seems like its a heavy car(similar power to a 240sx but 600lbs heavier) and I'd like to find something that DOESN'T rely on a turbo since this will be my first project car. I'm not entirely against it, so feel free to bring them up! I'd like it to be somewhat straightforward and easy to mod. I'd like something a bit out of the norm and classic. If you could just give me a bit of information about the car you have chosen, that would be great. If you can't, knowing a model would at least give me somewhere to begin.

240sx with whatever engine swap sounds good to you

300zx twin turbos are badass and not as common, but not as good for drifting

miatas are good if you can stand looking like a bitch driving it


pretty much any rwd car can be made to drift, but 240s are popular for a reason

I'd like to stay away from a miata specifically for that reason, and I'd have to find a 240 that was already engine swapped, 140 hp is just... lame. It's light around 2,700 lbs compared to most other cars i've researched being around 3,200-3,500 lbs

Volvo 7/9 series.

Extremely cheap to buy and source parts. Easy to work on. Can take an extreme beating and will make upwards of 300hp without much engine work, though you'll have to be replacing transmissions every week unless you go and swap a T5 in it. Premade bellhousing adapters and driveshafts are available online.

Or throw a bone stock 2j in any old rwd volvo and call it a day

I would love a 240sx but they're getting pricey and you're typically overpaying for a stock ka with rust because "omg drift ready!!!"


If you're really that worried about turbo problems on a volvo, you can always source a Holset that will probably outlive the engine/chassis lol

This post was edited by Thomadinn on Jul 12 2015 02:52pm

Thanks for the advice man!
I was thinking of getting a SC300 because 1) it has a 2jzGE in it! 220hp stock no turbo! and 2) it is a nice looking car!
I would most likely start with the engine and replace the heads/pistons. I feel like I might be getting in a bit over my head but I will have a lot of time to mess with it! Eventually work my way into a turbo.

This post was edited by eNiE on Jul 12 2015 05:31pm

Love me an sc300, but you'll definitely be over your budget me thinks with that. You're looking at only base boost ~8psi on a stock na 2jz if you turbo it before a lot more work is required, and no one settles for that haha.


If you look into Volvos at all, check out turbobricks.com. Pretty much every thing you need to know about bricks is there. There are other sites dedicated to v8 volvos which is a really effective and inexpensive route as well.

Well my plan right now is to get a JDM 2jzGE off ebay for around $1,000 (maybe less) with 30-60k on it. put in new pistons and head gaskets, then get a 6 speed tranny. If I get a base model with 225k on it I can pick it up for like 2-4,000$ I will work on the engine indvidually, then when it is ready I can swap it in. A turbo kit looks like its around $1,500. What do you think?
At this point I'm assuming I'd sell the WRX for around $25,000. I can get a honda civic EX with less than 15k on the odo for around $9,000. This would leave me with around $16,000 to get the SC 300, The engine, Tools I will need, and of course I would like to get better suspension all of that but for now, I'd probably just get an engine and work on it until I found the perfect SC 300 I am ideally looking for. One from an area where it doesn't snow like Florida so I don't have to worry about Rust as much.

This post was edited by eNiE on Jul 13 2015 06:58am

zilvia is your friend for nissan or drift related stuff

also, jdm engines is always a gamble. you hear about alot of people ordering theirs and having problems, so if you go that route rebuild it before you put it in.

you can find 2jz, sr20, ls etc swaps pretty easily, sometimes already built for power. ive seen quite a few sr20 longblocks built and dynoed to 350+ hp for sale


http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=606484 is clearly already built to drift, and i personally love these vh45 engines

cars been abused, but hey, its a drift car so what do you expect

Go with an sc300. Keep the stock 2jzge. Rebuild it and boost it. Or keep ot stock and boost it, good to 400hp stock block. Don't go with the 6 speed, because sourcing one is hard, then you pay out the ass for it.
There is a pretty decent base turbo kit for 1700 on the sc300 forums that a lot of people have had great results with. There is no reason to buy a jdm 2jzge.. If you are going to swap motors get a usdn 2jzgte, even though there's not a ton of difference if you plan on building the block.

Trueno

Levin

Datsun 510

FC RX-7

S13,S14 KA24(D)E

83 Celica Supra

86 Stang 5.Slow

Type 1 Beetle

Just to name a few