The 1985 Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno is where drifting’s heart truly began. Powered by the 1.6L 4A-GE inline-four, it made just 128 horsepower, but every rev up to 7,600 RPM was pure mechanical joy. Lightweight, perfectly balanced, and rear-wheel drive, the AE86 proved that finesse beats brute force. Its pop-up headlights and hatchback body became symbols of JDM purity. Priced around $13,000 new, pristine examples today reach $35,000–$60,000, powered by nostalgia and legend

The 1992 Mazda RX-7 FD is a drifting masterpiece — a machine that feels alive in your hands. Under the hood lies the 1.3L twin-rotor 13B-REW engine, pushing 255 horsepower with its signature turbocharged wail. Weighing just over a ton, its perfect balance and razor-sharp steering make it a natural drifter. The RX-7’s flowing design and high-revving spirit captured hearts worldwide. Originally around $32,000, mint-condition FDs now command $50,000–$90,000, and climbing fast

The 2001 BMW M3 E46 is precision and chaos in one glorious package — a European drift weapon with perfect balance. Its 3.2L naturally aspirated inline-six (S54) delivers 333 horsepower and sings up to 8,000 RPM, giving it a raw, emotional powerband. Rear-wheel drive, near 50/50 weight distribution, and a chassis that talks back make it effortlessly controllable in a slide. Originally priced at $47,000, clean examples now fetch $35,000–$60,000, and every penny feels justified

The 2003 Infiniti G35 Sedan proved that luxury could drift. Beneath its clean, executive lines sat a 3.5L V6 (VQ35DE) pumping out 260 horsepower to the rear wheels through a smooth manual or automatic gearbox. While heavier than its JDM cousins, the G35’s long wheelbase and strong torque made it surprisingly composed when sideways. Originally priced around $31,000, today it’s a budget drifter’s dream at $5,000–$10,000 — affordable, durable, and stylishly underestimated

The 2001 Lexus IS300 is Japan’s undercover drift sleeper — elegant on the outside, wild at heart. Under the hood lies the 3.0L 2JZ-GE inline-six, the non-turbo sibling of the Supra’s legendary engine, producing 215 horsepower with silky smooth delivery. Rear-wheel drive and a near-perfect chassis make it a natural at controlled slides. Originally priced around $30,000, clean manual versions now run $10,000–$25,000, beloved by tuners who see its hidden potential

The 2012 Subaru BRZ is a good drift car — not great, not terrible, just honest fun. Its 2.0L flat-four boxer engine makes 200 horsepower, which isn’t much, but the lightweight body and perfect front-engine, rear-drive balance make every slide predictable and controllable. It’s a car that rewards skill more than power. Originally priced around $26,000, you’ll find them today for $14,000–$22,000 — a solid pick for learning the craft, but you’ll crave more power eventually

The 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 is simply God-tier. This isn’t just a drift car — it’s a piece of automotive mythology. The 2.6L twin-turbo RB26DETT inline-six cranks out 276 horsepower (officially), but tuners know it can handle triple that with ease. Its ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive gives unreal grip, yet in the right hands, it’ll slide like a dream. Originally about $45,000, R34s now command $150,000–$300,000 — because perfection never comes cheap

\The 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata is pure driving joy — not powerful, not intimidating, just fun done right. Its 1.6L inline-four makes a modest 116 horsepower, but the light weight and 50/50 balance make it a drift toy that laughs at overkill. It’s forgiving, cheap, and endlessly tunable. Originally around $14,000, clean examples now hover between $8,000–$18,000. It’s not fast, but it’s honest, and that’s why it’s a legend

The 1989 Nissan Silvia S13 is where modern drifting really took shape — light, simple, and endlessly customizable. Its 1.8L turbocharged CA18DET made around 167 horsepower, which wasn’t much, but the chassis balance and rear-wheel setup turned it into a drift icon. It’s raw, mechanical, and built for sliding, not comfort. Originally priced near $18,000, today they range from $10,000–$25,000, depending on condition. Cheap, dirty fun — and that’s exactly how the S13 likes it

The 2000 Honda S2000 is precision on wheels — a drift car for those who like control over chaos. Its 2.0L VTEC inline-four (F20C) screams to 9,000 RPM, making 240 horsepower, all sent to the rear wheels through a close-ratio 6-speed manual. It’s not easy to drift — the short wheelbase and instant throttle response make it twitchy — but when you nail it, it’s magic. Originally $32,000, clean ones now cost $25,000–$45,000. Demanding, but oh so worth it

The 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX is a wild animal — fast, angry, and built for grip, not drift. Its 2.0L turbocharged inline-four (4G63) pushes 286 horsepower through one of the sharpest AWD systems ever made. It’ll slide, sure, but it fights you the whole way. Precision and aggression define it — more rally king than drift hero. Originally around $32,000, clean Evo IXs now fetch $35,000–$60,000. It’s brilliant, but you’ll wrestle it every corner

The 1988 Corolla Levin GT-Z is the forgotten cousin of the AE86 — heavier, grippier, and not quite as charming, but still a fun little brawler. Its 1.6L supercharged 4A-GZE inline-four made about 165 horsepower, giving it decent punch for its time. Front-wheel drive means it’s not a natural drifter, but with the right setup (and guts), it’ll slide. Originally $17,000, today it’s a $6,000–$12,000 oddball — flawed, but oddly lovable

The 2005 Lexus SC430 is… let’s be honest — not built for drifting. It’s heavy, soft, and more “country club cruiser” than sideways machine. Under the hood, though, is a solid 4.3L V8 (3UZ-FE) pushing 288 horsepower through the rear wheels — so yeah, it can drift if you really want it to. Originally $63,000, now worth $10,000–$18,000. Smooth, quiet, comfortable — but in drift circles, it’s the guy wearing loafers to a track day

The 1980 Ford Capri Mk3 is pure retro attitude — a car that looks fast even when it’s standing still. With engines ranging from a mild 1.6L four-cylinder to a punchy 3.0L V6, it offered anywhere between 88 and 160 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive and light weight made it a surprisingly fun drifter, even if the steering was more guesswork than precision. Originally $9,000, today it’s a $12,000–$25,000 classic — charming, scrappy, and always sideways in spirit

The 1992 Nissan Laurel C33 is a true underground drift hero — the kind of car only real enthusiasts talk about. It shares its bones with the Skyline but wears a classy sedan suit, hiding a wild heart. Under the hood, the RB20DET 2.0L turbo inline-six puts out around 210 horsepower, begging for boost mods. Smooth, balanced, and RWD — it’s drift gold. Originally $25,000, now $10,000–$20,000. It’s the definition of sleeper cool — calm looks, chaos under throttle

The 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 is the forgotten samurai of the drift and rally world — the car that paved the way for the Lancer Evolution. Powered by a 2.0L turbocharged 4G63 engine making around 240 horsepower, paired with AWD and four-wheel steering, it was years ahead of its time. Sure, it’s heavier than your typical drift car, but once it’s sideways, it sticks. Originally priced at $21,000, today you’ll find clean examples for $8,000–$15,000. Underrated, overbuilt, and criminally overlooked — the VR-4 is proof Mitsubishi once had real fire in its veins