Top Ten: Drift buckets
Building a drift car in South Africa has its share of limitations. In conjunction with the rarity of rear wheel drive cars in our land, we also considered three more factors to further limit our choices.
• It shouldn’t be too rare or else panel replacements will be a nightmare
• It has to be affordable, so under R100 000 was the goal.
• With serious drift-damage being a major concern, we shifted the bar to 1980 models and up
1) Mazda MX5
Yes, it’s a bit rhymes with hay. Get over it. It also sports the best drift chassis on the planet in its factory guise. Early models came with those obligatory pop-up lights!
Price: R80 000
2) BMW E30 325i
A better budget drift Bimmer there never was. Go on and try one. You’ll love the simplicity of it.
Price: R55 000
3) Nissan 200SX
The Silvia series of Nissans continues to be the best budget drifter with its 1.8 turbocharged motor ready for tuning.
Price: R55 000
4) Toyota Corolla 1.8 SE Lift Back
Rare, but the closest we’ll ever (legally) get to an AE86. Be wary of rust-buckets.
Price: R20 000
5) R31 Nissan Skyline 3.0 SGLi
Also known as the ‘New Era’, with its potent 3-litre engine churning out 130kW, it’s more than capable of breaking traction.
Price: R25 000
6) Toyota Cressida GLi-6
If you can look past those old-man looks and honeycomb grille, a 24-valve lump awaits you. Approach with confidence.
Price: R25 000
7) Ford Sapphire 3.0GLX
Forget the Sierra, this RWD gem should still be in good nick thanks to its “daddy‘s car” image.
Price: R25 000
8) Opel Omega 2.5 V6
Can’t afford a Chevy Lumina? Get this instead! It’s cheap and uses the same chassis with a capable 2.5 lump.
Price: R75 000
9) BMW E36 M3
With the E90 M3 impending, you can pick up the legend that started it all for just under a hundred grand.
Price: R90 000
10) VW Beetle
Okay, we’re taking the piss, but only just a little bit. Truthfully, with the right amount of tweaking (see engine-transplant) you could get a Volla sideways.
Price: R6 000
