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View Full Version : Why is the 240SX such a popular drifting car??

ChadS98GT
03-09-2004, 11:16 PM
I don't get it?? maybe because I never have really drifted competitively...but what makes everyone so drift happy with the 240SX's? :ughd:
D1drifter
03-09-2004, 11:22 PM
I don't get it?? maybe because I never have really drifted competitively...but what makes everyone so drift happy with the 240SX's? :ughd:


Its rear wheel drive. Cant really do a drift in a FF vehicle. The balance on the 240 is very good, which is what drifting is all about... Balance.
Salty_X
03-09-2004, 11:26 PM
Don't forget that they're also inexpensive for what they are... good handling, well-balanced, sporty, rwd cars.
ChadS98GT
03-09-2004, 11:33 PM
Don't forget that they're also inexpensive for what they are... good handling, well-balanced, sporty, rwd cars.

interesting.....

I really like the fact that its' rear wheel drive.......RWD is definately better :bow:
AadosX
03-09-2004, 11:34 PM
Inexpensive, light, balanced, RWD, readily available power.
cowbomb
03-09-2004, 11:59 PM
cheap and a great way to start off!
pruto
03-10-2004, 12:29 AM
cheap and a great way to start off!

yeah, i actually think the 240sx is not a good car to learn drifting on if you really want to be hardcore. Why? i think its TOO good. The car covers a lot of your mistakes, especially if you're not driving a stock one. If you just want to have fun and go sideways, 240sx is great. Its the easiest car to drift in i think because of all the things mentioned. Great handling, light weight, power, etc etc. Its very popular because it's learning curve isn't too steep and for most of the impatient people who wants to get into drifting and be able to learn how to pull a drift in the shortest time, 240sx is your car. Much more instant gratification and short term rewards.

BUT i think the car pampers you too much. Its much more forgiving if you make a mistake. You also have more time to react than in other cars. I bet i wouldn't be able to drift a AE86 or a rx7. Hell i've had some problems the couple times i tried driving a s13. Its really hard to learn the pure fundamentals when a car is too easy to drift. You don't learn if you don't get frustrated and have to work hard at it. Some times when i pull off a nice drift i don't know if its me or if its the car that did it. That feeling isn't too satisfying :rolleyes: .

maybe i'm just talking out of my ass. But i think most good drifters can drift a 240sx, but i doubt if there are too many 240sx drifters that can drift other cars.
holisticbeatz
03-10-2004, 12:37 AM
I don't get it?? maybe because I never have really drifted competitively...but what makes everyone so drift happy with the 240SX's? :ughd:


Because we didn't get Silvias and Skylines.
nightwalker
03-10-2004, 12:46 AM
it's better than a mustang :mepoke:

haha, :Ownedd: this IS an import board. just kidding though

independant rear suspension, good chassis, strong drivetrain, built to suite the driver, etc.
ChadS98GT
03-10-2004, 01:01 AM
it's better than a mustang :mepoke:

haha, :Ownedd: this IS an import board. just kidding though

independant rear suspension, good chassis, strong drivetrain, built to suite the driver, etc.

there is something I didn't think about...IRS didn't know 240SX 's had it....

How are the half shafts?? What power level do you have to reach before they become a weak link?
nightwalker
03-10-2004, 01:08 AM
the IRS is nice to have. A big plus. You probably won't go back to a stang once you realize a Skyline powered 240 properly built will own most V8s. Most popular skyline swap is inline 6, 2.5 liter, iron block, aluminum head, capable of enormous power (500+) hehehe.

there are guys doing 400+ running stockers. If you need to beef up, skyline parts can be interchanged relatively easy. Skyline axles are good for 700 something.

Only Honduh boys worry about halfshafts.
ChadS98GT
03-10-2004, 01:54 AM
the IRS is nice to have. A big plus. You probably won't go back to a stang once you realize a Skyline powered 240 properly built will own most V8s. Most popular skyline swap is inline 6, 2.5 liter, iron block, aluminum head, capable of enormous power (500+) hehehe.

there are guys doing 400+ running stockers. If you need to beef up, skyline parts can be interchanged relatively easy. Skyline axles are good for 700 something.

Only Honduh boys worry about halfshafts.


nice....I imagine all that stuff costs a pretty penny though
HiPSI
03-10-2004, 08:13 AM
halfshafts are only a weak link in dragracing;) you're not subjecting them to high shock loads like a drag launch on slicks when you're drifting so whether you're making 155hp on a stock KA or 400+ with an SR/RB series motor, the tires are spinning.
phrozen
03-10-2004, 11:07 AM
because there :ghey:
mike13
03-10-2004, 11:37 AM
ChadS98GT- you could have learned everything discussed in this thread with less than 5 minutes of research. Why dont you visit the search function fairy for a couple of days then come back and ask questions.
mellojoe
03-10-2004, 12:18 PM
The 240 is very forgiving because the balance is so nice.

Drifting something like an MR2, Porche, Ferrari, Fiero which is so rear biassed would be difficult, because you have to react so quickly and start correcting so early. If you look at something like an RB powered s13 coupe, or pickup which is so nose heavy, you have to really wait and wait for the front end to break loose and then to correct. Very difficult.

But the 240 is nearly 50/50 and that makes it easy. You can break the end loose, the front follows, and you have a very wide margin to begin correcting.

But, once you get good, the 240 can really show off, too. Because of the nice balance (and that is all drifting is, is maintaining balance or regaining balance).
SimpleS14
03-10-2004, 12:23 PM
rwd
cheap
and looks cool


note: I do not drift and when I first got my car (2001)...it was cheap...and I had no idea it was RWD.
ChadS98GT
03-10-2004, 01:55 PM
ChadS98GT- you could have learned everything discussed in this thread with less than 5 minutes of research. Why dont you visit the search function fairy for a couple of days then come back and ask questions.

This is more fun....obviosuly people were happy to talk about it.....no one is making you read it...just skip over....but I appreciate your advice and I have used the search but it's hard to pin point exact topics I want to discuss... :mepoke:
Var
03-10-2004, 02:11 PM
I bet i wouldn't be able to drift a AE86 or a rx7.
i'll disagree with this. the s13 is a little harder to drive than the ae86. In fact a lot harder. i jumped in my stock ae86 yesterday and drove it through the mountains just as fast as my modded s13. The ae86 can be driven faster with your eyes closed. The rX7 though i've heard is pretty hard to drive but still can be driven faster..maybe harder to drift though..
KiDyNomiTe
03-10-2004, 03:42 PM
cheap, and its the closest to a civic in the drifting world.
SimpleS14
03-10-2004, 06:38 PM
cheap, and its the closest to a civic in the drifting world.

The s-chassis cars are pretty common and disposal in Japan....just like the Civic is in the US.....right?
No Motiv
03-10-2004, 09:41 PM
Oh my god.....he should know why....:duh:.....well theres not 2 much needed in order to be a drift car....im think just Rearwheel drive...manual tranny...240 is good cuz its cheap
ChadS98GT
03-10-2004, 11:01 PM
Oh my god.....he should know why....:duh:.....well theres not 2 much needed in order to be a drift car....im think just Rearwheel drive...manual tranny...240 is good cuz its cheap


true....but I have never seen a message board or car associated with drifting as much as this car.....I very rarely see it mentioned on the Mustang boards I frequently visit.....I mean I drift occasionally in my car but nothing over the top........
nightwalker
03-11-2004, 12:09 AM
true....but I have never seen a message board or car associated with drifting as much as this car.....I very rarely see it mentioned on the Mustang boards I frequently visit.....I mean I drift occasionally in my car but nothing over the top........

trust me, it's because they fear it and like it all at once. :coold:
JKim0901
03-11-2004, 01:59 AM
my car is just too damn tail happy and thats why its a good car for drifting lol
HyperTek
03-11-2004, 10:25 PM
how did hondas become popular with the import scene crowd? Who taught youth that every honda civic chassis is a race car?? lol jk.
nocomedown
03-12-2004, 09:35 AM
how did hondas become popular with the import scene crowd? Who taught youth that every honda civic chassis is a race car?? lol jk.
cheap and plentiful
CrazyS13
03-13-2004, 04:35 PM
lots of caster, like 6-7 degrees. people miss this as one of the biggest factors of the 240 being a good drifter, you barely have to touch the steering wheel when in a drift, its like how a shopping cart is, the front wheels just kinda do what they are supposed to and correct themselves.

-John
fliprayzin240sx
03-13-2004, 04:49 PM
i'll disagree with this. the s13 is a little harder to drive than the ae86. In fact a lot harder. i jumped in my stock ae86 yesterday and drove it through the mountains just as fast as my modded s13. The ae86 can be driven faster with your eyes closed. The rX7 though i've heard is pretty hard to drive but still can be driven faster..maybe harder to drift though..
I was in the impression that RX-7s are easier to drift due to the 50/50 distribution. S13/S14 chassis are still a lil bit more front end biased *52/48*
The ROMAN
03-13-2004, 05:11 PM
Yeah but rotaries have no torque, so the revs have to be higher. SRs have alot of torque for a 2.0 and even KAs are torquey. I've heard RX-7s have some lock on the E-brake so you can't pull it when driving. I've had five RWD cars in my four years of driving and my 240 has the lightest back end by far. Also 52/48 is good distribution because of backward pitch during acceleration.
fliprayzin240sx
03-13-2004, 05:22 PM
Yeah but rotaries have no torque, so the revs have to be higher. SRs have alot of torque for a 2.0 and even KAs are torquey. I've heard RX-7s have some lock on the E-brake so you can't pull it when driving. I've had five RWD cars in my four years of driving and my 240 has the lightest back end by far. Also 52/48 is good distribution because of backward pitch during acceleration.

Hmm...tru i forgot bout the torque spec on the rotaries. I guess you drive it like a 86 to keep the powerband up. Well my question is considering the S13 adn S14 have virtually the same suspension setup and weight distribution, how S13s are more prone to understeer than the S14?
The ROMAN
03-13-2004, 05:41 PM
Hmm...tru i forgot bout the torque spec on the rotaries. I guess you drive it like a 86 to keep the powerband up. Well my question is considering the S13 adn S14 have virtually the same suspension setup and weight distribution, how S13s are more prone to understeer than the S14?
I think M.R. Drift King said something about understeer on S13s on the Drift Bible. That was a stock model though, changing the front wheels/tires would probably fix that.