There is a lot of debate on whether or not you can drift in an automatic car. Some people say that it’s impossible, while others claim that it can be done with a bit of practice. In this blog post, we will explore the topic of drifting in automatic cars and try to answer the question once and for all. We’ll take a look at both sides of the argument and see what evidence is available to support each point of view. So, can you drift in an automatic car? Read on to find out!
Can You Drift in an Automatic Car?
Yes, you can drift in an automatic car. It’s not as easy as it is in a manual car, but it is possible.
Drifting is a driving technique that can be used to make a car turn in a more extreme way than it would if the driver simply accelerated or braked normally. In a drift, the driver intentionally oversteers, causing the rear wheels to lose traction and the car to slide sideways.
What Is Drifting?
Drifting is an automotive driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tires while maintaining control and driving pleasure. A car with “drift mode” will be equipped with a type of differential (see article on differentials if you need to refresh your memory on this) that will aid in turning while still powering the driven wheels; it’s basically having two differentials for each axle (front and back), one locking up when power is applied, while the other remains open. This aids in rotating the car while continuously applying power (to prevent wheel spin-out), thus achieving controlled drifting.
How To Drift In An Automatic Car – A Step-By-Step Guide
1. Get A Manual Car Or Convert Your Automatic
This may sound obvious but if you want to learn how to drive then don’t pick an automatic car. The technique requires that you can control when and how fast your wheels spin and most automatics won’t allow this. You need a manual car or to convert your automatic one.
2. Start Off In Second Gear
Drifting is all about maintaining speed between the wheels of the two front axles, which are automatic in the fronts left and right ones. To drift you’ll need to get these spinning at different speeds. This means that when you begin drifting, start off in second gear.
3. Release The Brake Pedal And Accelerator Pedal Together
While traveling in second gear release the brake pedal after you’ve slowly drifted into the turn so that your inside wheel spins faster than the outside wheel. Then while still on this accelerator pedal let off gradually so that both wheels slow down evenly back to stationary speed together.
4. Review Your Drift And Adjust
You’ve now successfully drifted around a corner! But you’ll need to review your drift and adjust the technique so that both wheels spin at equal speeds. This will be easier than it sounds after some practice because you’ll instinctively learn how much throttle to apply when drifting around corners.
5. Start Drifting In First Gear
Finally, progress from drifting in second gear to first gear is far more tricky because of the increased speed and power. The key here is timing: release the accelerator too early and both wheels will slow down at different rates; release it too late and they may not even spin enough to create a drift in the first place.
The Disadvantage Of Drifting In An Automatic Car
1. You will break expensive parts on your car
When drifting, your car will slide out on its own; all you’re doing is steering into it without applying the brake pedal (it’s actually better to make sure there isn’t a brake pedal). Even if you do this properly, eventually your tires will lose grip and start spinning uncontrollably. This means you will be sliding down the road, and as is common with spinning objects, your car is likely to touch other things as you spin.
These collisions can cause damage as well as lower your chances of winning a race. It’s true that drifting looks cool, but it isn’t worth it if you have to pay for repairs later on.
2. You lose control of the steering wheel
To drift properly, a driver must turn into a corner while maintaining understeer (front end not turning tightly enough). After hitting the apex of the corner at full throttle, they then steer into an uncontrolled slide by counter-steering. A proper drift lasts only 2 seconds before the front wheels are pointing straight again…but even once your car is under control, you may still be drifting out of control if you are not used to doing it. If someone else is more experienced at drifting, they might end up taking the corner from you.
3. You lose time
During a drift, your car will slow down significantly more than when straight-line accelerating due to the fact that you’re constantly counter-steering. Even if you win the race, this loss in speed could be enough to make sure you didn’t get first place. Drifting also takes more time to initiate and come out of because while turning into a corner with full power, you must turn the steering wheel far enough away from where it should be for an uncontrolled slide. At high speeds, any loss in speed or time can be dangerous.
4. It’s harder to avoid collisions
A spin-out almost always leads to a collision, and drifting is no different. A loss of control can happen at any time, especially considering you’re going full throttle into a corner without applying brakes. You might drift into a car that is accelerating ahead of you or has been keeping up with you from the beginning. In this situation, it will be hard to avoid crashing because most likely both your cars are out of control and traveling past the corner line. If you hit someone, there may not even be anyone around to call for help if necessary…you could be stuck waiting for hours before somebody shows up to rescue your smoldering wreck.
5. You don’t get any experience
Drifting is dangerous, but it’s also more fun than racing normally. If you drift every corner of every track on your game, you’ll be doing something new and different on each track. This might let you learn some shortcuts that would otherwise go unused (and if there aren’t any, then why be at the race in the first place?). Drifting lets you know how much control you have over your car while competing with friends. It can even make some races less stressful because drifting does not require intense concentration like straight-line acceleration
Tips For Beginners Who Want To Try Drifting
1. The car
You don’t have to use a sports car or tuned car when drifting. You can also choose common cars such as sedans and hatchbacks because they work great when drifting. When choosing a vehicle, it’s better if you opt for a rear-wheel-drive instead of front-wheel drive because it has better handling and balance when in high speed and drift conditions. If you using a four-wheel-drive vehicle then that would be better but if it’s two-wheel then purchasing an additional differential can be a solution. And the final thing to consider is cost-effectiveness, it’s better if you used a car that has a good engine and drivetrain or just use a stock version of the vehicle that you want to use for drifting so your budget will not be more expensive.
2. The track
In addition to purchasing a car, the next thing you have to prepare is drifted track so you can practice there. A track with an open space is very necessary as it provides some room for full sliding as well as some corners where can drift through them like hairpin curves, esses, chicanes, and also long curves which are capable of reaching speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph).
3. Tools
There are some tools that you will need before the track time arrives. They are as follows: tire pressure gauge, jack and stands, spare tires, and other essential tools for your car.
4. Education
If you want to learn drifting skills but don’t have a mentor at hand so take an education first through self-study by following tips on the internet or attending educational seminars held regularly by motor clubs and race tracks and also there are some non-profit organizations such as Drift Matsuri which regularly holds classes and workshops about drift concepts and techniques in order to spread this sport way of driving around the world. The key is having fun with it!
5. Don’t give up!
As someone who has never tried drifting then you should know that it’s something that you will have to practice a lot. In addition, it’s not as easy as it seems because sometimes you can’t control your car during drift but don’t give up easily.
FAQs:
What is your favorite automatic car to drift in?
My favorite car to drift in is the Nissan 240SX. It has a ton of torque and handles incredibly well, making it perfect for drifting. Plus, its affordable price tag makes it a great option for anyone looking to get into drifting.
Why do you think automatic cars are good for drifting?
There are a few reasons why automatic cars are good for drifting. First, automatic cars are easier to control and stay in control of. Second, they have more power and can accelerate faster than manual cars. This makes it easier to get the car into a drift and stay in the drift. Finally, automatic cars tend to be heavier than manual cars, which also helps with stability when drifting.
What is your favorite drifting technique in an automatic car?
My favorite drifting technique in an automatic car is to use the power of the engine to break traction on the rear wheels, and then steer into the direction of the drift.
Do you think that automatic cars drift as well as manual cars?
There are certainly pros and cons to both manual and automatic cars when it comes to drifting. Manual cars offer more control, while automatic cars can be easier to drift. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer the challenge of manual cars, while others find automatic cars easier to drift.
