1/11/2023
Updated: 3/19/2024
| By: RC Soldier
Top 5 RC Drift Cars on the Market
RC drift cars have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and it’s understandable. This hobby is really a blast, and once people give it a try, they often become hooked.
In the typical RC car racing world, everything revolves around speed and control, with more emphasis typically put on the speed aspect. Not so with RC drifters, which are built for superb handling and highly sensitive throttle control. They’re also equipped with features like low center of gravity, fully adjustable suspension, and slick tires for improving the drift.
Optimal Turns and RPMs for RC Drift Cars
Many performance RC cars utilize a turn ratio roughly in the range of 3-8 turns. Remember, the lower the turns and (higher Kv), the higher the RPMs. Take a look at this graph to get a visual of how this works:
RC drift cars are often equipped with motors in the range of 10-15 turns. Based on this chart, you might be thinking: why would I want less RPMs for an RC race car? It boils down to handling and throttle performance.
When you’re drifting around a track, it’s nearly impossible to control the car when your motor is churning out around 5k RPMs or more. This is why most drivers opt for a motor that has optimal low RPM throttle control.
It’s interesting that when RC drifting first became popular, most racers opted for motors in the 20 turn range. However, with recent technological advancements in brushless motors such as adjustable mechanical timing, drivers are able to experiment with motors such as the Hobbywing Xerun D10 Drift Brushless Motor, which comes in both 10 and 13.5 turn options.
Finding a Quality RTR RC Drift Car
It can be tricky finding quality RTR options in this niche, as many companies are only now starting to manufacture RTR RC drift cars. We’ve done some research for you, and have compiled a list of excellent mid to high range choices that can get you started.
We also try to only suggest RC drift cars that have good aftermarket support.
Things to Look For in RTR RC Drift Cars
- Drivetrain: Is it RWD or AWD? Most high-level guys only race RWD, but there are some AWD competitions to be found as well.
- Motor: How many turns (Kv) is the motor? As we’ve seen, this differs from the usual RC car racing norms.
- ESC (Speed Control): Variable frequency regulation of PWM & brake frequencies allows drivers to precisely regulate acceleration and braking.
If you want to learn a little more about RC drifting in general, check our detailed write-up about the current state of the RC drifting world and how things are evolving.
RC drifting is so popular at the moment, many RC drift cars are sold out and can only be purchased via backorder. Most of the drifters we included are in stock. However, if one of the included cars is only available via backorder, we will inform you in the description.
Alright enough fluff, here’s our list of the top 5 RC drift cars that are RTR currently on the market. Click one to skip ahead and read more:
Top 5 RC Drift Cars
- Redcat 1/10 RDS RWD Competition Spec RC Drift Car RTR - $399.99
- Yokomo RD1.0 1/10 RWD RTR RC Drift Car - $329.99
- MST RMX 1/10 2WD RC Drift Car RTR - $399.99 (pre-order)
- HSP Racing RC Drift Car RTR - $189.99
- Redcat Racing Thunder RC Drifter RTR - $190.00
#1 | Redcat 1/10 RDS RWD Competition Spec RC Drift Car RTR
Price: $399.99 RTR out of the box, just needs a battery and charger!
Most RTR RC drifters that are worth their salt are either sold out or on back order. The Redcat RDS is not only 1/10 RWD and fully race spec, it’s also in stock and ready hit the track out of the box.
The RDS has been engineered with great attention to detail, with battery size and weight left as a tuning preference for the driver. The car is capable of accepting a competition style 2S shorty LiPo pack, LCG 2S shorty pack, or a standard sized 2S stick pack.
We’ve already talked about the importance of selecting a motor with the proper turns and RPM. The 3300kv motor equates to 13.5 turns, which is optimal for most drifting applications. This places the Redcat drifter right in the sweet spot between intermediate and advanced, making it a great budget choice for any skill level.
Built to cater to the specific needs of the drift racing community, the RDS is optimized for use on P-tile and polished concrete surfaces. The automatic countersteer feature of the RDS can be fine-tuned to provide the perfect drift angle for each driver, while the lightweight carbon fiber-based chassis ensures that the car stays agile and responsive.
Redcat 1/10 RDS RWD RC Drift Car | Features
- Platform Built For P-Tile And Polished Concrete
- Automatic Countersteer is fully adjustable
- 2.4GHz Radio System
- 540 3300kv Brushless Motor by Redcat
- 60A Brushless ESC by Redcat
- Coreless Digital Hexfly Drift-Spec Steering Servo
Redcat 1/10 RDS RWD RC Drift Car | Required Purchases to Complete
- (4) AA Batteries for Transmitter
- (1) 7.2V - 7.4V Battery
- (1) 2S Shorty LiPo Pack (Optional)
- (1) LCG 2S Shorty Pack (Optional)
#2 | Yokomo RD1.0 1/10 RWD RTR RC Drift Car
Price: $329.99 RTR out of the box, just needs 4 AA batteries!
Yokomo has introduced the RD1.0 RTR Drift Car, the ultimate gateway drug into the quickly growing world of RC drift racing. Packed with features tailored for newcomers, and upgradeable as you become a seasoned racer, this RTR setup is an excellent purchase at just over 300 bucks.
The RD1.0’s tunable suspension and gear differential system is a game-changer for novices, designed to offer maximum stability and control. The 4-wheel independent suspension is a must for drifting, ensuring smooth maneuvers on the hard turns and slick surfaces.
The included motor is a 27 turn brushless, which is definitely a beginner level motor for RC drifting and great for developing your skill. As you become more experienced, look to upgrade to somewhere between 10-15 turns if you want to be competitive in the upper echelon of racers.
No assembly headaches; this drifter comes ready to go out of the box!
Yokomo RD1.0 Drift RC Car | Features
- Compatibile with RD1.0 Parts
- Painted Body included, ready for the track
- Rapid charge lasts 20 minutes
- Steering gyro for extra precision
- 27-turn drift motor
- 2.4GHz transmitter / receiver
- Adjustable camber / toe angles
Yokomo RD1.0 Drift RC Car | Required Purchases to Complete
- Just 4 AA batteries! Everything else is included.
#3 | MST RMX 1/10 2WD RC Drift Car RTR (pre-order)
Price: $399.99 RTR out of the box, just needs a battery and charger!
The MST RMX is a next gen RC car drifter that’s designed with professional racers in mind. This car comes with a ton of configurable options in order to maximize drift control.
If you’re interested in taking RC drift racing seriously, this is an excellent choice if you don’t want to build your drifter from scratch. The RMX platform was designed to allow flexibility and control. Why? Well, RC drift configurations are kind of like a black art. It’s far from a strict science, and most serious racers have their own preferences for tweaking their RC drift car to maximize performance.
This RC drifter is so popular it’s only available for pre-order at the moment. Get your order in now before it’s sold out!
MST RMX 1/10 2WD RC Drift Car | Features
- Updated chassis adds improved rear traction and control
- Vertical or lateral servo configuration
- Gearbox can be converted from RMX to RRX configurations
- High angle steering system with adjustable Ackermann changes
- High or Low center of gravity motor mounting options
- Full ball bearings throughout
- Steel CVD axle transmission system
- Hobbywing XBL 2500Kv motor
- Hobbywing XBL50 electronic speed control
- MST SC-0352 high speed steering servo
- MGX Steering Gyro
- MUCH MORE! Click to see the entire list of features.
MST RMX 1/10 2WD RC Drift Car | Required Purchases to Complete
- (1) 2S LiPo or 6-Cell NiMH Battery Pack w/T-Style Connector
- (1) Compatible Battery Charger
- (4) AA Batteries for transmitter
#4 | HSP RC Drift Car - RTR
Price: $189.99 RTR out of the box, with battery and charger included!
The HSP Drift RC Car comes with a sleek and aerodynamic body, designed to provide maximum speed and stability. The 1/10 Scale size makes it perfect for indoor racing, as 1/10 scale is the typical standard for most indoor RC drift tracks.
The durable construction can handle all the abuse you can give it, and the drift tires are calibrated to allow for the tightest of drifts.
Being a AWD drifter, you can expect maximum control. Many novice and pro drift races allow for AWD drivetrains, so you won’t have trouble finding some competition.
With its fully customizable options and RTR parts kit, this RC drift car is excellent for novice drivers.
HSP Drift RC Drifter | Features
- 100% Ready To Run
- 4 Wheel Drive Shaft Drive
- Light Weight Alloy Drive Shaft
- Factory Installed Servo Saver
- 2 Channel Pistol Grip Radio Factory Installed
- Front and Rear Differentials with Bevel Gears
- Aluminum Cap Oil Filled Adjustable Shock Absorbers
HSP Drift RC Drifter | Required Purchases to Complete
- Just 2 AA batteries! Everything else is included to get started out of the box.
#5 | Redcat Racing Thunder Drift Gun Metal Car - RTR
Price: $190.00 RTR out of the box, with battery and charger included!
The Redcat Racing Thunder Drift RC Drift Car 1/10 Scale is the ultimate choice for drift racing enthusiasts looking for a high-performance machine at a great price!
Designed with speed and excellent handling in mind, this RC drift car is guaranteed to provide a quality racing experience.
Featuring a powerful brushed motor, advanced electronic speed controller and 4 wheel drive system, the Thunder Drift is great at delivering incredible power and control, allowing you to drift like a pro and leave your competition in the dust.
Redcat Racing Thunder Drift | Features
- 22T RC540 Brushed electric motor
- Waterproof 40A electronic speed control
- Responsive steering servo
- 2.4GHz Radio
- Tunable suspension
- Adjustable ride height
- Belt Driven For Smooth Power Transfer
- Independent Suspension
- Lightweight Plastic Chassis
- Aluminum Threaded Body Oil Filled Shocks
- Bearings Throughout
Redcat Racing Thunder Drift | Required Purchases to Complete
- Just 2 AA batteries! Everything else is included to get started out of the box.
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