Drifting with an automatic?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 1
From: Union City CA
Drifting with an automatic?
Since there are so many drafting movies out there, 2 of my friends were arguing about whether a car would have to have a manual transmission in order to drift. One guy said that you can drift with an auto while the other guy said no, you must have a manual transmission in order to drift.
Since I don't know the answer, I told them I would post on the corvette forum and see if anyone knows the answer to this.
So I would appreciate information on this. Thanks
Since I don't know the answer, I told them I would post on the corvette forum and see if anyone knows the answer to this.
So I would appreciate information on this. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 60
From: Haymarket Virginia
All you need is power to break the rear tires loose in a turn to drift! You actually don't need that much power, you just need to pull the e-brake up 
You don't need an manual to do it.
You don't need an manual to do it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: portland OR
Since there are so many drafting movies out there, 2 of my friends were arguing about whether a car would have to have a manual transmission in order to drift. One guy said that you can drift with an auto while the other guy said no, you must have a manual transmission in order to drift.
Since I don't know the answer, I told them I would post on the corvette forum and see if anyone knows the answer to this.
So I would appreciate information on this. Thanks
Since I don't know the answer, I told them I would post on the corvette forum and see if anyone knows the answer to this.
So I would appreciate information on this. Thanks
seriously though, ive scene it done Both ways, you might check out some drifting forums.. seems like it would be easier with AT as you can work the breaks/ e break/ and gas/ steering wheel better
Last edited by rollin18; Oct 2, 2007 at 10:52 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,177
Likes: 84
From: Short Hills, NJ
I've often wondered about that as well. Most well known/successful drift cars are in fact manual transmissioned, I think they need to be able to not only select a specific gear during a run but more importantly be able to hold it there. I would think that a paddle shift/A6 Corvette type of trans could be even better than messing with a clutch pedal in that regard.
If the rear would hold up I would think that a Corvette could make a decent drift car.
If the rear would hold up I would think that a Corvette could make a decent drift car.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
From: Chandler Arizona
You can absolutely drift with an automatic. It is only a matter of power, balance and grip. When drifting a manual, you aren't using the clutch to break the tires loose, only the lateral g's of the car and power application. The same is easily done with an auto.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
yes, you can drift with an automatic transmission. in the c6 you must turn off the 'driver aids' when/if you want to drift. the t/c and a/h will have fits if you try to drift with them on.
place the automatic in first or second and it will stay there it won't shift any higher, and you can drift all day.
place the automatic in first or second and it will stay there it won't shift any higher, and you can drift all day.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
From: Chandler Arizona
I have repeatedly drifted several automatic equipped cars. My last car was a G35 with an automatic. It really isn't that hard on the transmission if you think about it. The tires have lost their grip and you are just applying a light throttle, feathering to keep everything in balance. You can take a professional drifter and give them an old Buick and it will drift. Other than the tires, the suspension takes more abuse that anything.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
1) hi tokyo drifter
2) buy a manual
3) problem with auto is that it will prematurely upshift around the actual bend.. not engaging the powerband... and have issues to 'power over'
4) talk to either paul walker, vin diesel, or johnny tran, they can help you out
2) buy a manual
3) problem with auto is that it will prematurely upshift around the actual bend.. not engaging the powerband... and have issues to 'power over'
4) talk to either paul walker, vin diesel, or johnny tran, they can help you out
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Kuwait
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,231
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From: Brownsville Tx
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
remember, auto's can manually be put into 1st, 2nd, and sometimes 3rd, and turn off or don't select overdrive (if equipped).
Originally Posted by runutzzzzz
All you need is power to break the rear tires loose in a turn to drift! You actually don't need that much power, you just need to pull the e-brake up You don't need an manual to do it.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I do dridting in my c4... and i have no hand brake
Hi, I drift my c4, it is automatic and i use no hand brake or ebrake... I certaily believe it is a very goodncar for drifting... However you need plenty of power to be able to lose the tires... When i first got it it was almos impossible to do it... The l98 didnt have the guts... But with the new 6.0 ls swap and 500rwhp at my dispossal it is quite easy...
People would talk sh..t about drifting but only skilled drivers can understand...
The answer is yes. They drift.
People would talk sh..t about drifting but only skilled drivers can understand...
The answer is yes. They drift.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,997
Likes: 238
From: Surprise, Az
I've done it with my A-6, it was part of driver skills training with one of the local porsche clubs, done on a skid pad. It's fun to throttle steer the car in circles, and I could do it with someone else holding the wheel just using the throttle. It wasn't hard on the transmission, but the tires didn't like it much. Once they heated to grease it didn't take much throttle to keep everything in balance.
The bigger issue isn't the transmission - that just couples the engine power to the differential. The bigger issue is what type of differential is used. The positraction (both rear wheels are powered to ground) works better than the limited slip (one rear wheel that alternates between the two). I don't know if you can drift with a limited slip differential.
The bigger issue isn't the transmission - that just couples the engine power to the differential. The bigger issue is what type of differential is used. The positraction (both rear wheels are powered to ground) works better than the limited slip (one rear wheel that alternates between the two). I don't know if you can drift with a limited slip differential.
Last edited by mikeCsix; Dec 22, 2017 at 04:03 PM.
