can you drift a four wheel drive car

[LaBethany]

Yes, you can drift a four-wheel drive (4WD or AWD) car, but the technique is fundamentally different and often more challenging than drifting a rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle. The key difference lies in power distribution: while a RWD car relies on overpowering the rear tires to break traction, a 4WD car sends power to all wheels, creating immense grip. To initiate a drift in a 4WD car, you need to use techniques like a sharp weight transfer (often with a Scandinavian Flick or heavy left-foot braking) to unload the rear axle, followed by aggressive throttle application to maintain the slide.

Maintaining the drift requires constant throttle and steering adjustments. Unlike in RWD, where you can control the slide angle primarily with the throttle, in 4WD, you are effectively using power to push the car through the corner. This makes it a more aggressive, power-on style of drifting. It's also harder on components like the center differential, transmission, and tires. Modern stability control systems must be fully disabled, which isn't always possible on all-road-oriented AWD vehicles.

The table below compares drifting characteristics across different drivetrains:

Drivetrain Type	Primary Drift Technique	Skill Level Required	Car Control Feel	Common Examples
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)	Power-over or clutch kick to break rear traction	Intermediate to Expert	Throttle-steering; smooth and controllable	Nissan 350Z, Ford Mustang, BMW 3 Series
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD/AWD)	Weight transfer and power-on to overcome grip	Expert	Aggressive, push-and-correct style; less forgiving	Subaru WRX STI, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)	Not true drifting; "lift-off oversteer" or e-brake slides	Beginner to Intermediate	Momentary and difficult to sustain	Honda Civic, Volkswagen GTI

In summary, while possible, 4WD drifting is a high-skill, high-stress activity best performed in a controlled environment like a track or a large, empty, sanctioned area. It is not recommended for public roads due to the high speeds and loss of vehicle control involved.

[DiGraham]

From my experience on rally tracks, absolutely. That's how we take many corners. You throw the car into the turn to shift its weight, then stand on the throttle. The all-wheel drive pulls you through the slide in a way a rear-drive car can't. It feels less like a graceful slide and more like you're muscling the car around the corner. It's brutal on tires, but incredibly effective and fast when done right. Just make sure you have the space and safety gear.

[SanAshlyn]

I tried it once in my Subaru on a wet, empty parking lot. It's not like the movies. The car just wants to grip and go straight. You really have to jerk the wheel and give it a ton of gas to even get the back end to step out, and then it snaps back really quickly. It felt clumsy and I was worried about hurting the drivetrain. It's a cool party trick, but I'd say it's way harder and less intuitive than it looks. Stick to a rear-wheel drive car if you want to learn proper drifting.