Yes, you can drift an automatic car. While a manual transmission offers more direct control, modern automatics, especially those with a manual mode or a sport setting, are quite capable of drifting. The key is understanding how your specific automatic transmission behaves and using techniques to overcome its natural tendency to upshift. Success depends heavily on the car's power, rear-wheel drive, and your ability to manipulate weight transfer and throttle input.
The primary challenge with an automatic is the torque converter and the transmission's programming. The torque converter can absorb some of the sharp throttle inputs needed for initiating a drift. Furthermore, the transmission will try to upshift to a higher gear to improve fuel economy, which can kill your momentum mid-drift. To combat this, you must use the gear selector to manually lock the transmission into a lower gear, like second, to maintain high RPMs.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Traction Control is your biggest enemy. This system is designed to prevent exactly what you're trying to do. It must be fully disabled before any attempt. Check your owner's manual for the correct procedure, as sometimes simply pressing the button once doesn't fully deactivate it.
The basic technique involves using a combination of a feint or a handbrake turn to break traction and then carefully modulating the throttle to sustain the slide. Because you can't use a clutch to "shock" the drivetrain, you rely more on weight transfer and a sharp flick of the steering wheel. It requires precise throttle control to keep the wheels spinning without over-powering and spinning out.
The table below compares the core aspects of drifting an automatic versus a manual car.
| Aspect | Automatic Transmission | Manual Transmission |
|---|
| Initiation Control | Relies more on weight transfer, handbrake, or power oversteer. Less direct than clutch kicking. | Direct control via clutch kick or shift-lock to break rear traction. |
| Sustaining the Drift | Requires precise throttle modulation to hold RPMs; risk of forced upshifts. | Full control over gear selection and engine braking; easier to maintain angle. |
| Transmission Stress | High stress on the torque converter and transmission fluid, risking overheating. | High stress on the clutch, differential, and gearbox. |
| Ease of Initiation | Can be easier for beginners to initiate a slide with power or handbrake. | Steeper learning curve for coordination, but offers finer control. |
| Common Modifications | Auxiliary transmission cooler, performance transmission fluid, tune to prevent upshifts. | Limited-slip differential, reinforced clutch, short-throw shifter. |
Drifting an automatic is absolutely possible, but it puts significant strain on the transmission. If you plan to do it regularly, investing in an auxiliary transmission cooler is highly recommended to prevent damage from overheating the fluid.
