Lexus IS300 & Nissan 240SX Face Off in Drift Synchronicity
This Lexus IS300 makes a formidable drift car; and surprisingly needed only a few mods–and a skilled driver–to enhance its precision and agility.
It is hardly surprising that Lexus enthusiasts really love drifting. If you own or have driven a Lexus, you get it. When you are driving a car that is so swift and responsive and–let’s face it–flat out fun, you want to just let it fly. And drifting does that with adrenaline-charged aplomb. But the best way to explore drifting, autocross, racing, or just hone your skills is to take a class. Recently, Club Lexus got such an opportunity at Lexus Performance Driving School, and learning from the pros is guaranteed to peak your performance.
One talented driver whose drift game is on point is Stefano Limotta. He recently took part in Toronto’s Shred-a-Palooza. In a tandem drift battle, Limotta’s Lexus IS300 faced off against a Nissan 240SX. We expected to see fireworks when these two hit the asphalt. What we didn’t anticipate was the captivating display of grace and power.
TooFast TV got all the action on the track, and spoke to both drivers about their cars and the sport. Limotta has had his Lexus IS300 about two years. And from the moment he purchased the early-gen LS300 he knew what he wanted to do: Drifting.
He isn’t especially interested in modding the Lexus seven ways ’til Sunday. In fact, he tells TooFast that to get started drifting, he recommends coilovers and a welded diff. “And you’re good to go,” he says.
While there is a little more to it than that, Limotta is right. A good drift car has to be able to take a good thrashing. So your best cars are those that come off the line with a solid chassis, suspension, steering angle, engine, and power-to-weight ratio. It also should be adaptable and accessible to aftermarket modifications.
When the Lexus IS300 faces the wildly-popular Nissan 240SX things get thrilling, fast. One great thing about TooFast’s coverage is the on-board camera, which really gives you an insiders perspective on how the IS300 performs. The Lexus’ now welded limited-slip differential (LSD) shows in how the IS300 takes the corners.
Together, these two are mesmerizing. They tear through the course, high-revving and tire-shredding. With Lexus and Nissan, it feels like two great boxers facing off. But instead of a beatdown, the two seem to drift, grasp corners, glide, brake, and turn in complete synchrony. The competition is so tight that the two mirror each other at times, and conversely create nail-biting tension as both sharpen focus and glide for the win.
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Both the Lexus IS300 and the Nissan 240 SX are built to excel. And these skilled drivers work smoothly and effectively with their machine to achieve sideways greatness. It is this reason that the controlled chaos that is drifting is such a thrill.
Check out the video below, queued up for maximum shredding action.
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