Drifting

I was lured in here by thinking that maybe somebody could finally explain "drifting" to me, as in what it is.

from what it looks like, it's just oversteer (something I'm very familiar with being the owner of a Subaru 360)
I've also heard that Front wheel drive cars are unable to drift, because the only way to induce oversteer in a front wheel drive car is by using the parking brake. I took note that these people had not the slightest idea of what they are talking about, because the easiest way to induce oversteer in a front wheel drive car is to let off the gas mid turn (as I have done countless times rushing to make a left turn before the green arrow expires) Let off the gas, and the ass-end breaks loose and swings around. Besides, it is well known that the SAAB 92 had problems with severe oversteer, leading to a complete redesign of it's rear suspension.
The Subaru being rear engined is even more violent in it's oversteering ways, and locking up the front brakes by braking hard is the easiest way to scare the hell out of your passengers and every motorist around you (but if you're like me you think it's hilarious :D )

So can somebody please clarify what exactly "drifting" is? Or why a front wheel drive car is suposedly incapable of it?

Thanks.

Well first thing, this discussion on FWD drifting has been talked about several several times in here. Some still agree that a FWD cannot drift and never will be able to, while others disagree and say a FWD can drift, but it takes a lot more skill to do and control. You have a point on letting up off the gas, but what works even better is left foot braking during a turn. This works wonders and I know someone on here has a page that explains it. I will just warn you if your left foot has never touched that brake pedal before, be prepared for a quick stop when you attempt this. Your left foot, if you are used to a stick shift, is not anywhere near used to using a brake as your right foot is.

Now into what a drift is, there are so many different definitions of a drift, most just people's opinions. But from what I have understood on this whole thing, a Drift is a controlled sideways slide. There is a more technical way of saying it, something about your tires loosing traction laterally, I don't remember. But to me, that definition seems to work quite well. Maybe someone with a little more drifting experience can help you out here, I have only drifted twice, once in a parking lot with my e-brake keeping my car sideways the whole time, not spinning all the way around, and the other on a little city road with no one around, using left foot braking getting my car completely sideways in the road.

I hope that helped you out a little.

I guess that this stems from the problem that apparently there is no concrete definiton of what drifting is. But to me, "controlled lateral slide" sounds like an oxymoron, unless by controlled you simply mean you don't fly off the road backwards.

yes, by controlled i mean you actually staying on the road or not spinning out

My friends also think that kicking the rear end out for just a fraction of a second is drifting. They don't believe me when I tell them that they weren't really drifting.

At least from the drift videos I have seen, it appears that drifting involves a controlled, oversteering slide for an entire corner.

When you force your wheels to slip in order to corner faster. It can be either your two rear wheels sliding or all four. IMO, driftings overated. It takes an incredible amount of skill to do it to the point where you are actually FASTER than normal, and its a massive waste of rubber...not to mention the risk of accident.

Yep, you are, and it's not that when you start trying to drift you might crash, or like, you could crash, it's just that YOU ARE GOING TO CRASH AND IT"S GONNA HURT, so be prepared and have some money on the safe side to repair the bumpers atleast.

Hmm.... drifting FWD...it's not as hard to perform, but yet still risky and more doubt that some times, the ASS DRAG is going to be so intence that the tail will spin you off the road.

The best time to experince front wheel drifts ( which is actually not drifting, it's called ASS DRAGGiNG ), is to at first know what's the suspension of your car like, and feel the body roll of the car. When you brake at high speeds, try steering , the car will go side ways suddenly, feel that. Then, to a slightly sand blown road, or rain time, the wet road is the best road to experience the drift in FWD. BUT REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE TO BRAKE TOO, dont over speed. Just practice at what lowest speed does your car let go the rear end. High speeds are obviously going to throw you spinning any way. It's better to know the body roll of the car, so you dont get toppeled over.

If you feel like "oi" some things felt wrong wrong in the way the cars sliding, dont stop and pull over, this is the way it is, you will look like out of control but still full in control. you dont have to use hand brake all the time to drift. The actual theme is to get the load upon the fron wheels , and OFF the rear ones so they could be dragged as intended. sudden brakin and steering at the same time will get all the load upon the front wheels. Lettign the accelerator go whilest 15% inside the turn will also be helpful. Hand brake tactic later tends to decrease the motion vector of the drift in session, hence, stopping the car. Better make an E-BRAKE SETUP. Before entering a turn , go wide and cut like hell braking at the same time, counter steer, and out !

Please loose all bullshit body kit, lowered bumpers and stuff hanging in the rear view mirror before trying this. Or any way, if you keep them on , some day, YOU ARE GOiNG TO CRASH!