R/C Drifting FAQ

Team Associated
TC3 Racer kit: $154.99
This is the least expensive kit from TA, it comes with a clear body of your choice (Dodge Stratus, Alfa Romeo 156, Mercedes CLK-DTM and the Chrysler 300M), it comes with MIP CVD's instead of dogbones, so power transfer is smooth and consistent. It also has a full ball bearing set, instead of plastic bushings. Its shaft driven which eliminates the risk of debris getting into the drive belt which can make the belt come off or potentially snap. Also eliminates the need of a belt tensioner. The kit allows adjustment of caster, camber, toe-in and kickup.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (Peak charger is recommended!)
Electrical motor (You need torque, so a stock motor with many turns would be a good choice)
Pinion gear (which should be decided by the size of motor you're going to use)
Electronic Speed Control (ESC from now on)
Lexan paint for the body.

TC3 Team Kit: $214.99
The Team kit is a step up from the Racer kit. The differences between the Racer and this one are the aluminum blue anodized MIP CVD's (the Racer has composite CVD's), blue VCS shocks (the Racer has VCS macro shocks), blue titanium turnbuckles (the Racer has steel turnbuckles) and steel rubber / teflon ball bearings compared to the steel ball bearings of the Racer.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Wheels and tires
190mm body
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended
Electrical motor
Pinion gear
ESC

TC3 Factory Team Kit: $284.99
The Factory Team kit is the top kit from TA, which is also reflected in the price. This is just the roller, which means that there's no motor, no wheels/tires, electronics or body shell. One of the main differences is that it's got many carbon fiber parts, and carbon graphite parts, like the suspension arms, the driveshaft and the chassis itself.
It's also got aluminum oil-filled shocks, with provides a smooth ride.
Again it's got a fully adjustable suspension setup, with camber, toe-in and ride height.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Wheels and tires
190mm body
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
Electrical motor
Pinion gear
ESC

HPI
RS4 Sport 2: $159.99
The Sport 2 uses a dual belt 4wd system, and includes oil shocks, ball bearings, pinion (28 tooth 48 pitch) and spur (87 tooth) gears, fiberglass chassis and a clear body of your choice (Dodge Stratus, Toyota Corolla Castrol, Porsche 911 996, Honda Civic SI or Nissan Silvia S15)

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
Electrical motor
ESC

RS4 Sprint RTR: $229.99
This kit is ready to run (RTR, and is also a good drifter, it's tough and durable, and doesn't require much maintenance.
The chassis, front bumper, upper deck, suspension arms and shock towers are made out of composite plastic.

Requires
N/A

RS4 Pro 4: $329.99
This is the most expensive kit from HPI, and it's only the roller, so you have to buy motor, wheels / tires, body, batteries etc.
This is really a serious race car, and HPI's own driver Atsushi Hara, travels around the world and races this chassis. It's fully adjustable, so ride height, camber, caster, toe-in and down-stops.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Wheels and tires
190mm body
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
Electrical motor
Pinion gear
ESC

I couldn't find any prices on the Pro 2 and 3, since they have been discontinued, but they are also good drift cars, and if you can get a good one used, or maybe find an unbuilt example, then it's defiantly also a good choice.
The price of the Sprint is from RC Models ( LINK ), because TowerHobbies doesn't sell the sprint.

Tamiya
TL-01: $84.99
The TL-01 is a relatively old design, and was first released in '97, but it's still a VERY good chassis. It's tried and tested, so there are many replacement parts and hop-ups, so the design HAS to be good if it's still so popular. It's a monocoque chassis which is all plastic. It comes with friction shocks which are not adjustable and a Mechanical Speed Control (MSC from now on) and a 540 stock silvercan motor, slicks and wheels.
There is a WIDE range of bodies for the chassis to choose from. So you really have to go to TowerHobbies and pick the one you really like the best, there are just too many to list.
This kit is also a very good drifter, just tape up the tires and you're away! And it's dirt cheap too!

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
Two servos (one is you're going to use an ESC)
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
the stock MSC can be replaced with an ESC, which is recommended.

TT-01: $84.00
The TT-01 is a new chassis in the cheap end like the TL-01. It's a tub style chassis "similar" to the TC3. It's got friction shocks which aren't adjustable. Like the TL-01 it includes a motor and an MSC, which most likely are the same as the TL-01 kits. It also comes with foam front bumpers, so if you hit something, it won't damage the chassis (although it doesn't mean that you should run your new TT-01 into a wall just for fun!). It comes with a clear body, although TowerHobbies only list the F60 (Enzo) and the 350Z Race Car, Tamiya have made a few other bodies including the Subaru Impreza, Mercedes CLK-DTM, Nissan Skyline R34 JGTC Edition, Honda NSX Raybrig JGTC and Ford Focus RS WRC.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
Two servos (one is you're going to use an ESC)
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
the stock MSC can be replaced with an ESC, which is recommended.

N.B! Tamiyas site lists some of the TT-01 kits with the MSC and some without! So check this before you buy one!

TA-04: $269.99
The TA-04 is a race chassis, so it's got a fully adjustable suspension, with camber, toe-in and ride height. It's got a full ball bearing set a motor heat sink and hard springs in the oil-filled shocks, so the suspension is ideal for drifting.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
Two servos
Electrical Motor
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC

Yokomo
Yokomo Drift Car: $199.99
This is a kit made for drifting, it's got its own style of wheel/tires that have rings of plastic in a set of grooves in the rubber, that helps the car get sideways. Unfortunately they wear out pretty fast, and are pretty expensive compared to PVC. It's got a fully adjustable suspension, so you can adjust ride height, camber and toe-in/caster. The kit comes with a clear body, where you can choose from: Toyota Corolla AE86, Nissan 180SX or the Mazda RX7 FD3S.
Ultimate Hobbies ( LINK ) and SpeedTech ( LINK ) both have the Drift kit for $199.99, so it's a lot cheaper than TowerHobbies! (Thx to OppLock for info)

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
one servos
Electrical Motor
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC
Yokomo MR-4TC SD SSG: $339.99
This kit is a pure race car, which means that it can drift. The fully adjustable suspension, gives plenty of opportunity to set camber, ride height and toe-in/caster. The chassis is made from graphite with a silver coat, so it's very light, and very expensive.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Electrical Motor
190mm Body
Wheels
Tires
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC

Team Losi
XXX-S RTR: $269.99
The XXX-s is a RTR car, although you can get it as a kit, but I wasn't able to find it (I'm not from the states, so I don't know the stores). It comes completely assembled, so no need to worry about the build if that intimidates you. It's got Team Losi's one belt drive system, which is enclosed so no debris will get into the belt, it's also got a belt tensioner integrated into the system. It's also got MIP CVD's instead of dogbones, ball differentials and ball bearings. This kit was again found over at RC Models ( LINK ), because TowerHobbies do not sell them.

Requires
N/A

T-Spec: $109.99
The T-Spec is a shaft driven 4wd, made from a tub-style chassis. It comes with a full ball bearing set, oil filled shocks and ball differentials in both front and rear.
The suspension is fully adjustable with ride height, camber and caster/toe-in adjustments.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Electrical Motor
190mm Body
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC

T-Spec Kit: $134.99
The T-Spec Kit, is the same as the above T-Spec. The difference is, that the kit comes with a 1600mAh 6-Cell battery, a 21T motor and a 190mm body (which I cant make out what car it is). But the rolling chassis is the same as the above.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Lexan paint for the body
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC