Drifting in Need for Speed ​​2015: a complete guide from basic techniques to advanced techniques

Need for Speed 2015 - this is not just racing, but a whole world of street battles, where drift plays a key role. It helps not only to overtake rivals on turns, but also to earn additional points for upgrading your car. However, many players encounter difficulties: the car either skids too sharply or does not obey the steering wheel at all. In this article we will look at all drift mechanics - from choosing a car to the intricacies of control on different surfaces.

Drift Feature NFS 2015 lies in realistic physics, where not only pressing buttons is important, but also understanding the behavior of the machine. There is no “magic combination” here - it all depends on speed, steering angle, drive type and even weather conditions. If you want to do more than just slide sideways, but do it with style and efficiency, get ready to dive into the details.

We will not limit ourselves to basic advice like “press the handbrake.” Instead, you will learn how adjust the suspension for a stable drift, which cars are better suited for drifting, and how to use the environment (curbs, walls, other cars) to maintain a slide. We’ll also look at typical mistakes that cause many players to lose control in the middle of a turn.

What cars are best for drifting in NFS 2015

Not all cars in the game are equally good for drifting. For example, Nissan 240SX or Mazda RX-7 are considered classics of the genre due to their rear-wheel drive and balanced weight, but even among them there are leaders. It is important to consider three key parameters:

• 🔧 Drive type: Rear wheel drive (RWD) cars are the best choice for beginners, as they predictably skid. All-wheel drive (AWD) require more skill, but provide stability at high speeds.
• ⚖️ Weight distribution: Vehicles with weight shifted towards the rear axle (e.g. Nissan Silvia S15), they are easier to skid, but they are more difficult to control.
• 🛠️ Tuning options: Some cars like BMW M3 E46, allow you to deeply customize the suspension and differential, which is critical for advanced drifting.

Among the top options for drifting in NFS 2015 players most often highlight:

Car model	Drive type	Difficulty level	The best drift tracks
Nissan 240SX (S13)	RWD	Lightweight	Mountain serpentines, industrial zone
Mazda RX-7 (FD)	RWD	Medium	City rings, port docks
BMW M3 (E46)	RWD	Complex	Highways with long curves
Subaru BRZ	RWD	Lightweight	Narrow streets, parking lots
Ford Mustang GT	RWD	Medium	Highway with sharp turns

Important: in NFS 2015, the drift characteristics of the car greatly depend on the level of pumping. Even a weak car at first glance, after upgrading the suspension and engine, can become an ideal tool for skidding.

⚠️ Warning: If you play on a controller, some cars (eg. Nissan Skyline R34) may require additional adjustment of steering sensitivity in the control menu. Without this, they will overreact to turns.

Basic drifting technique: how to get into a drift and hold it

Before attempting complex drift chains, there are three key elements to master:

1. Initiating a skid - the moment when the car begins to slide. B NFS 2015 this can be done in several ways:
   • 🔄 Handbrake (button ◊ on PlayStation or X on Xbox) is the easiest method for beginners. Press it as you enter a turn while turning the steering wheel.
   • 🚗 Throttle release + turn — release the gas before turning and turn the steering wheel sharply. Suitable for rear wheel drive vehicles.
   • ⚡ "Clutch Kick" — quickly press the clutch (if you play with a manual transmission) while simultaneously adding gas. Requires practice, but gives the most controlled drift.

Skid control - keeping the car sliding. Here it is important to balance the gas and counter-steering (turning the steering wheel in the direction of the skid).

Exit from drift — smooth leveling of the machine. Sharply releasing the gas or turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction will lead to a stall.

For example, on Nissan 240SXThe specific sequence of actions for a 90 degree turn looks like this:

1. You approach a turn at a speed of ~80 km/h.
2. Press the handbrake for a split second while simultaneously turning the steering wheel to the left.
3. Release the handbrake, add gas (approximately 50-70% of the maximum) and begin counter-steering to the right.
4. Correct with gas: if the car begins to level out, add gas; if the skid is too strong, back off slightly.
5. Before exiting the turn, smoothly align the steering wheel and add gas.

The mistake most beginners make is counter-steering too early or too late. If you start turning the steering wheel too early, the car will simply spin out. If it's too late, you'll fly off the track.

The initial speed is adjusted to the angle of rotation |

The handbrake is used only for initiation, not for holding|

Gas is added smoothly, without jerking |

Anti-steering begins immediately after slipping into a skid|

Exiting a turn begins with a smooth alignment of the steering wheel-->

Car settings for perfect drifting

Even the most "drift" car in NFS 2015 will behave unpredictably if not configured properly. Key parameters to pay attention to:

• 🔧 Suspension:
  • Hardness: Set the front suspension softer than the rear (for example, 5/10 front and 7/10 rear). This will help the car skid easier.
  • Clearance: Lower the machine 1-2 levels below standard. Low center of gravity improves handling.
• ⚙️ Differential:
  • Lock: For rear wheel drive vehicles, set to 60-80%. This will help the wheels rotate at different speeds, which is critical for drifting.
  • Reconfiguration: Increase Acceleration up to 70-90% for better skidding.
• 🛞 Tires:
  • Use Drift or Semi-Slick tires. They provide less grip, which makes sliding easier.
  • Pressure: reduce the rear pressure by 0.2-0.3 bar relative to the front.

Setting example for Mazda RX-7:

Suspension:
- Front stiffness: 6/10
- Rear stiffness: 8/10
- Ground clearance: -2 (from standard)

Differential:
- Blocking: 75%
- Acceleration: 85%

Tires:
- Type: Drift
- Pressure (front/rear): 2.1 / 1.8 bar

Don't forget that the settings depend on your driving style. If you prefer aggressive drifting with wide angles, increase the differential lock to 85-90%. For smooth gliding, 60-70% is enough.

⚠️ Attention: after changing the settings, be sure to test the car on a straight track. If it starts to skid spontaneously when accelerating, reduce the differential lock or increase the stiffness of the rear suspension.

Advanced drifting techniques: from "feint" to tandem

When the basic technique is mastered, you can move on to more complex techniques that will help you score more points and look stylish:

• 🔄 Feint Drift: Quickly move the steering wheel left and right before entering a turn to shift the weight of the car and initiate a skid without the handbrake. Operates at high speeds.
• 🚗 Tandem drift: Sliding against another car (or wall). B NFS 2015 this gives bonus points, but requires precise control.
• ⚡ "Manji" (Manji Drift): An abrupt change in drift direction from left to right (or vice versa) without loss of speed. Used on S-curves.
• 💨 Drift with throttle: Alternating short presses of the gas and brake to maintain a high sliding speed. Effective on long turns.

To perform "manji" on Subaru BRZ follow this sequence:

1. Enter the left turn in the standard way (handbrake + gas).
2. In the middle of the turn, sharply release the gas and turn the steering wheel to the right.
3. Immediately add gas and counter-steer to the left to initiate a skid in the other direction.
4. Balance with gas so as not to lose speed.

Tandem drift is the most difficult, as it requires taking into account the trajectory of the other car. B NFS 2015 You can practice on tracks with AI opponents, adapting to their line of movement. Main rule: don't try to overtake tandem partner - this will lead to a collision. Instead, synchronize with his speed and drift angle.

How to score maximum points for drifting?

In NFS 2015, drift points depend on four factors:

1. Sliding length — the longer you hold the skid, the more points you get.

2. Drift angle — maximum bonuses are given by skidding at 45-60 degrees.

3. Speed — high-speed drift brings more points.

4. Proximity to facilities - Driving close to walls, other cars or curbs increases the score multiplier.

Combine these elements to get an "Epic" rating. (Epic) and maximum bonuses.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced players sometimes make mistakes that interfere with clean drifting. Here are the most common:

• 🚫 Countersteering too early: Many people begin to turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid even before the car actually begins to slide. This causes the car to simply turn around.
• 🚫 Sudden release of gas: If you suddenly release the gas in the middle of a drift, the car will lose inertia and the drift will be interrupted. The gas should flow smoothly, even if you need to slow down slightly.
• 🚫 Ignoring trajectory: Drifting is not a chaotic sliding, but a controlled movement in an arc. If you don't plan your line ahead of time, you'll either hit a wall or go off the track.
• 🚫 Incorrect camera setting: Third-person view from a close angle makes it difficult to judge the skid angle. Use the "Boom" camera (Bumper) or "Far" (Far) for a better view.

To avoid these mistakes, try the following exercise:

1. Choose a straight route with one smooth turn (for example, an area near the port).
2. Enter the corner at the same speed (for example, 70 km/h) and try to maintain the skid for as long as possible.
3. Record at what stage you lose control and adjust the gas or steering.
4. Repeat until you can make it through the turn without falling off.

Another common problem is insufficient skidding angle. If the car slides almost parallel to the road, the points will be minimal. To increase the angle:

• Increase the differential lock.
• Reduce rear tire pressure.
• Use a more aggressive approach to the turn (for example, with a preliminary jerk of the steering wheel).

Drift on different surfaces: asphalt, gravel, wet asphalt

B NFS 2015 Drift physics changes depending on the type of surface. What works on dry asphalt may fail completely on gravel. Let's look at the features of each type:

Coverage	Drift Features	Recommended Settings	Turning speed
Dry asphalt	High grip, skidding requires more effort to initiate.	Rigid rear suspension, differential locking 70-80%.	70-90 km/h
Wet asphalt	The grip is lower, the car skids easier, but is more difficult to control.	Soft suspension, 60-70% blocking, tires Drift.	50-70 km/h
Gravel	Very low grip, the car slips even without the handbrake. Constant steering correction is required.	Soft suspension, minimal blocking (40-50%), high tire pressure.	40-60 km/h
Ice/snow	Almost complete lack of grip. Drifting is only possible at minimum speeds.	Maximum soft suspension, blocking 30-40%.	30-50 km/h

Especially important on gravel and ice smooth throttle control. Pressing the accelerator sharply will cause the car to spin out. Instead, use short pulses of gas (called "feathering" - feathering) to maintain glide.

Effective on wet asphalt "double skid":

1. Initiate a skid in the standard way (handbrake + turn).
2. When the car begins to level out, sharply release the gas and perform a short countersteer.
3. Immediately add gas and return the steering wheel to its original position to stall again.

This allows you to maintain a skid on long turns without losing speed.

⚠️ Attention: on gravel and ice, turn off the stabilization system (SC Off in the car settings), otherwise it will constantly “choke” the skid.

How to practice: the best routes and modes for training

NFS 2015 offers several modes and locations ideal for honing your drifting:

• 🏁 Drift Trials: Special tests where you need to score the maximum number of points for a skid. Best suited for beginners as the trails are short and predictable.
• 🚗 Free Roam: Ideal for experimenting with settings and techniques. Recommended locations:
  • Port docks - smooth surface, long turns.
  • Mountain serpentines are good for practicing “manja”.
  • Industrial zone - lots of walls for tandem drifting.
• 🏆 Drift Events: Competitions with AI, where you need to overtake your opponents, gaining points for skidding. Good for practicing high-speed drifting.

For an effective workout, follow this plan:

1. Week 1: Learn basic techniques Nissan 240SX in mode Drift Trials. The goal is to consistently score 50,000+ points per run.
2. Week 2: Move to more complex machines (BMW M3, Mazda RX-7) and practice advanced techniques ("feint", re-gas) in Free Roam.
3. Week 3: Participate in Drift Events, competing with AI. The goal is to win by 20,000+ points.
4. Week 4: Master tandem drift and “manji” on mountain tracks.

Don't forget to record your best runs (in NFS 2015 there is a repeat function) and analyze errors. Pay attention to:

• The moment of initiation of a skid - is it too early or late?
• Slipping angle - is it big enough for maximum points?
• Trajectory - how smoothly do you follow the arc?

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions about drifting in NFS 2015

Why doesn't my car skid even if I press the handbrake?

Probable reasons:

1. The speed entering the corner is too high. Try letting off the gas early.
2. Rear suspension too stiff. Reduce the hardness by 1-2 points.
3. High pressure in rear tires. Reduce it by 0.2-0.3 bar.
4. The stabilization system is turned on (SC On). Disable it in the machine settings.

Also check if you are using a 4WD vehicle (AWD) - they require a different technique for initiating a skid.

How to score "Epic!" (Epic) for drifting?

To rate "Epic!" you need:

• Maintain the skid for at least 3-4 seconds.
• Maintain a skidding angle of 45-60 degrees.
• Sliding at speeds above 60 km/h (on asphalt).
• Add multipliers: Drive close to walls, other cars or curbs.

Combine these elements. For example, a long drift at a high angle next to a wall is almost guaranteed to give an "Epic!"

What is the easiest car to drift in NFS 2015?

Best for beginners:

1. Nissan 240SX (S13) — predictable, easy to customize.
2. Subaru BRZ — stable, forgives mistakes in control.
3. Toyota AE86 Trueno — light, holds skid well.

All of them are rear-wheel drive, have balanced weight distribution and do not require complex settings to start drifting.

Is it possible to drift in all-wheel drive cars (AWD)?

Yes, but the technique is different:

• Initiating a skid requires more effort - often you need to use a "clutch kick" or sharply release the gas.
• It is more difficult to maintain a skid due to the fact that all four wheels are trying to “catch” the road.
• It is recommended to increase the differential lock to 80-90% and use a soft rear suspension.

The best AWD-drift cars: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

How to drift on the keyboard? Is this real?

Yes, but more difficult than on a gamepad. Tips:

• Use the keys W (gas), A/D (steering), Space (handbrake).
• Adjust the steering sensitivity in the control menu (reduce it for smoothness).
• To initiate a skid, press the handbrake very briefly (0.1-0.2 seconds).
• Use "smooth gas" - instead of holding W press it with short presses.

It is recommended to start with Nissan 240SX and disable stabilization (SC Off).