It has to do more about the drivetrain than suspension.
Drifting requires LSD in any drift car.
In case of Impreza, get rear LSD and possibly CUSCO tarmac gear for the center diff. It'll make the torque split of 35/65.
You can make the car RWD too.

Softer suspension is easier for beginners because it's easier to shift weight, but as you get better at it, stiffer suspension will make the car snap really fast.

 

You want to drift with a GC8?

Just put the stickiest tires you can find on the front, and then leave the stock RE-92's on the rear. Guaranteed drift in wet and dry...

For better results, try michelin green X's.

 

drift for life =D i "drifted" in my stock gda...but then idk depends on what you consider drifting O_o

 

I can drift my car as it is. Although, i did a more "Initial-D" style drift when I had more understeer than I do now...

Note: All of Kostamojens drifting was done on a closed course under strict supervision (Autocross )

 

Definition of drift is not clear but if you want Initail D style which drift through a couple of turns continuously, then you'll need a proper set up (rear LSD). To me, drifting is turning into apex with oversteer. Sliding out after the apex is just sliding. Other people may disagree but there is no answer to this so it doesn't matter.

This movie is a good example of Impreza drift
http://www1.plala.or.jp/imf/drift/mo..._13imf_free.rm
It's drifting all the time on the track. I don't think it's gripping even a second.

Unfortunately I haven't seen anybody on i-club with Cusco tarmac gear... The info is here, in Japanese though
http://www.cusco.co.jp/02ctlg/4lsd/lsd_tg.jpg
This or Driver's Control Center Diff (DCCD) will make drift a lot easier.

You can get the tail out in stock form, but you won't be able to continue the oversteer into the next turn without LSD. That's the difference between just slide or drifting (to me).

You'll probably find it easier to just start from 240SX or AE86 to drift. Impreza is not a good drift car because it's AWD and takes a lot of money to do it.

 

another movie, this is what I consider drift
http://www1.plala.or.jp/imf/drift/mov/02_4_24imf.rm

One thing you have to be careful about the Cusco tarmac gear is.. it's not LSD so you'll need front and rear LSD. Stock viscous center diff is weak LSD but this one is open.

 

If you are serious.....

If you have adjustable sus. then adj. the rears stiffer than you normally would. Also consider altering your spring rates that way also if you are serious about drifting. Might or might not be streetable. Depending on your final set-up.

An LSD is mandatory for drifting. Something you can rebuild. Because you KNOW you will rebuild.

And about using stock crap tires for drifting, good idea to keep the cost down for when you are begining, but like all good drifters, you will need/want to to get stickier tires all away around so you can have better control. Look at every drifter in the D1 championships.

Also you will ulitmately want to up grade to wider rims, to increase track width and increase control. This all comes with skill and time. You dont see skinny-*** wheels on any of the drift cars comming out of Japan, even the hatchi's.

Of course, I.M.Humble.O.

-scu

 

It's not me BTW, I found the movie on Japanese website. They had more before but looks like they are taken down already. I don't see many drifting Impreza movie around.

This guy uses HKS hyper coilovers
he says it's harsh on street but very easy to shift weight on track.

 

The one accurate thing about initial D and AWD drifting is that it takes pushing the car 100% to drift through a corner. I had to go into the corner too hot to actually do a drift and not just a powerslide like everyone does and thinks they are drifting... (I have a video of my car "powersliding": http://allaboutspeed.net/DriftingL.wmv )
Ive only done a real drift right once, attempted it twice but missed the exit of the corner the 2nd time, but I could reproduce it with a simular corner. No way would I try outside of an autocross... You have to push the car way to hard, it would be stupid to try on the street. And yes, I dont have any LSD at all and if you saw what I did in person (I WISH it got recorded! ARG) everyone would agree it was a real drift and would be aplauding after seeing it Oh well...

 

How did I know you would post that

Shin did you want the other set of RE-92's I got?

 

Of course!

There's a test and tune this sunday right? MMmmm test and drift...