Finding the Best Seat on Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift officially opens at Universal Studios Hollywood today! Yesterday I had the chance to attend a media preview and the official ribbon cutting for the new, one-of-a-kind coaster.

We rode Fast & Furious a couple of times back in August during technical rehearsals, and generally my initial impressions about the smoothness and lack of nausea balancing with intensity still hold. I put this to the test during the preview by getting 15 rides on it, and still felt good while getting to try out every row on the ride. I also think I’ve narrowed in on some favorite seats. 

Front row of car 1, Dom’s Dodge Charger, obviously gives the great view every time the train is going forward. It also had maybe my favorite soundtrack, seemingly having louder skidding sounds on every drift than the other cars. Maybe that’s to reflect the significantly worse handling of a 1970 Dodge Charger compared to the others. I think it’s less intense than the back three cars, but the clear view makes it a top experience.

Cars 2 and 4, the Mazda RX-7 and Toyota Supra, respectively, give one of my top moments on the ride. Those two cars “drift” at the very top of the big launch up the hill (when you hit the nitrous). That drift is my top sensation on the ride, and you only get it on the even numbered cars.

To me, car 4 felt the most forceful during the big launch. Maybe it had a little more rattle, or maybe just because it’s at the back of the train it feels different, but that had the most punch to me. 

My impression also is that car 4 got the most airtime, especially noticeable as the cars are going backwards down the hill and up into the dive loop at the bottom, and then again as you crest the inverted stall at the top of the fastest launch. 

But airtime might actually be more about seat position than car. Greg Condon from Park Journey told me his favorite seat was car 2, back row, right side. And doing that as one of my last rides, it definitely pulls you out of your seat a lot. That leads me to think the real trick for air is always second row, right side, no matter what car.

So, I lean car 4 as my favorite, but it’s important to note that maybe the most remarkable thing about Hollywood Drift is that each row really gives a different experience. Talking to different people, everyone had different favorites. That includes car 3, the Nissan Skyline GT-R, which didn’t stand out as much to me, but still gave great rides. 

Jon Corfino, Vice President of Universal Creative, put it to me best: “The great part (of Hollywood Drift) is because you get different rotations from each one of the cars, you really have to experience all of them.”

There’s definitely no bad seat, and that was true even when there was a glitch. On one of my rides late in the day, in car 3, for some reason it didn’t drift at all. When I noticed the glitch I thought it might be uncomfortable without the intended controlled spins. But, don’t worry, even if something goes wrong and the spinning doesn’t work, it still feels good (and it was a fun change to go through the ride facing forward the whole time).

No matter where you sit, my favorite moment on the ride is when the cars turn to face each other and you get to wave to the folks in the car in front of or behind you, and every car gets to enjoy that.

Fast and Furious Hollywood Drift POV

Hollywood Drift opens to the public today, head to the Universal Studios website to get the full park hours. Also, check out our full podcast interview with Jon Corfino from back in July all about the development of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift. And when you get a chance to ride it, let us know what you think in the comments below, and tag us on social media @Coaster101 with your favorite car!