Okay. I come under fire often for defending Yok. So, I thought I'd explain it a bit to help everyone understand it. Plus I just want to clear up some misconceptions.
disclaimer: I will not say (anymore) that Yok is the best. "Best" is relative to personal opinion. And, I, as many people here know that drifting is 80%+ driver over chassis anyway. So, if you ask me if yok is the best, I'll simply say it's MY favorite and a favorite amoung a lot of the top American drifters (both 1:1 drivers and those top RC drifters).

Now then: When I first got into rc drifting, I honestly bought Yok cuz their cars looked the best. No lie. I was overseas (at war) and I knew I needed something that was RTR out of the box. I checked out a few other kits and never liked ANY of them because the cars didn't look as detailed as Yokomos. That's the honest to God truth of why I bought it.

I've been through a few other chassis since then. I bought an HPI used (I'm assuming a Sprint 2) a while back while I was in Atlanta. I then sold it and bought a Traxxas 4tec(still ahve it) from a buddy of mine. Then, I bought a TC4(still have it) from another friend. And hands down, I've had more fun and enjoyed my stock (well, it was stock) yokomo more than all of those other cars. And, I've driven a few others. My Yok is the most fun to me. I don't really think about the technical aspect. I just drive and enjoy it. And my yok is what I enjoy most.

I've yet to HAVE to replace anything on my Yokomo (side story at the bottom). I upgraded the motor and went to stage 1 but that was more or less because of an upcoming D1 event. My traxxas is in pieces in a box in our storage and my TC4 now serves as a shelf chassis for bodies when I wanna take pics. The Yokomo has stood the test of time.

In addition to that, a lot of guys that I meet, talk to, drift with (including some of my team), use Yokomo. They don't use it cuz they can't get anything else. They use it cuz they like it. (sidenote: the reigning East Coast D1RC Champion is currently running a TT01. Just thought I'd throw that in there to show that it's more chassis than driver). I use it cuz I like it.

Lastly (probably) Yokomo has had the BEST customer service of ANY rc company I've ever dealt with. That includes ALL of my LHS. Now, one of my LHS's are pretty cool and what not, but they know little to nothing of rc drifting or its culture. But, Yokomo has been the most accomodating ever. When I FIRST got my Yok, I was running it..in the desert, and the motor siezed. I called Yokomo and they told me to send it it. They replaced the motor, esc, servo, and sent me 2 new sets of wheels all for th price of shipping TO them(which was free cuz I was in the military). When I had questions on parts, wondering what certain parts did and when was a good time to upgrade, questions about motors, spur and pinion combos, spring rates, anything, they were so helpful. Not that I couldn't ask someone, but the rest of my team is 1.5hrs away and the rest of our drift community is in other states, so it was just as easy to call them as it was to ask someone. But, my point is, they're customer service is outstanding.

I know I said lastly, but there's more. Sorry. THEY SUPPORT THE SCENE!!! It takes nothing to make a replica body or take a touring chassis and outfit it with "special drift parts" and call it a drift kit. However, Yok has liscensed D1 replicas. They support the D1RC series by providing parts and sponsorships. They use the D1 to help promote the rc scene and vice versa. I mean, to be honest, as much as I love drifting, I probably would've never gone to the FIRST EVER EAST COAST D1 EVENT if it wasn't for the fact that we were going to be drifting there. I've seen Formula D in Atlanta and Charlotte and had planned on seeing D1 in Irwindale at some point, so it wasn't really a big deal to me. But, now that I feel like I'm a part of that more than b4 (since there's no amateur series for 1:1 drift on this coast) I'm more apt to go to an event than I would if I was JUST a spectator. And, now that I've gotten to meet and actually chill with some of the best, it makes the whole thing even MORE appealing. And that's through Yokomo pushing it. HPI doesn't get involved like that. Team Associated doesn't do it. No one else does it. You won't see any other banners on the 1:1 cars that most of wish we had other than Yokomo. And while that's not really a reason for me to stick with their stuff, that's just something I'd like to point out.
I kinda feel like other companies are trying to exploit and rape our scene cuz they have no ties to what birthed us, which is 1:1 drifting. And they don't seem to WANT any. And I don't like that. They're not even pusing to get involved in 1:1 (retact that. I think HPI MIGHT be trying) It's kinda how everyone jumped on the bandwagon of sport compact/import tuning after F&F came out and the industry became shifted from being a bunch of folks who came together to tune cars and share that bond to a bunch of kids seeing who had the highest wing, most wild body kit, most APC parts, or who could say JDM the most.

Call me a purist. Call me crazy. Call me a nerd, or whatever. But that's why I like Yokomo and swear by them. That and I have no reason NOT to. I don't mind new people coming into the scene. Matter of fact, I love it. And since DRIFT is getting so much exposure from these various "drift kits" then thumbs up for that. But I HATE bandwagoneers. I'm talking about people who see this, say it's cool, and only wanna be down cuz it's the latest trend. That, I DON'T like. If you wanna get into, learn it, help it grow, more power to you. If you just wanna be cool, EFF OFF!!

I know I kinda went off the main point of why I like Yokomo so much, but it's in there. So, if you see a post of me sweating them, THAT'S why.

I have no problem with you saying that Yok is the best. Like you stated and proved that drifting is more driver than car. Anyone who asks "Which is the best?" is not really asking if there is one dominate force in RC drifting, they are looking for opinions. Anyone who craps on you for saying that Yok is the best needs a head check. A lot of folks who get bent out of shape when some one mentions a particular brand as being the best are just defending thier purchase of another brand.

another fine point you make....

as a Yok dealer of course I would only have good things to say, but the customer service is top notch and they are always more than willing to support the scene in any way they can. Being a new drift shop, manufactures were not so willing to work with us in the beginning, all besides Yokomo who have been more than helpful from the business end, to our customers and even my drivers.

Take the top 4 drift car manufactures, line up their best models and they will ALL get sideways, in the end your style and preference will determine what is the BEST car for you.

Tamiya parts are plentiful, HPI is quality, XXX is hard to get in the US, Yokomo is expensive and not stocked well in the US ( we are trying to change this).

HUH?

i must say i do like the look of the Amemiya RX7 that Yokomo makes. I would have no problem buying that kit for the look of that car alone.