Highlights
- Racing games have evolved from their rudimentary beginnings and now feature open-world mechanics that allow players to explore their environment fully.
- The Need for Speed franchise, particularly Need for Speed: Payback, is highly praised for its generous car list and customization options.
- The game features several drag cars that are worth the investment, including the 1955 Chevy Bel Air, Ford GT, Lamborghini Aventador, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Ford Mustang Boss 302, BMW M3 E46, Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Volkswagen Beetle, Nissan GT-R Premium, and Acura NSX.
Many hardcore gamers consider Gran Trak 10 the first "true" racing game to be released, while others consider Space Race as the original inspiration of all modern racing games. But, whether Gran Trak 10 or Space Race were the first racing games, one thing is sure: Racing games have come a long way from rudimentary lines and dots. Today, racing games are more than just tracks. Many feature open-world mechanics, allowing players to explore their environment to the fullest.
One game series that remains in the hearts of gamers (especially during the Playstation 2 era) is the Need for Speed franchise. These games allow players to customize their vehicles while speeding down busy streets. Need for Speed: Payback is often regarded as one of the best NFS in recent years. It has hundreds of cars to pick from, ranging from Drag to off-road cars. With so many Drag cars to choose from, players will want to know which ones are worth the investment.
Updated October 20, 2023, by C.M Edwards: The Need for Speed franchise is the apex predator when it comes to racing simulators. With over fourteen games in the franchise, EA releases the total package, pushing the boundary with every release. Need for Speed Payback is one of the most praised in the series, and contains one of the most generous car lists. Throughout the game, players can find their perfect ride to take into a number of events such as, runner, drift, and drag. Drag racing is a pure test of speed, and players will need the perfect tune with the perfect car to beat the competition. Here are more of the best drag cars in Need for Speed Payback.
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10 1955 Chevy Bel Air
Chevy is one of the kings of mechanical engineering when it comes to top of the line vehicles. For fans of Motorsports and car enthusiasts, the golden age of cars was the best age. During its time, the Chevy Bel Air was a king on the road among big names such as Cadillac and Ford.
In Need For Speed Pay Back, the Chevy Bel Air is a classic that can dominate the road with the right setup. For a little over $44,000, players can take to the street with more class than anyone else on the finish line with 140 horsepower at stock.
9 Ford GT
In its day, the Ford GT stood at the apex of the racing world after the cutthroat battle between the car mega companies Ferrari and Ford. The original Ford GT is still thought of as the crown jewel of the For Motor Company and the most recent design can leave the new school of vehicles in the dust.
In Need for Speed Payback, the 2017 model of the Ford GT has a top speed of 200 miles per hour, and can rgo from 0 to 60 in under three seconds. While this speed demon is pricey, it is a top of the line car for straightaways.
8 Lamborghini Aventador
In drag racing, acceleration is king, and there is no greater acceleration than that of high-end exotic cars that take engineering to another level. One of the top names in racing is that of the Lamborghini line of vehicles, which have risen to the top of luxury cars. They also possess professional levels of speed.
The Lamborghini Aventador is a nearly unrivaled vehicle, with a top speed of 220 miles per hour and a 0 to 60 of two seconds. With the right setup, the Aventador will be at the finish line by the time the competition switches gears in drag races.
7 Porche 911 GT3 RS
The Porche line of vehicles is synonymous with speed, and have been with nearly every iteration of the vehicles since the line started. With a sleek but small chassis, the Porche 911 GT3 RS is built for the track. It can outperform almost any competitor when properly tuned and built for the occasion.
Reaching a top speed of nearly 200 miles per hour with stock parts, the right setup can have the Porche GT3 reaching top speed in two seconds flat when outfitted with top of the line gear.
6 Ford Mustang Boss 302
At first glance, the Ford Mustang Boss 302 seems like the ideal Offroad car since it has 5.0 Airtime and 4.4 Landing. However, this American muscle car can also compete well in Drag races. That's because the Ford Mustang Boss 302 has over 200 HP and a Top Speed of 131.
But, the real reason players should consider this car one of the best drag cars in Need for Speed: Payback is its cheap price tag ($78,250). So, while other Drag cars outperform the Ford Mustang Boss 302, its low price and decent stats will aid players in early drag races, allowing them to save money for better cars.
5 BMW M3 E46
The BMW M3 E46 made its debut on the small screen on Need for Speed: Most Wanted, but to NFS fans' shock, it wasn't a drivable car. Fortunately, players could drive the BMW M3 with the release of Need for Speed: Prostreet, which showed the gaming community its potential as a Grip and Drift car (even though it lost its thunder as a Drift car in Need for Speed: Heat). It wouldn't be until Payback that players would test out the BMW M3 as a drag race car.
The BMW M3 E46 has a Top Speed of 176 and can reach 0-60 in 4.20 seconds. While players could purchase the BMW M3 E92 since it has slightly better stats, it isn't necessary to spend the extra $12,000, as the BMW M3 E46 can get the job done. It would be better for players to use that extra cash to purchase Outlaw Performance cards to enhance the BMW's Speed and Nitrous rating.
4 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
This fifth-generation Camaro model from Chevrolet is relatively new to the NFS franchise and has only appeared in four games (Need for Speed: No Limits, Need for Speed (2015), Need for Speed: Payback, and Need for Speed: Edge). The version that players can drive in Need for Speed: Payback is by far the best.
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While the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 excels as a Runner (a car specializing in losing the cops), it can still be considered a powerful Drag race-type car. For starters, it can reach 0-60 in under 4 seconds, while having a top speed of 177. Players should use Nextech Performance Cars on their Chevrolet Camaro Z28 to increase its top speed further.
3 Volkswagen Beetle
There are five Derelicts cars players can obtain in Need for Speed: Payback, each specializing in a specific type of race. To unlock a Derelict vehicle, players must obtain five parts found across Fortune Valley that belong to the Derelict they wish to build. The Volkswagen Beetle specializes in drag races, so players who want to improve their drag racing skills will want to unlock it first.
The Volkswagen Beetle may only have 101 HP and Top Speed, but with the correct Performance Cards (preferably Chidori), players can boost its HP and Top Speed to the max. On top of that, Derelict cars have an additional stat that increases their overall speed (SpeedX), making them an absolute demon at any type of racing.
2 Nissan GT-R Premium
The Nissan GT-R Premium is among the best drag cars in Need for Speed: Payback, mainly due to having 563 HP and a Top Speed of 196 without any Performance Cards (the equivalent of Ultimate Parts from Need for Speed: Heat). That means players can easily win any mid-tier Drag race, as long as they hit Perfect Shifts during the race.
The biggest issue with the Nissan GT-R Premium has nothing to do with its performance, but rather its price tag. It costs $143,150 to purchase after completing the "Double or Nothing" mission in Chapter 4: Open Skies. The best way to earn cash fast is by completing the Hyperspace Loop race, since it has the shortest racetrack in the game.
1 Acura NSX
Undoubtedly, the Acura NSX is the best drag race vehicle in Need for Speed: Payback. It has the best Response time in the game (4.1), and Response is one of the most important factors in a drag race (aside from Top Speed and Horsepower) since it determines how easy it is to perform a Perfect Shift. The best part is that players can unlock the Acura NSX as early as Chapter 4, but they'll need to be ready to drop $156,350 to purchase it.
Players should aim to build a 6x Chidori Performance Card set up as it'll give a significant bonus to Speed and Acceleration. Additionally, players should look for Performance Cards with a rating of 16 or higher. Performance Cards with Head Bonuses will also benefit the Acura NSX, but only if a player wants to min-max their vehicle.
