u/MoGb1

Lazy take but when I watch modern FD, DM, even D1GP, I hate the way the cars look when drifting. I hate how unsmooth the transitions are and how fast they are. They don't feel like cars anymore. Just robots that are perfectly sideways at the most perfect angle in the most robotic way. The tire smoke is too much and the cars honestly, might be *too* powerful if there is such a thing. It's like they perfected the engineering, and somehow that took all the fun out of it for me.

Grassroots drifting is still wonderful, and older D1GP, like pre 2014, was genuinely a joy to watch. They were high power drift machines but they still felt like real cars.

I know this take is very hand-wavy but Ive felt this for years now and was curious about other's thoughts.

Thanks in advance. First-time 4Runner buyer looking for a sanity check.

Looking at a 1995 4Runner SR5 V6 4WD 5-speed, 415k miles, California truck. Price around 5.2k. I’m trying to decide if this is still too much money/mileage even though the truck is very clean. Only considering bc it looks this clean for this high-mileage, must've been cared for. I DIY work on cars, repair, and modify them. I'm in my mid 20s.

Work/condition:

Heads, timing belt, water pump, belt tensioner, manifold gasket reportedly done at 200k.
Heads are aftermarket, brand unknown.
Smog passed in January, EGR replaced.
New BFG all-terrain tires.
Front calipers/pads, brake fluid, tie rod ends, tune-up, fan belts, recent oil change, recent alignment.
Clutch was adjusted upward because engagement was previously too close to the floor by the old owner.
Body/interior are very clean. Paint is excellent.
Frame rails looked good. No structural rust I could find, only surface rust on underside of rockers (no flakes/cracks).
Drove smooth and quiet on the highway.
4HI/4LO seemed to engage and indicator lights came on.
Radio/antenna/rear window worked.

Issues:

415k miles.
Major head/timing/water pump work was done 200k+ miles ago, so some of that due again now.
Valve cover leak.
Front end feels soft, probably needs shocks.
Downshifting into 3rd requires double-clutching. Upshifts fine, other gears fine, reverse fine (no need to go into 1st).
Warm restart issue: after driving and sitting 10–20 min, it may take 2–3 key turns to start. Thinking starter contacts/heat soak/cables/grounds/clutch safety/ignition switch.

He said you probably won't have to touch the car for anything until 450k.

Use case: I want a fun manual 4Runner for long summer road trips all over California+PNW. I can DIY work, but I don’t want a constant project. Don't wanna be broken down in the middle of nowhere.

Backstory:

Current seller has had it about 4 months. Previous owner/friend owned it since very early in its life, around 1997, and maintained it for decades. Previous owner passed away, current seller is friend who took it over because the wife doesn’t drive stick. Both previous owner and current seller are/were mechanics. Current seller also owns a 1993 SR5 V6 and seems knowledgeable/honest.

Questions:

Is this worth considering around $5k?
How concerned would you be about aftermarket heads on a 3VZ-E?
Does the warm restart sound like a common starter/contact issue?
Would you road-trip this after a baseline service, or pass due to mileage?

Professional Drifting doesnt look beautiful anymore

'95 SR5 V6 with 415k miles, looks clean? Worth 5-6k? Replaced heads at 200k miles