2004 Camry LE

Rust on a 3 year old car with 51k miles? Doesn't this seem like a warning sign?

Look for the ABS Pump. I believe for that model it would be under the hood at the right front. It is a large (10 inch by 10 inch) device with multiple brake lines attached to the top and an electrcial connector on the side. Or you could look for electrical wiring running to each of the front hubs to the wheel speed sensors. Or you could do the parking lot test - lock up the brakes and if you flat spot the tires, it does not have ABS (this might piss off the dealer - if you do it on dirt it probably won't ruin the tires).

The idea that the car has rust after only 3 years would make me worry. Are you sure it isn't a car that has been in a flood somewhere?

Ed

Thanks for your quick feedback ...

The rust has me worried a tad too, but they are three literally pinpoint size spots at the lid of the trunk close above the license plate area, where that bright shiny thingie is. Looks like they might have hit it with something they were carryign maybe and chipped ther paint.

I look around the whole car, wheelwells and the lower section and underneath the car to see any rust or chipped paint or rust starting off. it looked very clean to my eyes, and I did look very carefully. The place I am buying is a reputable Toyota Dealership and they have known me over ten years. I asked if it was in any kind of accident (They produced a report which basically says it wasn't flooded, branded not in an accident etc ..I guess it is our version of carfax or it was a carfax report, did not pay attention to where it was from), if the engine had sludge and if they had checked, flood, repairs and so on ...I was assured that the car was in fine shape and the salesman stated that they never sell damaged repaired cars. Sooo I have my fingers crossed on the rust issue. I also checked the interior of the car, and there was no rust I could see ....

I am waiting to hear if I am approved for credit ....:) If I find something really wrong with it, I am pretty sure that they will allow me to get my deposit back.

The factory deck lid is pretty rust-resistant, even if it is chipped. If a chip is rusting, I would check to see if the deck lid is a replacement one.