"Bent" or "wrecked" frame, ever a Camry consideration?

Yes frames can rust.

There is a difference between brand loyalty and brand stupidity--I feel the line is drawn at rusted frames.

You need to understand that there is NO frame in a "unit-body" constructed car such as Camry. There is a "sub-frame" for the front suspension and engine support. These stamped steel welded sub-frames are only as strong as the re-enforced sheet metal they are bolted to. Rust in areas where the subframe fixes to the body sheet metal WILL compromise the car's entire structural integrity.

From the sounds of your situation, it's past time to bury the car with military honors.

Yeah, well, "brand stupidity", as you've 'framed' it is one way of looking at it! :-)

Thing is, I've had near 14 years of steady reliability from this vehicle, and, as a result, it has 'earned' a certain amount loyalty. I would think that true brand stupidity would happen with 'repeat' purchases of the same clunker brand, despite that brand having given nothing but trouble, purchase after purchase. Like a guy on his fifth Chevette.

I've never owned a 'second' or 'third' Camry. Only one. And it ain't dead yet, with 250,000 kms.

My fault, though, for an unclear message. I guess I just wanted to know what the signs of the end might be when it came to an underbody suffering rust cancer.

Thanks to you and the others for your input, humorous or otherwise!

I saw a new Vw rear end a parked rusted old LTD once, What a suprise the ltd trunk was in the backseat the vw was pushed in but not destroyed as was the ford Ltd. Besides brake,fuel lines and suports loose strength,

I don't know about your rust problem (I live in the desert, not a bit of rust to be found), but my 93 camry was a crash salvage that was put on a frame stretcher to straighten it out after a serious crash. It moves fine. M