All makes and models have their lemons. I still have a Hyundai we bought used and it's about to turn over 300,000 miles, most of that ours. Your suggestion is interesting, it's one of the key factors in choosing it at the time (only one previous owner and never driven in the north).

Having said that, I wouldn't trust the newer ones. Know your makes, models, and years of production. Including why they changed things and the recalls of the generation. I considered once buying another one like mine I found with low mileage from the same year, as I think it wasn't a fluke, it was a golden era of engines for Hyundai (2006-2011). Just never needed two at a time.

Other makes have their great years too, so learn what to look for, or heavily reach the one in the lot before you even see it. Know what was good, what wasn't, what got recalled.

Stay away from the more modern cars. Way too many flashy things but no way to really repair or even do basic maintenance. Give me something more conventional any day and I can do something with most of it in the garage or yard.

Absolutely this. Just a note: Some surface rust is fine. But if it's rusty enough to cause holes and cracks, then it's a problem.

Older cars will be rusty to a certain degree, so being able to distinguish between surface rust and more severe rust is useful.

Surface rust can be scraped/brushed away and treated. If it's gotten to the point of compromisinh structural integrity, the only fix is cutting and welding in new steel, ir replacing entire parts, both of which can be very costly.