Bit of bother here, we're getting short power cuts (better start getting used to them i suppose as we shut our old reliable power generation sites down) here and one such occured half way through typing this post..:-)

HJ's review hopefully tells you which years and engines are best avoided.

Obviously on checking a car out you will look for signs of oil being burnt, whether the subject engines show their oil thirst visually such as a worn engine would i don't know, hopefully someone else can give you some pointers.

Agree Bazza, could be said that Mazda petrols are better cars than Toyotas, though Mazdas can rust badly around the sills and rear arches, though any car can rust if neglected by an increasingly bone idle motoring public who can't be bothered to hose out the caked on salt from underneath now and again.