New, with Questions....and a pic!

[DJ1979]

howdy,
I recently bought my mechanics dads Ed wagon. My 87 camry wound past 330k no problems (ever) but a hand injury means I need an auto, so the air, steer 5sp Camry Wagon has been retired. Now, my mechanic said his dad was getting on and the ED was a bit big and now a bit rough, but serviced and ready to go, auto air steer LPG and a RWC for $2k, i was there.
Day one, Mazda 3 reverses in takes out my (undamaged) drives back door.
Day two, side radiator carks it after 500ks in 38 degree weather with the air con on. the air had just been rebuilt and cooling system flushed, so i blame flushing the gunk that was holding it together.
Day 14, I rear ended a camira who suddenly changed her mind about entering traffic as i was doing a second head check... cracked headlight, skewwy bumper. She neds new bumper, tailights, bootlid.... hell just write it off - i think i did the community a service....
Day 21, some bloody hose form the thermostat to somewhere else hard to get to splits and I spend 7 hours between help at the Western Ring road Maccas.
Day 25 (today) hose is fixed, and 3 others have burst.
Is it an omen? I don't think so. But I have to ask, aside from common head problems, and most of the interior discoloring by the day, I thought these rigs were reliable?!
I know you get out of them what you put into them, but seriously, what should i be looking out for in terms of preventitive maintenance between services?
Also, I would be curious to see what sort of economy others get from a std 6 on gas, my economy on the open road is nothing short of craaaaap.
My last ford was an 81 XD Fairmont 6 on gas when i lived in Ballarat. Had done 170k, garaged all its life, had no rust (scouts honor) and looked like new. Only sold it coz some guy in the coles carpark looked at it, i obliged him a drive, and then he offered me $6k for it, the RWC was at 27 days so it went. But it drove and looked great. I don't hate fords, but I am wary... a 330k indestructable Camry is actually quite big shoes to fit....
Love the site, heaps of info. Cheers!