Well rust is kind of normal. Look at it this way. The calipers are bare metal with some treatment on them but its not a type that keeps them new forever. So bare metal eventually rusts right. Another factor is that if you have hub caps and he has aluminum spoke wheels than he lets in more moisture and road debris than you. Plus im not sure of your exact climate but road salt is also a factor. Look at it this way the caliper is a big chunk of metal, by the time it rusts through he will have already replaced them so i wouldn't spend much time worrying about that.

As for the shifting i really can't comment because i can't drive the car.