Salvage Vehicle HELP!

[Jezz24]

I am considering buying a 2005 Saturn Vue with 52K miles on it. Problem is, it holds a salvage title which the seller automatically disclosed to me. I have heard many conflicting opinions on the title (NEVER buy salvage or salvage isn't as bad as it seems). I opted to be positive on the matter.
I have had the car looked at by a mechanic shop of my choice for a full diagnostic/bumper-bumper inspection and it checked out fine, runs well and is in mint condition physically. The VIN checked out fine, as I ran that also and so did the CarFax report.

My issue is this;
The seller told me that he purchased the car from an insurance company. His friend apparantly worked there and offered him the car instead of taking it to the auction. He said he bought the car to give it to his son and the kid didn't want it because it is a 5-speed and the kid opted for a lil Civic instead. So now the guy says he doesn't need the car and doesn't know what to do with it, thus the reason he is selling it.
He said the car is salvage due to Partial/Incomplete repair and when I asked him what that meant he said he really did not know. He said he has the title in his name and a salvage certificate but has not registered the car with the DMV since he did not intend to keep it therefore the car does not have plates and is not currently registered. (Apparantly when a car is salvage the owner must surrender the original clean title and the plates to the DMV in exchange for a salvage certificate???)
He told me I may have trouble registering it because of the salvage and would only refund 1/2 of my $$ if I could not get it registered.
I expressed concern over the Partial/Incomplete repair and him not having registered the car with the DMV/potential registration problems and he offered to go register the car with the DMV himself and would cover the fees to ease my discomfort and he also offered to let me speak with his friend at the insurance company to try to find out more about why they issued the car a salvage title for Partial/Incomplete repair. He said he himself did not question it as the guy is his friend and felt he could trust him.

Question is, does this sound legitimate? and what on earth does partial/incomplete repair mean in terms of a salvage vehicle???
I do not know much about salvage so I am not sure what is bull and what isnt.

[wafrederick]

Find out the laws in your state on this.Personally,I would stay away from this one knowing it has a salvage title.If it has the 2.2 four cylinder,stay away from it.The transmissions are junk and are expensive

[03cavPA]

^^^^^^^

Like he said, exercise caution.

2 red flags: salvage and "friend says it's OK"

walk away

[Shpuker]

agreed, If all checks out and there isn't a bunch of people saying yea this car works great then it might be good lol. the title its self wouldn't be enough to scare me away but do your research on that car first

[wafrederick]

With a salvage title,some states require an inspection after it has been fixed completely which is about $150.00 and Michigan is one state that does this.

[toyotasupra]

has anyone ever looked on autobiz.com? is it real and not a scam. was looking at a supra on there. should i go further and register or not go through?

[Shpuker]

Originally Posted by toyotasupra

has anyone ever looked on autobiz.com? is it real and not a scam. was looking at a supra on there. should i go further and register or not go through?

Wow, hijack much?

[CraigZerch]

my buddy had a similar experience a couple years back and it backfired on him. Id stay away unless he was nearly giving the car away.