Well, I live in Japan so I'm not really able to head over to the dealership...
The state said in the letter I got said that the title I signed was from 2/08 (though it had the dealer's name on it as well from the trade or whatever), but that the newer title they were looking for was from 4/08, and they gave me the title number for the one they are looking for, I guess from the national database.
The car is a two-owner, clean vehicle, as shown by the pics. Nothing looks tweaked underneath, etc. It was also sold in 2008 at the same dealer I bought it from, for what that matters.
To my understanding a dealer, by law, can't sell a vehicle without a clean title (I also did ask if the title was clean before I bought it, as I always do out of habit and it was, or at least the one I signed was). Perhaps I'm mistaken on that, but I'm pretty sure dealers can't sell salvaged/rebuilt cars; the damage disclosure statements would in theory prevent them from bringing the car in on trade in the first place as far as I know, or at the worst those statements would prevent them from selling to me since they have to sign them when they sell them to me also assuring that the car hasn't been rebuilt/totaled/etc. No?
As for the financial aspect, so far I'm not out any money other than the grand total of $8,950 that I paid for the car and all license/registration/plate fees, so nothing is lost there thus far. Thing is, in theory, this IS the smartest buy financially...I owe less than $7k on it (I know, a loan on such an old car but hey $9k is $9k and I just got married so there went my cash), with a short 3 year loan with a super easy payment...planning on having it paid off in a year. Going home to the States in September, will need a car for the wife (she will get the nice C-class) and then a house. Won't really be a way around having at least one payment when we get a house, which is why I went with a cheap car for myself this time around, since we need two. Figured I'd get this paid off quickly and then get her a car and get into a house with just one payment, which wouldn't be too bad.
I COULD get an S-197 and just be done with it and afford it without any problems really, but I don't really WANT to spend $20k on my car knowing wifey needs a car too, and I don't want her in some old crap box with high miles, etc. when we are looking to qualify for a mortgage. I dunno, right now this is the best financial option. Sure there are other SN-95s to be had, but I'm a picky SOB and it was nice to find this one close to my dad's so it could be easily delivered, etc. So far all indications I have of this car are of a completely flawless ride, paint n' all, so it's hard to look at any others--you guys know how it is--it's kind of "this SN-95 or no SN-95". If this falls through, then I give up on trying to buy SN-95s and will just have to look forward and say enough is enough with old cars with higher miles and just get the newer car with low miles. I told myself I'd do that when I sold my last car, that I was done with higher mileage cars that were older, but I thought I'd take my chances one more time just because of where I'm at, looking ahead the next 2-3 years. But I guess if this one falls through I have to just assume that's just someone's way of telling me stop screwing with old cars.
That said, if it proves that this car is rebuilt, it's going right back. I WILL NOT deal with a car with a title issue, no way.