maybe it’s one of the flooded cars that came out of new orleans? seems a little fishy, I would not take a chance on this car. have you run a carfax report on it yet?

Salvage is not just frame damage – and frame damage alone will not make a car salvage.
1 – a prius is what they call a unibody car – there actually is no frame on it. But repaired damage to the unibody is called frame damage by most states dmv’s or auto auctions.
Salvage means it was wrecked – in most states – damages over 70% of the value of the car.
Some states allow the salvaged cars to be rebuilt – then they are inspected by that state to make sure they pass safety tests on the repairs that were made.

Salvage cars are also exempt from any manufacturers warranty – only warranty you will get is if the state you live in gives a warranty to the buyer – were I live a 2005 Prius with 25k miles would get a 90 day 3000 mile warranty by state law from the dealer.

I would stay away from it totally – especially a prius that is a hybrid car – god only knows what was damaged on the car and fixed.

I am a used car dealer. Any car with a salvaged title is a roll of the dice. You are going to be driving 100 miles/day for the next 3-5 years, or 1/2 way to the moon by the time it’s all said and done. Run a carfax, but that won’t show you everything. That car might have been flooded, rolled in a ditch, t-boned by some SUV, caught on fire, you get my meaning, as a dealer I will not touch them. Sounds like you are a price buyer, looking for the bargain of the century, you are better off buying a used Corolla with a clean title. That is more of a safe bet, and those cars get close to 35-40 miles to the gallon.