The ridiculousness continues!
In Ontario, used vehicle private sales require the purchase of a $20 government-issued "used vehicle information package" -- sort of like a CARFAX print-out. (This actually started before CARFAX-type services were available.)
It shows things like number of previous owners, salvage/non-salvage status, average retail/wholesale value, and as the subject of this post implies, current liens if any.
So I went and got the package for the Miata.
And guess what!
Yes, the car has a lien registered against it! Utterly laughable, considering its condition.
I contacted the owner, and he says the loan was paid off long ago. He also says this has happened in the past with another vehicle of his -- the lender forgot to discharge the lien when the vehicle was paid off.
He says he'll contact them to update its status.
Oh, and he also said: "price is negotiable".
But it goes without saying there's no point making an offer until the lien is cleared. I don't want to share ownership of a crappy Miata with a bank - I want a crappy Miata all to myself!