Contacting the previous owner
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
Contacting the previous owner
Has anyone ever contacted the previous owner of their C5? when I bought it there were a few receipts still in the glove box which had the previous owner's address on them. I was thinking about sending him a letter. I know my C5 had mods on it before. it had a CAGS defeat when I got it, there was residue right were a hood seal would have gone (had to clean it up to install mine!) the exhaust tips were very misaligned, maybe he had a cat-back on? and my interior temp sensor didn't work because it was unplugged, looks like someone had been behind the dash and forgot to plug it back in when putting it back together. I think it would be really interesting to know the history of the car.
I also only got one remote with it, I wonder what the chances are that the previous owner had lost one then found it again?
however being the overly paranoid person that I am when it comes to safety of my cars, I couldn't help but wonder...what if he still has a spare key to it laying around somewhere...and I give him my address by way of the return address? Am I completely nuts for having that thought go through my head?
I also only got one remote with it, I wonder what the chances are that the previous owner had lost one then found it again?
however being the overly paranoid person that I am when it comes to safety of my cars, I couldn't help but wonder...what if he still has a spare key to it laying around somewhere...and I give him my address by way of the return address? Am I completely nuts for having that thought go through my head?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 403
Likes: 2
From: Allen TX
I bought my '99 FRC from Grand Rapids, Michigan 3 years ago, and I'm in Dallas. The first owner had traded it in on a new 'vette, and the Chevy dealer sent it to auction. A small specialty car shop bought it at auction, and listed it on our less-than-favorite auction site. I ended up getting the car after it didn't make reserve, so the dealer sent me the paperwork from Michigan to get it taken care of before I got there. Well, of course the title had the current owners name on it, so I called information, got his number, and called him. After talking to him for 30 minutes, I had zero doubts about the car. He babied it to the extreme. Net result - I ended up with a great car, no mis-representation by anyone involved, and had a great time driving it back to Dallas. So, I'd say, by all means call the previous owner!!!
My 2 cents....
My 2 cents....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 15
From: Wellsboro Pa
Contact the previous owner. I certainly wouldn't mind if someone contacted me about any of the cars that I previously owned. That's the only way to find out the REAL story. If they don't want to talk with you they'll let you know. Nothing to loose, right?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,369
Likes: 73
From: The line waiting to see Santa Claus stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Kind of an interesting story on my car. I bought my 99 in 2000 with 12k miles on it in Indianapolis. I took it to the local dealership (70 miles away) for some service and warranty work. The service manager was putting info in the computer and asked "what needs to be done Mr Wilhelm?" I told him what I brought it in for, and he asked if my current address and phone numbers were still the same...and gave me an address in Indy. I told him that the information was incorrect and where did it come from? He asked me my first name, and when I told him, it was different than his info. It turns out that the previous owner had the same last name as me. It is not a common last name, and I found this very interesting, although I never contacted the former owner.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,743
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From: Omaha Nebraska
St. Jude Donor '06
Kind of an interesting story on my car. I bought my 99 in 2000 with 12k miles on it in Indianapolis. I took it to the local dealership (70 miles away) for some service and warranty work. The service manager was putting info in the computer and asked "what needs to be done Mr Wilhelm?" I told him what I brought it in for, and he asked if my current address and phone numbers were still the same...and gave me an address in Indy. I told him that the information was incorrect and where did it come from? He asked me my first name, and when I told him, it was different than his info. It turns out that the previous owner had the same last name as me. It is not a common last name, and I found this very interesting, although I never contacted the former owner.
Maybe it was a long lost relative??
A brother your folks never told you about?? You missed a great opportunity!! That is a strange story!!
As for me, I'd be more than happy to talk to the owner of any cars I've owned... but I tend to keep 'em for a while, so the list is not very long.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
The car I bought was a trade-in by the original (bought it new) owner. It came with a 30 Day 100% warranty. When I got the title from the dealer I called the previous owner, told him I was happy with the car and asked if there anything he was aware of that I wasn't, that I should get fixed before the warranty expired. Was very cooperative. No warranty work was needed. Proved to be good info.
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IMO, go ahead and contact the previous owner. Never know what kind of valuable information you might turn up on the car.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
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From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I might start digging up the previous owner contact info and ask him about what I found behind the front right bumper cover. By no means am I mad but just curious as what happened. Picture below:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,429
Likes: 44
From: Macon, GA
I have the original bill of sale in the glovebox from the first owner. It has listed on it his bank account#, routing# and his SSN# and every bit of personal information on it that you could think of. I could clean this guy out if I were a crook.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
CentralTX Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
You're nuggin futts for worrying about the previous owner taking your car. 
That being said, I bought my 2003 coupe on April 1st of 2006 at a Dodge dealership in Dallas Texas, about 200 miles north of here.
I managed to track the previous owner down thanks to help from a CF member. I sent the PO a snail mail with my return address. I later received a letter in the mail with the original window sticker, dyno sheets, and specs on heads cam and mods. 
I have since become friends with said previous owner.
That being said, I bought my 2003 coupe on April 1st of 2006 at a Dodge dealership in Dallas Texas, about 200 miles north of here.
I managed to track the previous owner down thanks to help from a CF member. I sent the PO a snail mail with my return address. I later received a letter in the mail with the original window sticker, dyno sheets, and specs on heads cam and mods.
I have since become friends with said previous owner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,562
Likes: 1
From: (Temporarily) Colorado Springs Colorado
Did you ever think ... maybe the PO doesn't want to know about the car? I'd be sick if I knew, they did to my car, what some have done to their cars since buying them.
But, it is their car ... so sometimes it is better to not know.
But, it is their car ... so sometimes it is better to not know.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
I think he'd be pleased. when I picked up my C5 it had a list of problems a mile long, all of which showed up in the first week of ownership. I'm wondering if all of the problems were a contributing factor in the PO's decicion to trade it in. I think he'd be pretty pleased to know that I've fixed almost all of the problems with it. of course when I tell him that I fixed 90% of the problems for less than $50 in parts (not counting the service manual) and a few hours in my garage to diagnose and repair, he might just want it back! haha
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 900
Likes: 38
From: Waunakee Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '20
I've bought dozens of used cars and always tried to contact the previous owner(s) BEFORE I took title. Before I bought my 1999 coupe, I had the local dealership run the VIN and found out it had three other owners. Everyone of them were happy and proud to talk about the vehicle. Yes, it's possible you'll find something you don't want to hear. Does that always mean you're going to immediatley hate the car? Probably not.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 900
Likes: 38
From: Waunakee Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '20
I think he'd be pleased. when I picked up my C5 it had a list of problems a mile long, all of which showed up in the first week of ownership. I'm wondering if all of the problems were a contributing factor in the PO's decicion to trade it in. I think he'd be pretty pleased to know that I've fixed almost all of the problems with it. of course when I tell him that I fixed 90% of the problems for less than $50 in parts (not counting the service manual) and a few hours in my garage to diagnose and repair, he might just want it back! haha
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
On my first C5, I did contact the previous owner as he had to sign over on the extended GMPP warranty transfer. I bought the car in the Dallas area but it was actually registered in another state.
So, when I called the guy - turns out he was less than 1/2 mile from me, just down the street!!! Talk about coincidence. He was a really cool guy and told me all kinds of nice stories about it. Also ended up with some more paperwork, a vette car cover, vette windshield sun blocking cover and the honest opinion from him.
So, YES - try to contact the previous owner... Make sure you start off by telling him how you found him..otherwise might not be as well received.
GOOD LUCK - - -
So, when I called the guy - turns out he was less than 1/2 mile from me, just down the street!!! Talk about coincidence. He was a really cool guy and told me all kinds of nice stories about it. Also ended up with some more paperwork, a vette car cover, vette windshield sun blocking cover and the honest opinion from him.
So, YES - try to contact the previous owner... Make sure you start off by telling him how you found him..otherwise might not be as well received.
GOOD LUCK - - -
