I was test driving a 99 my friend was with me, he looked in the glove box found the owners manual inside was a reciept with the previous owers name and phone # this person had the car about 2 yrs drove it maybe 2500 miles. I am considering contact him and asking a few questions about his former car.

Since he does not own the car any longer traded it in and would be not be expecting my call, would you thing this would be OK?

Would you have any problems if someone called you about a car you recently traded in?
Just checking
thanks

 

I often like to attempt the same thing. Couple of notes of caution you have probably already thought of...

If the car is currently at a dealership, they will most likely "take issue" with you contacting the previous owner. They are sometimes concerned with what they offered for trade in and what the dealership is currently asking for the car and that information getting back to the previous owner can cause issues (even though if the previous owner wanted to know he could easily find out). If they do have a BIG issue with you contacting him/her there may be something you would really like to know.

One thing you could do is just write the info down you found and contact the person later. Just let the previous owner know you are looking at the car and would like some history if at all possible. I have had folks contact me in the past from vehicles I have traded in and I did not have a problem with it at all, but some folks are a little more "touchy" than others. If he/she had to get rid of the vehicle for some unfortunate reason (divorce, financial issues) it could be a difficult phone conversation.

Lastly- some previous owners are "sensitive" to personal information being left in the car after the dealership has cleaned it up (even though they left it there) and may contact the dealership about just that.

Just my two cents.

 

Don't think many of us here on the Forum would have a problem talking about a car that we owned. That being said, maybe writing him a letter as the initial contact would be the way to go.

 

The previous owner did not throughly clean out the car, take it as an opportunity to call before you purchase. When you're getting ready to spend top dollar on a car, consideration goes out the window. At this point it's a game and may the best man with information win. JMO

 

I wouldn't have any problems with someone calling me about a car I had traded in or sold. In fact, I've had that happen before.

IMO, contact the person and ask away. Worst that can happen is they just don't give you any info.

 

I have also been called out of the blue by someone who purchased a car I sold to someone else. Nothing wrong with calling him. Worst thing he hangs up on you. I would call him and ask for the deal.

 

Never hurts to call, Worst case he doesn't give you any info or hangs up. When buying any used car the more info you can get on it the better.

 

I called he was very happy to talk with me and share sometimes about his car. The mods he did to the car (all Positive) as well as somethings I need to research will be posting on here. all and all very positive!

 

 

I had a potential buyer of a car I got rid of at a dealership call me and asked if I would mind telling him about the car and I simply told him not to buy it at any price as it was a pile of junk.I thought he was going to come through the line and kiss me because he was so grateful for the info.
Fred

 

I did the same found his info cause he serviced it at the dealership I work for. He was happy & more than willing to chat about the car, it's mods & history.
BUT He was a Vette lover and a very nice, considerate man.
Everyone does not fit that description...........
So Beware?????