biggreek

Hey ladies and germs, I was wondering if it was something that wouldn't be creepy or out of line to get in contact with the previous owner of my 991. Just so I can get some first hand history of the car, if anything, at least a story.
When I bought the car, the owner's information was still in the glovebox. Everything short of an email and phone number, even the build list of the car he ordered after this one (good job dealer) haha. He was the first and only owner of the car and I'm pretty sure it was a lease and that he is not on this forum (at least not that I found through searching). But, if you're the previous owner of a 2017 Lava Orange 4GTS, manual, in the NYC area, hit me up!!

Thanks

daddyscar

Because it's a lava orange GTS manual, previous owner was probably a car guy and probably wouldn't mind too much. Of the last five or so used cars I purchased, most have had the home address in the nav of the former owner. Our last used Pilot I got at Benz dealer only came with one key. Nav still showed a home address of a woman that matched up with the city it was last registered in on the carfax. It would have been really creepy if I sent her a letter asking if she still had the other key. I also wouldn't want to get the dealer I really like into trouble.

isugoo

I sold my 2003 E46M3 back in 2008. fully converted to a track toy and the past owners always contacted me and sent me some pictures. It's great feeling to see fellow car guy enjoying my old car.

Tier1Terrier

My car had one previous owner. I came to find out after purchasing the vehicle that the previous owner is a fairly well known whisky distiller of who’s brand of whisky has been my standard house whisky for years. While the vehicle was purchased and fully maintained in my home area of South Florida, I see a prior destination address still saved at a residence in KY. The vehicle still even has his phone saved in the Bluetooth system with his full name. When I contacted the servicing Porsche dealer, I managed to confirm that it indeed belonged to him. The cool thing is that the car only had about 5,400 miles on it when I purchased it and a super clean DME report, and given the distance of destination address still saved on the nav system, I can assume that most of the miles where highway miles.

thesaintusa

I would think it would be creepy depending on who the previous owner was.

Car person? They may be less creeped out.

Non-car person? Then I would expect them to be creeped out.

I wouldn't be too concerned about a new owner contacting me, but why would they? The last car I sold had every receipt for service / parts / maintenance and modifications (engine installs / engine rebuilds) in a folder that went with the car. If you have a question, just call the shop that built the engine / installed the engine / supplied the coil overs etc. No need to call the previous owner.

I am always impressed how dealers often don't delete the prior owners data, i.e. phone books / GPS data (where they have gone, their stored locations, their home and work) etc.

Bxstr

I wouldn't find it creepy. I contacted all the previous owners of my GT3. Most were extremely nice, except for one who was just difficult to deal with and talk with. Overall though, I recommend it. A couple of the owners of mine I stay in contact with.

Sporty

"one who was just difficult to deal with and talk with"

Funny. Why do you think he was like that? Maybe he just had a lot of sheet going on. I would be more than happy to talk to the buyer of my car.

luv2sleep

This thread just reminded me to reset my navi to factory settings before selling my cars.Some would find it creepy if they were contacted by the new owner, especially these days. It would depend on the type of car (exotics, P-cars, enthusiast cars, etc. would be okay). If it was your everyday car like my kid's car, I'd feel a bit creepy.

Barnaby

I've been contacted after a couple of car sales in the past(actually I sold them, then they were resold). I was a pretty involved car guy at the time and I was fairly annoyed that my info was given out by the people that bought the cars from me. If you bought the car from me then I would gladly entertain questions within reason but once I sell a car I am out of it.

gripshifter

This happened to me a few Porsche's ago, I had bought a CPO 2008 911 and the Porsche Dealer started emailing both me and the previous owner with their ads. I guess the car VIN was now tied to both email addresses and they never removed the previous owner.

So I wrote to him removing the Dealer and we chatted sporadically for a few years until I traded that car in and then we lost touch.

bb964

And more importantly - wipe the garage door opener memory as that gives someone access to your house!

Zylinderkopfdichtung

Been thinking the same thing... I want to thank them for the killer config—were obviously like-minded. I also want to know whyTF my owners manual is water damaged, and how they ended up with a 911R cover for a T.

It’s “carcheology.”

bb964

Trade in my Benz (original owner) to a MB dealer for another Benz, it was then wholesaled/auctioned and some used car dealer that ended up with the car tracked me down and called with questions - I was happy to answer them...
Sold a BMW privately two years ago, the new owner keeps texting me with questions every few months

Bob Z.

I have done the same a couple of times and they were positive discussions, if not I would have let it go...no big deal so it does not hurt to ask.

luv2sleep

True dat!