Contacting previous owner - Appropriate?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 873
Likes: 53
From: NH
Contacting previous owner - Appropriate?
I was hoping to get some opinions on this matter. I bought a fantastic used 01 ES300 from a Lexus dealership back in December for a great deal. So far it's been a great car leaving me with only a few questions about minor issue's most of which I have resolved. Shortly after buying the car and leafing through the manual I came across a repair slip tucked in the back of the booklet from 2004. Besides the routine repairs that were done it also lists the previous owner's name, number and address. The person even happens to live in the same town as me.
I have here a somewhat unique opportunity to get some questions answered about my car. But I don't want to be intrusive. Had I bought the vehicle from the person directly I wouldn't have any hesitation in contacting the previous owner, but instead I bought it from a dealership and found out their info only by chance. I'd like to be optimistic and think that the person would be friendly and wouldn't mind offering up some info (I know I would if I ever sold my Cadillac for instance), but I'm also willing to admit that perhaps that isn't the case.
Opinions?
I have here a somewhat unique opportunity to get some questions answered about my car. But I don't want to be intrusive. Had I bought the vehicle from the person directly I wouldn't have any hesitation in contacting the previous owner, but instead I bought it from a dealership and found out their info only by chance. I'd like to be optimistic and think that the person would be friendly and wouldn't mind offering up some info (I know I would if I ever sold my Cadillac for instance), but I'm also willing to admit that perhaps that isn't the case.
Opinions?
Guest
Posts: n/a
I think once you brief the person that you bought the car and found their info and had some questions they should be fine. Otherwise they will surely tell you otherwise lol.
We have had many cases on this forum where someone bought a Lexus and eventually they find out it was someone elses on this forum and the two chat.
I wouldn't have any issue with it.
We have had many cases on this forum where someone bought a Lexus and eventually they find out it was someone elses on this forum and the two chat.
I wouldn't have any issue with it.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,070
Likes: 107
From: Southeastern PA
I agree. I donated an old car to Goodwill a few years ago, which was sold at auction, and some guy called me out of the blue asking Q's about the car. It was a little awkward at first--but once I was sure he wasn't accusatory, or anything like that, it was fine. Just be polite, and tell him right away you just want to ask him a couple simple Q's.
I was hoping to get some opinions on this matter. I bought a fantastic used 01 ES300 from a Lexus dealership back in December for a great deal. So far it's been a great car leaving me with only a few questions about minor issue's most of which I have resolved. Shortly after buying the car and leafing through the manual I came across a repair slip tucked in the back of the booklet from 2004. Besides the routine repairs that were done it also lists the previous owner's name, number and address. The person even happens to live in the same town as me.
I have here a somewhat unique opportunity to get some questions answered about my car. But I don't want to be intrusive. Had I bought the vehicle from the person directly I wouldn't have any hesitation in contacting the previous owner, but instead I bought it from a dealership and found out their info only by chance. I'd like to be optimistic and think that the person would be friendly and wouldn't mind offering up some info (I know I would if I ever sold my Cadillac for instance), but I'm also willing to admit that perhaps that isn't the case.
Opinions?
I have here a somewhat unique opportunity to get some questions answered about my car. But I don't want to be intrusive. Had I bought the vehicle from the person directly I wouldn't have any hesitation in contacting the previous owner, but instead I bought it from a dealership and found out their info only by chance. I'd like to be optimistic and think that the person would be friendly and wouldn't mind offering up some info (I know I would if I ever sold my Cadillac for instance), but I'm also willing to admit that perhaps that isn't the case.
Opinions?
BTW,did you ever buy the '10 RX 350?
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 873
Likes: 53
From: NH
Thanks for the opinions guys. I was leaning towards giving the person a call, and the worst that can happen is that they'll hang up. I figure if I'm polite, explain myself and my intentions it shouldn't be an issue. I'll call this weekend and report back.
Yep, it arrived a few weeks ago. I've been meaning to get all our cars together for a nice photo shoot in a great spot I have picked out but it's proven difficult to get them all together at the same time since we keep the Cadillac garaged up at our lake house. I did however snap a picture of it on my phone the other day, you can also see my ES in the corner,
Yep, it arrived a few weeks ago. I've been meaning to get all our cars together for a nice photo shoot in a great spot I have picked out but it's proven difficult to get them all together at the same time since we keep the Cadillac garaged up at our lake house. I did however snap a picture of it on my phone the other day, you can also see my ES in the corner,
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Thanks for the opinions guys. I was leaning towards giving the person a call, and the worst that can happen is that they'll hang up. I figure if I'm polite, explain myself and my intentions it shouldn't be an issue. I'll call this weekend and report back.
Yep, it arrived a few weeks ago. I've been meaning to get all our cars together for a nice photo shoot in a great spot I have picked out but it's proven difficult to get them all together at the same time since we keep the Cadillac garaged up at our lake house. I did however snap a picture of it on my phone the other day, you can also see my ES in the corner,
Yep, it arrived a few weeks ago. I've been meaning to get all our cars together for a nice photo shoot in a great spot I have picked out but it's proven difficult to get them all together at the same time since we keep the Cadillac garaged up at our lake house. I did however snap a picture of it on my phone the other day, you can also see my ES in the corner,
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,204
Likes: 11
From: The Woodlands, TX
There was a discount tire receipt in the glove box so I contacted the previous owner of my Prius just to ask them if they had the 2nd Smartkey. They had given both of them to the dealer (which eventually found it). This person had no issues speaking to me about everything they had done to the car -- problems, alignments, etc.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,521
Likes: 261
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I don't see any issue with it, either. In fact, when you talk with this person, you might want to offer to mail the piece of paper back to him/her, so no one else will get it, with the promise that you won't divulge any information. That's what I would at least offer to do.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,810
Likes: 15
From: MI
I used to be a Corvette owner and I had no qualms tracking down past owners of my '81. They were glad to hear that the car was doing fine. I'd like if the current owner of my '81 tracked me down. My mechanic said he had new new heads and a cam installed and the car runs like a scalded cat.
Personally i would love to hear from owners of my previous cars just to know how there doin. I once thought about trying to contact the previous owner of my LS but dont have his/her info and i will not go trying to research it neither. Now that, i think, would be kinda creepy.