Hi All.
I just bought a 2004 Deville from a dealer almost 4 weeks ago. Its in great shape and has low miles (25K)on it.
When reviewing the owners manual I saw the name and address of the previous owner. So out of curiousity I decided to write her and ask about the history of the car, and if she had any problems with it.

I included a self addressed stamped envelop and my cell phone number in case sheprefered tocall. Anyway, after acouple weeks go by, I get this call from her "assistant" (can't recall his title).

First, he asked how I'd got her contact info, and I said it was written in the owner's manual. He was a little upset that the dealer hadn't removed it.

Anyway, he was still polite and tells me about the car. He says he was responsible for caring for her car, keeping up with oil changes, etc. He alsopurchased new cars for her, and she has driven cadillacs for over 20 years. No problemsto reportabout my car at all. Also, he goes on to say he shipped the car toCalifornia for her every winter.

I couldn't believe it. I wonder if some money was left in the seats? LOL! Anyway, it's too bad the car will have to adjust to Minnesota winter.

-jasper

 

You know you bring up an excellant point that I don't believe I've seen mentioned before. I've always been very meticulous with keeping all my car records of maintanence and that would be an excellant selling point to have with the purchase of any used car. I know it is considered the number one desire for the purchase of an Allante. And I believe you would get "bottom dollar" without a careful record.
Because of this I was a little upset when I turned in my last car car and the dealer made a point of removing the folder I gave him with the car of all maintanence records since "day one."
They strongly advize that anything connecting the previous owner with the car be removed. Too many records kept with addresses and visa card numbers I guess. Anyway, the dealersconsider that info as worthless.

 

Or it could be identity theft protection. On a used car lot (not talkin about a private sale)you never know who will be going through the car.

If personal info could be blacked out somehow the records should remain with the car, it's a good selling point.

 

as some may remember, my '88 was in a state of abandonment,
used by the resident grease money to run parts and errands, oil
prints everywhere.

but when i opened the glove compartment .. surprise !
there sat the owner's manual and GOLD KEY sleve with unused GOLD keys,
and the extended warranty (expired).

from that info i got the last owner's name and i contacted her to
see if she had the maint records .. to my surprise, she said there was
a thick stack of maint and repair records in the glove compartment.

the trade-in dealer had "cleaned" the car of everything .. trashed them.

i think it is standard practice ...

 

With a little tlc, caddy's are not afraid of the snow, besides it should be smooth cruising for you for the next 7 months or so?

 

Might it not be worth at least a small effort to ask the dealer to at least deliver your card to the actual buyer of the car with the informations that you had all of the records available for it. Then you could be the judge of what you passed on and to whom?

Dealers are in the game for the money. I doubt many of the really prosperous ones give a s**t about cars at all. Just a means to an end.

I would make a lousy car dealer.

JCS