How to Buy Used Porsches

Porsches are German cars renowned for their high quality, typically German design and impressive performance. With a history steeped heavily in motorsports, the cars made by Porsche are some of the most impressive road cars you can buy. Unlike some other specialty makes, Porsches generally can be used as everyday vehicles, although many people own them as second or third vehicles. Buying a Porsche can be an enjoyable process with the proper steps, although it can also cost you a lot of money if you don't exercise due diligence.

Instructions

1

Shop extensively. When buying a Porsche, look at as many examples as possible. Unless you live in a large city where there are many Porsches for sale at any given time, you probably will need to use the Internet. eBay always has a number of recent models and classic Porsches for sale. Autotrader and Classic Car Trader are other possibilities. Other places to find Porsches for sale are on enthusiast sites like the Pelican Parts classified section, Rennlist and the Early S Registry, the latter of which specializes in vintage Porsche 911s. If there is a Porsche dealer near you, it will have a selection of pre-owned models but they will likely be priced at a premium.

2

Inspect the car thoroughly. Recent-model Porsches probably will not have any rust, but look carefully for collision damage. Open the hood and trunk and inspect the inner fender arches for signs of damage (wrinkled metal) and repair (paint overspray). On older cars, examine the rocker panels (the lower body between the wheels), around the windshield and rear window, battery area and floor boards for signs of corrosion. Older Porsches frequently suffer from corrosion, which is costly to repair. Ask the seller for maintenance records. Porsches are sensitive to regular maintenance; reconsider any ones for sale that do not have any service records.

3

Test drive the car. Do not buy a car that you cannot drive unless you are purchasing a project or are not concerned with how it drives in its current state. If you are buying a car out of state and cannot see it in person, pay a Porsche mechanic to drive it and look at it. When you test drive it, see how the car starts when the engine is cold. This gives you an idea of how well the car runs. Note that many older 911s smoke a little on start-up because of oil settling in the exhaust. Unless the smoke is very heavy or does not go away after a few minutes, there is likely nothing wrong with it. During the test drive, pay attention to the steering, which should be tight and responsive, and the handling, which should be stable. The engine should run smoothly and rev willingly to the red line. The gearbox should shift without crunching, and the brakes should have a firm pedal and slow the car without making it pull to either side.

4

Pay for a PPI (pre-purchase inspection). Have a mechanic thoroughly inspect the engine, transmission, brakes and suspension to give you a realistic idea of the shape of the vehicle. For instance, the Boxsters and 996s (and even some 997s) can suffer from a leaking RMS (rear main seal) in the engine, which is a costly repair. Spending the $150 or so that a PPI costs is valuable insurance.

5

Bargain for the best price. Almost all sellers leave a little room to bargain on the asking price of the Porsche that they are selling, so start low (without insulting the seller) and then move to a price that both the buyer and the seller feel comfortable with. You can use the PPI as a bargaining tool.