Part 1: Buyer's Initial Impressions

Experienced buyers always educate themselves about the choice of models and their respective strengths and weaknesses. It's vital to spend time driving a good example of your dream Porsche. Your local PCA region often has at least one member who has that particular model and will consent to letting you test-drive it. This individual can likely provide a wealth of specific, hard-won tips.

The buyer's search almost inevitably starts over the phone. A quick conversation with the seller may reveal sufficient information about the car and/or seller to rule them out immediately. Granted, you're buying the car and not the seller, but their answers can reveal a lot about their attitude toward the car and its care. For example, a seller who can cite the car's service history but who admits to certain specific problems may well be more honest than one who breezily claims, "everything's perfect."

Once you decide to view a specific car, start with a patient and through visual inspection: check paint and body condition, interior, wheels, tires, and engine appearance. Your research so far should have alerted you to specific problem areas to double-check. If cosmetics are up to your standards, proceed with a road test. Start by riding as passenger with the seller. This helps you form initial impressions of the car without the distractions of driving it. It's also a chance to observe how the seller handles the car, which can also tell you a lot. 

When you change places with the seller to drive, the engine should be shut down. Before restarting, turn the key on to check if all of the warning lights are operating. On startup, watch the rear-view mirror for smoke and note the color: blue indicates oil smoke and black an excessively rich fuel mixture. The engine should idle smoothly.

Before you blast off, check two items first: the presence of a hard and high brake pedal, and the clutch adjustment. With the transmission in neutral, hold the clutch pedal down for a five-count and then engage reverse gear. Since reverse isn't synchronized, any grinding might indicate clutch dragging, which may not be noticeable in the synchronized forward gears but accelerates transmission wear.

Drive at a reasonable speed before attempting full-throttle runs. Clutch engagement should be smooth and the car should accelerate without any roughness or hesitation. Gear changes should be smooth and there should be no grinding or abnormal noises from the transmission and no slippage or chattering from the clutch. When you do jump on the loud pedal--this IS a Porsche, after all--look in the rear-view to check for smoke on acceleration (possible worn rings) and deceleration (probably worn valve guides).

With both hands lifted just off the steering wheel, the car should track straight ahead on a roadway that isn't crowned; the steering wheel spokes should be centered. Friction in the steering wheel can indicate a worn steering rack.

Braking should stop the car straight and true. There should be no abnormal noises under braking and none of the brake system warning lights should illuminate. If the car is equipped with AC, turn it on to verify normal operation, ditto with heater and blower motors, window motors, sunroof, etc. When parking the car, verify proper operation of the handbrake.

Make notes on your impressions; if the car checks out so far, it's time to solicit a professional second opinion.