Porsche

The address of this page was a stock listing on a used-car dealer site that no longer exists. The stock is gone; what follows is a reference to the marque itself — what you will meet on the UK used market, and what is worth checking. Nothing here is offered for sale.

Porsche’s naming carries information: a 4 in the model name means four-wheel drive, S marks a higher output, and on the electric Taycan the Turbo badge denotes an output level rather than a turbocharger. PDK is the dual-clutch automatic.

Pay for the inspection

Buying guides for the Panamera point at the manufacturer’s own multi-point mechanical check at a franchised dealer, which takes around an hour and a half and produces a written report with any required work priced. On cars with this many systems, that report is cheaper than the first surprise.

Model-specific items

Reviewers flag a recall on the Panamera concerning faulty turbochargers — at best a loss of power, at worst a fire risk — and warn about radiators clogging with leaves, which leads to corrosion and large bills. On the 718, earlier cars had problems with the dual-clutch automatic, and paint quality draws owner complaints; the model also finished last in its class in a recent owner reliability survey. On the Taycan, battery and charging issues are the reported weakness.

Buying an electric Porsche

The Taycan changes the checklist completely. Battery state of health replaces compression, battery warranty terms and their transferability replace the cambelt question, and charging history replaces service intervals. Ask for a battery health report or budget for one.

Seasonal use

Sports cars are often laid up for part of the year. Read the MOT history: the pattern of test dates and annual mileages tells you whether that is the case, and long periods of standing are harder on brakes, tyres and rubber than steady use.