Pick the model first, learn its known faults, then judge each car on its history and its condition, in that order. Read the service records, drive it from a cold start, and have an independent specialist inspect it before money moves. A good car survives all of that easily.
Start with the model, not the car
Every Porsche platform has known weak points. Learn them before you fall for a colour.
On water-cooled 911s, Boxsters and Caymans that means questions about IMS bearings and bore scoring. On others it may be timing chains, water pumps, PDK service or air suspension.
See IMS bearing and bore scoring explained for the two faults buyers ask about most.
The checklist
Work through these in order. Walk away at any step that does not add up.
Service records
A dated history with mileage and invoices. Gaps need an explanation.
CARFAX and recalls
Review the history report and check for open recalls.
Paint and panels
Mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and overspray point to repairs.
Cold start and road test
Start it cold and drive it to full operating temperature. Listen to shifting, tracking and noises.
Fault memory
A full-system scan shows stored and pending codes, module history and signs of cleared-before-sale faults.
On a lift
Leaks, bushings, brake and tire wear and accident evidence are only visible from below.
What Calgary does to a car
Calgary’s extreme winters, sudden temperature swings and demanding road conditions take a severe toll on complex drivetrains and air suspension systems.
Ask where the car spent its winters and whether it was driven in them. Look closely at the underside, the suspension bushings and the cooling system.
A car that lived here year-round is not a bad car. It just needs a closer look underneath than one that was stored.
Book the inspection before you commit
Send us the listing
Book online or call. We coordinate directly with the seller or dealership to get the car into our Calgary shop.
We inspect
150+ points on a lift, with factory diagnostics and a road test. Photos and video of everything we find, good and bad.
Report, then a phone call
Your report lands within one business day. Then a technician walks you through it.
After the handshake
A pre-purchase inspection ends with a maintenance-due forecast for your first year. Use it.
Book the first service early, start your own service record, and deal with anything the report flagged while it is still small.
We look after air-cooled and water-cooled 911s, Boxsters, Caymans, Cayennes, Macans and Panameras from our Calgary shop.
Questions buyers ask
Which Porsche faults should I ask about?
It depends on the model. Known faults we check include IMS bearings, bore scoring, timing chains and water pumps. A specialist who works on your model weekly knows where to look.
Is a clean CARFAX enough?
No. A history report only shows what was reported. Paint depth mapping, panel gap measurement and weld and seam inspection find resprays and repairs whatever the ad says.
What is an over-rev report?
On manual transmission sports cars the engine computer records over-revs. Reading that data shows how the car has been driven, which is why it is part of a proper inspection.
The car is from another province. Does that change anything?
A car last registered outside Alberta needs an out of province inspection before it can be registered here. That is a safety check. It does not replace a pre-purchase inspection.
Can you inspect a car at a dealership?
Yes. We coordinate directly with the seller or the dealership to get the car into our Calgary shop.
