Used Porsche from independent dealer – what to check?

euromike

I’m about to buy a 2018 Macan Turbo from an independent dealer – I’ve paid the deposit and signed the papers already. Car’s under warranty (until 2021), was last serviced at 20k miles in June. Dealer’s own check showed no issues with the vehicle. From what I could tell, the car is in pristine condition. Dealership is an independent one, what I could verify on the internet suggests Companies House incorporation since 2011, and straight 5-star reviews literally everywhere: FB, their own website, and autotrader (more than 100 5-star reviews there). I was shown the HPI report, an independent workshop check, service book, title. The couple who run the dealership were probably the most professional and responsive salespeople I’ve come across in my car search so far. The dealership specialises in high-end cars and I saw several on their premises last night.

What else could/should I do to buy with confidence? Should I commission an independent pre-purchase check? They said it is never done by their customers, which I found a bit unusual but it’s the first time I’m buying in the UK, and in fairness, the car is still under warranty. Should I re-do the HPI check myself? Can I verify the dealership in any other way – they are not members of any trade association, so I only have the companies house entry to go by, and of course all the reviews.

Thanks!

AdrianC

Surely the first alarm bell is why something like a year-old £70k-new vehicle is not being sold through the manufacturer's approved-used scheme?

Doesn't it qualify? If not, why not? Or, to put it another way, why would it be rejected from the approved-used...?

Chrishazle

Get it taken to the nearest Porsche main dealer for them to inspect it, they'll charge about £150 for it.

motorguy

AdrianC wrote: »

Surely the first alarm bell is why something like a year-old £70k-new vehicle is not being sold through the manufacturer's approved-used scheme?

Doesn't it qualify? If not, why not? Or, to put it another way, why would it be rejected from the approved-used...?

Who says it was?

Could have been traded in to another dealer, or was on a short lease and sold on by the leasing company.

motorguy

euromike wrote: »

I’m about to buy a 2018 Macan Turbo from an independent dealer – I’ve paid the deposit and signed the papers already. Car’s under warranty (until 2021), was last serviced at 20k miles in June. Dealer’s own check showed no issues with the vehicle. From what I could tell, the car is in pristine condition. Dealership is an independent one, what I could verify on the internet suggests Companies House incorporation since 2011, and straight 5-star reviews literally everywhere: FB, their own website, and autotrader (more than 100 5-star reviews there). I was shown the HPI report, an independent workshop check, service book, title. The couple who run the dealership were probably the most professional and responsive salespeople I’ve come across in my car search so far. The dealership specialises in high-end cars and I saw several on their premises last night.

What else could/should I do to buy with confidence? Should I commission an independent pre-purchase check? They said it is never done by their customers, which I found a bit unusual but it’s the first time I’m buying in the UK, and in fairness, the car is still under warranty. Should I re-do the HPI check myself? Can I verify the dealership in any other way – they are not members of any trade association, so I only have the companies house entry to go by, and of course all the reviews.

Thanks!

You could get it checked by a Porsche main dealer, but you've already agreed the price and paid the deposit, so i cant see the seller being keen to jump through hoops to do this. They probably will i guess.

How much manufacturer warranty is remaining?

euromike

motorguy wrote: »

You could get it checked by a Porsche main dealer, but you've already agreed the price and paid the deposit, so i cant see the seller being keen to jump through hoops to do this. They probably will i guess.

How much manufacturer warranty is remaining?

1.5 years of warranty is remaining.
The seller is fine with me taking it to a Porsche main dealer for a check. I said I may want to do it. They just seemed surprised as, according to them, (1) car is still under warranty (2) it was serviced by Porsche authorised workshop as recently as June / 4k miles ago (3) they showed me a check done by a workshop which they say is independent of them - all clean.

missile

Assuming the price is right and you can afford to fill the tank regularly, my biggest concern would be to check for accident damage.

euromike

AdrianC wrote: »

Surely the first alarm bell is why something like a year-old £70k-new vehicle is not being sold through the manufacturer's approved-used scheme?

Doesn't it qualify? If not, why not? Or, to put it another way, why would it be rejected from the approved-used...?

Half of Macan Turbo's (all are expensive, £50k+ cars) on autotrader are not manufacturer approved. More than half Bentleys aren't etc. So would you say never buy from an independent dealer?

As to why the owner would prefer to sell their car to an independent dealer and not Porsche (or Bentley etc) approved, my understanding is that these small firms tend to outbid Porsche on cars they really want to get in their inventory.

euromike

missile wrote: »

Assuming the price is right and you can afford to fill the tank regularly, my biggest concern would be to check for accident damage.

Would that show on HPI report?

motorguy

euromike wrote: »

1.5 years of warranty is remaining.
The seller is fine with me taking it to a Porsche main dealer for a check. I said I may want to do it. They just seemed surprised as, according to them, (1) car is still under warranty (2) it was serviced by Porsche authorised workshop as recently as June / 4k miles ago (3) they showed me a check done by a workshop which they say is independent of them - all clean.

Given the level of due diligence you've done so far, i'd probably be happy enough (given you're buying one outside the dealer network).

BUT if you want that final assurance...

coffeehound

I would go through the terms of the warranty with a fine-tooth comb. Was the servicing c/o within time/mileage limits?