I often browse SNS and get comments about everyone’s beloved cars during my weekly YouTube live streams, and whenever a car catches my eye, I can’t help but check Car Sensor.

Even though I’m not buying.
Actually, I can’t afford to buy (lol).

On the other hand, just looking at the information posted on used car sites often makes it hard to judge whether a particular car is a good buy or not. I also get a lot of questions on my blog like, “I found this car—what do you think?”

So today, I want to share some key points my husband often talks about when choosing a used car, and how he’s actually applied these when buying Porsches in the past.

1. Speed Is Everything

First and foremost, when a car you’ve been searching for months suddenly appears, the most important thing is speed. Good-condition cars sell quickly, so the moment you find one you like, you need to act immediately. This is something my husband often says, and it’s a common story among Porsche owners I know.

In fact, when he found a 911 Carrera 4 GTS before, he called the dealership first thing the next morning as soon as they opened to make a reservation. Then he headed there that same day. (Seeing the car in person before buying is definitely reassuring.)

“Buying a used car is a race against time. Especially for rare specs like the ones I want, chances don’t come often, so I moved fast. Sure, it can be tough if the dealership is far away or you have work, but if it’s a car you really want, you should push yourself to go, no matter the excuse. Because every used car encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

2. Checking the Car’s Condition

When inspecting the car in person, there are several points even non-professionals can check. Here are the things my husband focuses on.

Tires

Tires are a crucial indicator of the car’s condition. The first thing he does when seeing a car is check the tires.

– Wear, roughness, and melting of the tires: Reflects the previous owner’s driving style.
– Whether the tires are Porsche-approved N-certified: A sign of proper maintenance.
– Even wear on all four tires: Uneven wear might indicate maintenance or driving issues.

He even sometimes uses his smartphone’s flashlight to inspect the tires (lol).

Exterior

He doesn’t expect perfection on the exterior. Instead, he looks at the overall condition and signs of care.
“I’m not bothered by minor scratches or stone chips on the exterior because small damages can be repaired, and they’re inevitable when you actually drive the car.”

Interior

The interior most clearly shows how the car was used and how much love the owner gave it, so he carefully checks the following:

– Smell inside the car: No strong scents from air fresheners, pets, or cigarettes.
– Wear on the outer side support of the driver’s seat: How the car was treated when getting in and out.
– Minor scratches on the center console and buttons: Daily usage condition.
– Door trim lifting: Especially important for 991 and 981 models.
– Cup holder operation: Small detail but worth checking.
– Condition of the seat leather: Flexibility, softness, moisture level (not dried out).
– Wear on the steering wheel: Not overly dirty or worn beyond what the mileage suggests.

The most important part is the outer side support of the driver’s seat.

“If this area is badly worn or cracked, it often means the previous owner didn’t treat the car with respect when getting in and out, so personally, that’s a big minus.”

Engine and Undercarriage

Finally, checking the engine and undercarriage is essential to understand the car’s performance and long-term condition.

– Muffler discoloration: Ideally an even fox-colored hue.
– Engine sound and any unusual noises: Check both cold start and after warming up.
– Revving after water and oil temperatures rise: To check engine response.

For the 911 Carrera 4 GTS, my husband said, “Checking underneath, the muffler had a nice even fox color, showing it wasn’t just short trips but driven enough to warm up properly, which was a big plus.”

3. Look for Signs of the Owner’s Love and Respect

Lastly, what my husband values most is how much love and respect the previous owner showed the car.

“I’m not a car professional or someone from the automotive industry. So I focus on one thing: rather than small exterior scratches, I look for signs that the owner treated the car with love and respect.”

Specifically:

– Signs of careful use: For example, presence of edge protectors or bumper protectors.
– Maintenance history: Whether regular and proper servicing was done.

Summary

It’s not always realistic to visit the dealership every time you find a car you’re interested in, but when a car with the specs you want (must-have options, body color, etc.) appears after months of searching, it’s best to take the plunge and see it in person.

When I bought my current car, the Taycan, I actually went to see a completely different car (a Panamera 4 Hybrid), but I fell in love at first sight with the Taycan parked right in front of the dealership door, and ended up buying it instead (lol).

You really can’t know until you see it, and whether you get that spark when you see it is also an important point.

“Every used car encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. No matter how far the dealership is or how busy you are, if you truly want the car, you should push yourself to go, no matter the excuse.”

I hope this helps you a little in your used car search!