2006 PORSCHE CAYENNE S/S TITANIUM EDITION VIN WP1AB29P26LA65559

This Porsche Cayenne is a 2006 model. The gearbox is automatic, with all-wheel drive. The engine is a 4.5-litre petrol unit with eight cylinders.

The clock stood at 170,323 miles when the data was entered. The number on the clock proves little by itself; earlier figures logged at services and inspections are what make it believable. Service invoices and inspection reports each carry a mileage figure, and lined up in order they show whether the clock tells the truth.

No primary damage is given in the record for this car, which is not the same as proof that it has never been damaged. Paint depth, panel gaps and the underbody show whether the body has been repaired.

A key was noted with the car. Months of standing can leave a car with seized brakes and perished tyres.

The record shows a clean title. Nothing on the title points to a total loss or a flood.

Registrations, changes of owner, inspection results and accident claims together make up what is called a car’s history. Much of a car’s past cannot be seen: a good body repair leaves no obvious mark, and neither do years of hard driving.

Regular oil changes and timely work on the timing belt or chain decide how well an engine copes with age. Many modern petrol engines are turbocharged and direct-injected; where they are, the turbocharger and injectors belong on a specialist’s checklist. The automatic gearbox should respond smoothly and without delay; jerks, slipping or hesitation on a test drive need investigating.

The tenth character of the VIN stands for the model year, and the eleventh for the plant that built the car. The VIN WP1AB29P26LA65559 belongs to this 2006 Porsche Cayenne. A VIN that differs between the documents and the car, or shows signs of tampering, is reason enough to walk away.

A VIN report gathers what different sources know about a car, such as the number of owners, mileage readings, damage and any branded title. However complete the paperwork, only an inspection shows the condition of the body, suspension, brakes and electrics today. Look up the history of VIN WP1AB29P26LA65559 first, and let what it shows guide the inspection.