Overview & Reviews

Porsche cars have a virtually untarnished reputation and are considered among the finest performance vehicles in the world. It's a reputation that's well-deserved. With razor-sharp handling and power aplenty, Porsche vehicles offer a driving experience like no other. It's little wonder that, for many, the marque has come to define the sports car category. For years, the only Porsches available were sleek sports cars, but the manufacturer recently expanded its lineup to include other types of vehicles.

The brand has its roots in the Porsche Engineering Office, founded in Stuttgart, Germany, by Ferdinand Porsche in 1931. Porsche brought with him years of experience as an automotive engineer; in the '20s, while employed with Daimler, his skill was tapped to create Mercedes' iconic SS and SSK sports cars. Porsche has long had close ties with Volkswagen, and the first Porsche vehicles were small two-seat sports cars that were largely based on VW chassis. From 1948-'50, most of these early Porsche cars (the brainchild of Porsche and his son Ferry) were actually built in Austria before production was switched to Zuffenhausen, Germany. Ferdinand's first real production car was the VW Beetle, so it was no surprise that his sports cars used those components and had their air-cooled engine mounted in the rear.

The 1950s saw the birth of two icons, the 356 Speedster with its low-cut windshield and the lightweight, midengined 550 Spyder. Both cars helped Porsche rack up a multitude of wins on the racetrack. In the mid-'60s, the 356 made way for the revered 911. Powered by an all-new six-cylinder engine, the coupe scored two consecutive wins at Monte Carlo. Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, the 911's air-cooled flat-six engine was located in the rear of the vehicle.

By the time the '70s rolled around, Porsche had introduced the 914 (the "affordable" Porsche with a midengine design and a targa top), the mighty 911 turbo, the disrespected 924 (powered by a weak front-mounted, water-cooled inline four) and the flagship 928 (front-mounted V8, four-seat coupe). The '80s saw the birth of the 956, a car that went on to become the most successful racecar of all time. The twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive 959 was also launched; it became the first sports car to win the Paris-Dakar Rally and the street version could hit nearly 200 mph. The athletic 944 debuted in 1983, as did a convertible version of the 911, something that had been missing for some years. The '80s also saw the rebirth of the 924, now with some muscle courtesy of the 944's strong-for-the-time (147-horsepower) inline four.

By the early 1990s the 928 had been discontinued and the 944 was replaced by the similar 968. Because of a lack of dynamic product and a tough market climate, Porsche was suffering financially. The company's savior, the Boxster roadster, debuted in 1997 and brought back the spirit of the old 550 Spyder. In 2003, Porsche committed what purists considered a sin as the company brought the Cayenne SUV to the market. However, once those enthusiasts discovered the Cayenne's sporting performance (especially in 450-hp turbo form) all was forgiven. The following year, Porsche brought out the ferocious (605-hp) Carrera GT supercar.

Today, Porsche's lineup is quite broad for a specialty automaker and now even includes a luxury super sport sedan, the Panamera. Throughout its history, Porsche has exhibited amazing resilience, weathering changes in consumer tastes and the economic climate. As such, it's safe to assume that this ever-robust company will continue to be known for making vehicles that excel at performance, luxury and usability.

User Reviews:

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  porshce no comparison - 2003 Porsche 911
  By bladeputter - November 22 - 2:00 am

  Short & Sweet : the best performance (everyday) car ever built.

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  This car wipes out the competition. - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Fast n da Privileged - November 20 - 10:00 am

  If youve been lucky enough to drive and even own one of these, you know exactly what Im talking about. Ive had the Viper and the Ferrari Modena. Viper is fast, but not refined in looks or performance. The Ferrari Modena is a gorgeous looking car but with 260lb torque, the engine roars like a dog in heat and the F1 transmission is jerky. The 911 Turbo is stupid fast, hugs the road and looks beautiful. The comfort is far superior to any other super sportscar Ive owned or test-driven. Its no MBZ S-class but for a sports car, its pretty damn good. Ive been lucky enough to have pretty much any car that I want and this one by far takes the cake for overall performance.

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  Whats Not to Like - 2003 Porsche 911
  By Wicked Good - November 18 - 1:03 pm

  Having had the pleasure of owning a few special cars, this is my first Porsche...whoa. The engine hanging off the rear end makes this the best feeling and handling car Ive driven. The exhaust note announces your arrival without being intrusive. Running through the gears of this fast, quick, beautiful car makes the commute something to look forward to. It is simply a great car. It makes me happy.

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  Very good, but had too high expectations - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By MYCAY - November 18 - 5:20 am

  I agree with the previous posts about light bulbs and transmission, and would add that the V6 is terribly underpowered esp. for the fuel economy. I just had one blinker bulb changed at the dealer at a cost of $80. Its not something I want to play around with myself in this car... the entire headlight assembly has to be removed to change any bulb. The engine is sadly underpowered but the transmission itself is enough to almost ruin the driving experience. I completely agree with the other reviewer who said this Japanese-made tranny does not do the job. I often wonder how Porsche engineers ever thought this engine/tranny combo was worthy of the Porsche badge because, in my opinion, its not.

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  perfect - 2004 Porsche CARRERA GT
  By cars_4_ever - November 16 - 2:00 am

  i love it plain and simple . most amazing ride of my life. i would recommend this car to anyone who can afford it .

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  Great Fun Car - 1999 Porsche Boxster
  By Ski - November 16 - 2:00 am

  What a great car! It makes my day each time I drive it. Handles well out of the box, but 1999 could use more power (more fun). Excellent service and NO PROBLEMS.

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  Awesome - 2002 Porsche 911
  By markkody - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Such a thrill starting this car up. City or highway, you feel the eyes on you and the power under your foot. The engine can be heard several blocks away when powering it up. The friends all love it. No complaints about this slick work of art.

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  All of these posts are BS - 2004 Porsche CARRERA GT
  By dc325ix - November 5 - 10:00 am

  As I read thru the 36 posts I have never seen such BS- none of you have driven the car nor do any of you own one- All I see is great car, very fast etc., gee no kidding-it has a V10 and 600+ hp- what did you think it was going to go 0-60 in 12 seconds. Can someone please post who actually owns one- talk about the color, interior, and if they got a chance to drive on a track or on the road. Then we might actually have honest feedback on the car etc., thanks.

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  Love my Cayenne - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By Beach - November 4 - 10:16 pm

  Wow! Always dreamed of a Porsche, never thinking it would be a SUV. Drives like a dream, rides smooth, sounds great and gets lots of looks. This is one fun auto to own. Maybe my next will be a little sports car!

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  My Third Porsche - 2006 Porsche 911
  By RYT - November 3 - 7:56 pm

  This is my third Porsche. I have had hard tops previously, but convertib les are the best. It is pretty quiet compared to the hard top. I got all options. I am not too happy with the Bose high end stereo though. It sounds flat. The exterior needs some changes. LED will be nice. This car is fun to drive. Its a real head turner. For daily use it is OK. It needs more luxury inside for $110,000.