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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  Porsche 911 Cabriolet Tiptronic - 2003 Porsche 911
  By rogerquinn - December 14 - 10:00 am

  These are great cars that are fun to drive. Ive had a number of what I thought were sports cars, but didnt realize what a sports car was until I bought the 911. Its about performance. They dont compromise to achieve more comfort, amenities or affordability. You simply wont believe what Porsche can do with a six cylinder engine. In short, its fabulous.

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  Porsche #4 - Cayenne 6 - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Don_Q - November 15 - 10:00 am

  Our only negatives are the owner manuals and CDs which are a muddle of information for the S and Turbo.

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  The Every-Day Super Car - 2003 Porsche 911
  By subzero288 - November 11 - 8:33 pm

  I bought a blue 03 C4S in Jan 08 with a 6-sp man & 64,000 miles on the odometer. Factory MSRP was over $82K (with destination), but I got it for 40. I had concerns cuz of the mileage, but it looked great, everything worked, the leather smelled new and the car rode as solid as a brinks truck. Having used it as a daily driver for 11 months, I can report that handling is phenomenal on a dry road (even with AWD and PSM, the car will spin if pushed in the wet), acceleration is sublime and the brakes are in a class of their own. The tear of the flat-6 when the revs pass 4000 makes the driver feel like hes in a race car. The C4Ss gorgeous turbo-style body draws envious stares.

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  Expenssive Maraca - 2003 Porsche 911
  By hector - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Porsche has poor quality control in their assembly. My vehicle was delivered with an annoying rattle from the dash and rear of the vehicle which has still to be completely corrected. The car has been in the shop three times already and will return. The dealership service department has been very gracious but the initial quality of the car has taken some of the joy of ownership out of the experience.

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  SUV Sports Car - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By Martin Santos - October 27 - 5:43 pm

  This is a sports car in an SUVs body. It is a pleasure to drive. Youll never know how fast youre going until the car behind you is flashing his red lights. The quality is typical for a Porsche. I test drove all of the new SUVs, including the 2007 BMW X5 and nothing comes close. If youre looking for a strictly utilitarian vehicle there are others that are far cheaper, but you cant beat this as far as driving pleasure and fun.

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  2005 Porsche Cayenne 6 Cyl. Review - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By Greg Wolfner - October 27 - 12:26 pm

  My Porsche Cayenns is an awesome SUV, I have the 6 cylinder model and would love to try the turbo. Make sure your Cayenne has the best headlights made. Im very disappointed in the standard headlights. This is not a very large SUV, the interior room is only fair. Keep in mind if you look to go off road that the stock tires are not designed for it. My final conclusion is that this is a 911 with a SUV Body. It is a lot of fun to drive!

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  Just fun to drive - 2009 Porsche 911
  By Rich - October 20 - 4:43 pm

  This is my 1st sports car and 1st convertible. I am very happy with my choice. Looks great, drives great, handles great and sounds great. PDK is the best tranny to date. Blows the DCT in BMW away. I should have gotten the steering wheel mounted controls, but other than that everything is perfect. In sports mode, this is an excellent sports car. Should be able to default the car to this setting vs. normal. Convertible top is quick, smooth and quiet. Has all of the amenities of a luxury car (provided you pay for them) and they all work well. Like they say, "Porsche, there is no substitute."

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  Obnoxious Performance - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By RCD - October 8 - 6:06 am

  The "Oh my god I cant believe how fast and loud that gorgeous SUV is" look I get from drivers when I roar past them, is alone worth the $130K I spent on this vehicle. It may not be as pretty as the Range Rover or as practical as the X5, but it is definitely the most fun to drive. I only wish they made a bigger gas tank because Im constantly having to fill it up (approx. 10 mpg). Ive previously owned a CLK Benz and an Audi Allroad, and they dont even compare to the 08 Cayenne Turbo in acceleration and handling. Even though the price is ridiculous, you only live once, and it would be a shame if I died and didnt get to experience the thrill of driving this once-in-a- lifetime vehicle.

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  What I wish I had known before purchasing! - 2017 Porsche Cayenne
  By NJ - September 19 - 9:01 pm

  I bought the Platinum edition Cayenne. Figured Id get all the important stuff, and thought I did. Guess you have to ask every question. Just because the button in the car says it has voice control doesnt mean it does. Found out the hard way. Very difficult to operate all the technology, like hands free phone calls and navigation with the car moving if you dont have the voice control. Cant turn off the navigation once it has started. No on/off button for the heat/AC system. You have to click the fan up or down multiple times to turn off. Annoying! In such a high-end car, Im VERY disappointed by the controls and lack of inclusion of the Voice Control. AND, it cant be retrofitted after the fact. I do like the keyless entry/start, the headlights that turn when you turn the wheel, the shades on the back windows, the extra side shades on the front windows, and the backup camera and front parking warning systems.

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  My First Porsche - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Rui Van-dunem - September 14 - 10:00 am

  My previous car was a 4.6is BMW X5.The S is a great car Black/Black combination is the best you can find because of its aggressivness.I also bought a Turbo but because i prefer the European version than the US one im still waiting 4 availability of one at my "fantastic car finder" dealer Van Vliet Automobildrijven in Holland,while waiting im driving the S that is fast and fun to drive.S version i think its a little bit slower than the X5 4.6is but after 2500RPM is much much fun to drive because after that it acelerates like a plane.Im very anxious to put my hands on my future cayenne Turbo because all i read is that it is unique.