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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  Best 911 model hnds down - 1996 Porsche 911
  By Big Ed - October 6 - 12:30 am

  Buy one now before the price goes up and dont worry about the mileage if serviced properly. A lot of folks will recommend buying the "newest 911" you can afford. Dont believe it. My car has 180,000 miles and the only service has been oil changes. Keep the revs over 3,000 rpms. My local Porsche dealership manager drives one. This is last of the air-cooled 911s and this car has evolved to perfection with over 20-years of continuous engineering improvements that came from Porsches racing engineering history. The new 911s (997 series) are made to look like these. Why? Because it is a mobile Object Dart. My car is 14yo and still folks jaws drop at the gas pump and heads turn.

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  Great car - 2009 Porsche 911
  By craig - October 5 - 8:06 pm

  Had an 05 Boxster S. Bought this car with full leather, navigation, blue tooth, xm and bigger wheels. Great car and a lot of fun. Appreciate the higher performance but comes with a significantly higher price and less everyday livability vs. Boxster. Miss the rear trunk for golf clubs.

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  First Porsche - 2006 Porsche 911
  By John Patronis - October 5 - 7:36 pm

  This is the car I have been wanting for years and I am not dissapointed. This 2006 911 is rapidly becoming my daily driver. The more I drive it the more I appreciate the quality and the experience it provides as well as being very user friendly for the daily errands etc....but when you need to get on it hold on because it can hang with the best. This is my first Porsche, but it wont be my last. Thumbs up to Porsche for the ultimate vehicle.

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  Simply the Best - 2005 Porsche Boxster
  By todd - October 4 - 1:40 pm

  I have a VW Touareg, an Audi TT and a 03 Porsche Carrera and the new Boxster is the most fun to drive and the best of the lot. The fun of the TT Roadster with the legendary Porsche quality and performance. Its like I mated my Carrera and my TT and the 05 Boxster S was Born!

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  Porsche Carrerra - 2006 Porsche 911
  By Carl Barnhill - September 28 - 3:06 pm

  What a terrific driving experience! This car has speed, handling, flexibility, grace, style and power. It is easy to drive and the performance is even more than expected.

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  Great car! - 2007 Porsche Boxster
  By Cindy - September 27 - 2:33 pm

  It handles like a sports car, but has a very smooth ride. I still cant believe the power in acceleration. I traded in a Mazda Miata, so this is quite a step up. It functions very well as an everyday car, and the storage space is a bonus. This is certainly a car you can take on a weekend with luggage. There are so many features including an onboard computer that it may be months before I know the full potential of this vehicle. The downside (or upside depending on your perspective) is Ill probably never buy any other car than a Porsche.

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  Its a street-able race car, not a Bentley - 2014 Porsche 911
  By 911 Jack - September 24 - 11:45 pm

  You dont buy any 911 thinking its a practical family car! Its an expensive car that costs a lot for parts, service, etc. Ive had 2, both 2014 a CarerraS and a Turbo S. I have never had 1 problem!! I was sent to the Porsche drivers school and found out the cars were all brand new (when I was there) and heres the break in: turn them over to student drivers who dont know proper track driving and drive the cr@p out of them. I was told they sell them to selected dealers with full warranty/extended if the buyer purchases it, and all they do is change the oil and tires. Their purchasers know of this arrangement and there is apparently a waiting list for these cars. To me that spoke volumes. My turbo at the track had 139 miles on it (I could be confusing models) and there was not 1 issue the entire day I was there. If you can afford the price and the prices that go along with such a car, IMHO you cant beat the experience if you like German sports cars. My dealership has an incredibly high repeat customer base. If the cars were "bad" none of the above would be true. Im sure there are not so great cars that get built, but to act like this is the norm is just wrong. Again I own 2 2014s, and have driven them to death. I bought a Macan based on my 911 experience and while Ive only had it a few months, it is built like a tank, with a surprisingly comfortable ride.

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  2003 911 - 2003 Porsche 911
  By madhav pai - September 22 - 9:16 pm

  Its a piece of history! After 40 years Porsche has finally tuned its chassis against the laws of physics. Its amazing to drive and so reliable. No other super car can reach 100,000 miles and still run smoothly. The Germans know how to build and it shows on the JD Power survey.

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  Amazing value, amazing car - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By Brit - September 19 - 12:56 pm

  This is my first Porsche. I bought a 2 year old Turbo for about half the new price. All I can say is that it has been fantastic and the higher running costs should be more than offset by the fact that it has taken most of its depreciation!

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  Wonderful CS - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By enjoyPorsche - September 15 - 5:16 pm

  This is a sports car on steroids. For its size, it should not be possible to move as efficiently when prompted by the right, or even the left, pedal. Interior is beautiful. Nice lines and great color of black with aluminum accents, very sporting. Really do enjoy driving this car every day. Often take this car out on trips over the 996, and not due to the weather. So glad that we decided on Porsche over the VW. Extra payment well worth knowing Im driving the best of the best. No regrets. Great handling in wet weather.