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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  Fun to drive - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By dporsche - April 24 - 2:00 am

  The Cayenne S is a superb vehicle to drive. It has the performance and handling (18 inch wheels) that matches or exceeds virtually every car that I have ever driven. The ride is quite and comfortable and the handling is top-notch. The DVD is well integrated with the audio system and is a worthwhile option. Good workmanship on interior and exterior components. I havent had a chance to try it off- road yet.

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  My car - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Toxic - April 24 - 2:00 am

  The most exilirating part is that when you drive fast, you do not even feel at which speed you are driving at, and the faster you drive it, it feels sturdier. I was a proud owner of a Range Rover, but this car was so slow in acceleration it drove me crazy. And to top it off, it was always in the shop, always some kind of technical problems! Not to mention the amount of gas it guzzled! This car is an SUV, a safe family car, yet deliciously sporty, fast and sexy! The gas does disappear fast, but still beats a Range Rover.

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  2013 Boxster S - 2013 Porsche Boxster
  By gmg66 - April 23 - 5:59 pm

  Ive had my Boxster for about one year and have put 2,500 miles on it. The overall fit and finish, and build quality on the car is extremely high. I have not had any problems with it. Its a blast to drive. As another review stated, it is deceptively fast. I ordered my car with the 6MT and the shifting is the best of any car Ive ever driven - the location and feel are just perfect. The handling surprised me - the rear end slides out on fast corners but in a very controlled manner which just contributes to the fun to drive factor. Overall a great driving, very high quality, stunning looking car.

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  hot - 2004 Porsche 911
  By rags - April 19 - 10:00 am

  best car I ever owned, hot

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  Carrera 2s - 2008 Porsche 911
  By mark fisher - April 17 - 6:20 am

  My seventh 911, and each successive model gets better and better. The car is now totally updated for the 21st century with huge improvements in handling, comfort, and performance. Have owned many premium automobiles (MB, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Corvette) and for my money, the 911S is simply the best car in the world.

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  Porsche Cayenne S: 8 cylinder - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By the dog woman - April 14 - 12:43 am

  Safe, extremely sound and you know exactly where you are on the road, no floating, the driver is always in complete control: and just cant wait to get back in and DRIVE..

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  it is very much fun to drive - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By berdie giattina - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Interior takes a while to get used to, too many options that take awhile to learn to use.

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  Porsche Cayenne S - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Jim Ball - April 13 - 10:00 am

  I pruchased this vehicle about 1 month ago, it is truly a great car. The prosche name has lived up to its history. I saw this car about a year ago at the auto show and was impressed then, I finally got around to buying one. The quality is very impressive, the power is very strong and the finish is all porsche. I have never owned a porsche so this is a new experience for me, I was not let down.

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  Best SUV on the Market - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By Asif Matin - April 4 - 12:16 pm

  This is the best SUV in this class. Every dollar is worth it. Before I bought this, I drove a BMW X5 and a Mercedes ML 350. They do not compare to the Cayenne. Its gas mileage is excellent. This is the best SUV you can get.

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  Boxster S - 2003 Porsche Boxster
  By stlmc - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Overall, a fantastic car. Although there are faster cars for less $ out there, nothing handles like it. By far the best-looking convertible on the road in my opinion. Two problem areas Ive had though - terribly squeaky clutch that the dealer took 2 days to fix, and a minor exhaust leak that was also fixed. Otherwise, a great car. A 911 would be nice, but this car looks almost identical on the interior and the front half of the exterior, for $30k less.