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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  Got Speed - 1996 Porsche 911
  By jamesd - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Porsche There is no substitute. This car is absolutely amazing. Especially when you consider its age. Good god I wish I could afford a Turbo. The way this car moves so fast and smooth puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. Its what personifies the terms sports car. Dont expect the comfort of a lincoln but expect the fun of a rollercoaster. "GET U ONE!"

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  Proud Owner - 2002 Porsche Boxster
  By Val Taylor - March 31 - 12:50 pm

  This car is the funnest car that I have ever driven. So balanced that it reminds me of the racing carts I had when I was in my teens. The only problem I have had with it is the ignition switch had to be replaced (factory recall or something). Car is reliable, high performance, and certainly lives up to the Porsche reputation. Have driven some friends 911s and the Boxster definitely handles better.

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  Best Car On The Planet - 2007 Porsche 911
  By Don - March 30 - 2:46 pm

  My 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is the finest car I have ever driven. The base price ($98,600) is high, though, and the options list is long and very expensive. I ordered $28,000 in options so the car priced out around $132,000. Wait until you can afford your dream car before trying a new Porsche purchase, you wont regret it when its sitting in your garage.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By SRB - March 19 - 4:40 pm

  This is by far the best handling, fun to drive car Ive ever owned. The styling is classic. The precision steering and great brakes make it feel safe at all times.

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  Lotofun - 2004 Porsche CARRERA GT
  By Michael Wriggley - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Very nice but a strain to go any place with out people hurding around the vehicle.

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  2000 Boxster, 5-speed - 2000 Porsche Boxster
  By Jim Arnold - March 18 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Porsche and the one thing I didnt anticipate was that the car would be so well made and reliable. The car had no flaws whatsoever when I received it and to this day, Ive had only very, very minor repairs. The car is an absolute pleasure to drive, it performs well and runs as smoothly and as tightly as the day I got it which is amazing considering I drive it every day to work in heavy traffic, starting and stopping constantly. The car currently has 36,000 miles on it and I have no hesitation to buy it outright when my lease is up in a couple of months. I would highly recommend this car to anyone!

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  No Garage Queen Here - 2005 Porsche 911
  By Ed - March 18 - 8:03 am

  After logging 1,000+ miles in the first 2.5 weeks of ownership, I can already tell it will be difficult to keep the annual mileage under 15,000. It is that much fun and that easy to drive. The 6-speed transmission and clutch are no problem, even in heavy traffic. I went for the "S" over the base, after realizing that I would be adding PASM, xenon lights and a sport steering wheel to the base model. So the net difference for the bigger engine and 30 extra horsepower was "only" about $6,000. I highly recommend the Sport Chrono for the enhanced throttle response. The navigation system is OK, but not as good as Acuras. My two daughters, 7 & 10, fit reasonably comfortably in the back seats. This is the ultimate "family car"!

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  Porche Cayenne-Great vehicle - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By Mike Bement - March 6 - 11:20 pm

  This is the perfect vehicle for me. I love the speed of a sports car. I love the head room and storage room of an SUV. The Turbo Cayenne does it all. It is absolutely beautiful. Mike Bement

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  Poor Engineering or a lemon? - 2010 Porsche Panamera
  By CB III - March 4 - 6:43 pm

  So took possession of my Panamera in March of 10. Strange noise from the car engine right after delivery. The master tech @ Porsche stated nothing was wrong. After I kept insisting something was wrong, the North Amer Porsche tech looked at it. Needs a new transmission! This passed Friday, the engine failed. Brought it in and the Porsche dealer stated they could look at it in a couple of weeks. I have owned 7 Series BMWs since 96. Never had service with an attitude like this in all my years with BMW. So the car looks great, drives extremely well, but I am seriously concerned about the engineering. Did they push this model out to quickly? Did they train the techs to service it?

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  Cayenne Diesel Delivers - 2013 Porsche Cayenne
  By reed23 - February 26 - 11:59 am

  This review after first 5k mile mice ... low end torque makes the car quick at all speeds. Transmission shifts are butter smooth. Doesnt sound like a diesel. Gas mileage on the road is low 30s, in town mid 20s. Interior is quiet and ride is all Porsche. First oil change was $200 at dealer. Build quality is excellent. Nav is best in class. Traded an X5 and what a difference. Cant wait to get in and drive!