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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  Wow - 2010 Porsche 911
  By Manooge - May 27 - 4:20 pm

  This is the first Porsche of any model Ive owned. Wow! Blows away the Vette I purchased in 1976 and the recent models Ive driven during my test drive phase. Also test drove BMW M3, Camaro, Mercedes SL and this is a wonderful piece of engineering. The handling is superb and the engine performance sublime.

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  Super SUV - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By RockDaBoat - May 25 - 5:06 pm

  This is what you get when you want a supercar, but are looking for versatility and comfort. It drives like a sports car, it can beat most of them out there, comfort for 5. When youre driving up the mountain for some R&R at the lake, there is no better car to get that fun drive and bring along your family and gear! Name one other besides a Maserati 4 door? Porsche is known to be one of the only reliable sport cars, think Lambo, Ferrari, Aston Martin, would you buy any of them with over 80,000 mile on them? Porsche sells with no issues with high mileage for a reason! This is the top pick when buying the SUV of your dreams!

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  Boxster S is awesome - 2003 Porsche Boxster
  By tpdj - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Nothing but good things to say about the car. Handles exceptionally well. Fun to drive. Great weekend getaway car that can handle luggage for two people for up to a week or more on the road. Acceleration is smooth, not neck breaking. But can hit high speeds before you know it. The sound coming out of the pipes and the intakes is unique and music to the ears. Top is easy to put down and up, and when up is surprisingly well-insulated from wind noise.

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  Cayenne S Excellent Family / Sports SUV - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By randy - May 23 - 10:36 am

  I bought a Porsche Cayenne about three weeks ago and simply love it. It has great handling as well as a sports car feel. It is not the best on gas, but what V8 is these days. Unless you get lost often, the navigation system is about $2,000+ and not a lot of fun after the first week. The moonroof is nice at night. This truck provides overall great performance and it is practical as well.

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  911 Turbo fills the Bill - 2008 Porsche 911
  By Max Revs - May 15 - 12:53 pm

  The 997 Turbo Coupe is another leap forward for Porsche. This new model has enthusiastic power across a wide power band, incredible acceleration, and superb handling. While it would be at home on any racing circuit, it also is easy to drive around town and in traffic. It is unusual to find a car that performs so well in a straight line, in the twisties, and can still serve as a daily driver if desired. When the turbos kick in the car will really set you back in the seat.

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  Boxster at the top of the buyers - 2005 Porsche Boxster
  By boxster buyer - May 12 - 5:06 am

  Great car. Overall perfect. Porsche could have made it a little faster and more powerfull but overall its a great car.

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  excellent sports car/SUV/luxury car - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By 2thdoc - May 11 - 2:00 am

  this car can do it all. It has 450 hp, and still gets 18 mpg freeway. It can take the place of 3 cars. Love the twin turbo engine.....and the wide mouth front. Adjustable suspension is great, as is the stereo, brakes, handling, interior , all the amenities and features of comfort.

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  best porsche yet - 2002 Porsche 911
  By rkrk - May 10 - 10:00 am

  this car becoms part of you when its driven hard

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  Wow! - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By djhyeon - May 4 - 8:00 am

  Never had a Porsche until now. Owned an Acura for 8 years. Looked around for a fun SUV. Tried Highlander, Pilot, Murano, MDX, Infiniti, and then accidentally Cayenne. Wow..What a ride. Cool, full of power, firm, tight..sold on Cayenne..Excellent Sand/Havana Beige interior w/Black outside. Life is short.. Enjoy while you can. Will definitely have tons of fun with this one..

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  Best in the World - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By Robert Riess - May 4 - 12:43 am

  This is a SUV that drives like a sports car. It handles great and there are no problems...no rattles...everything is top notch