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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  Great Roadster by Porsche - 1997 Porsche Boxster
  By Legion - February 17 - 2:56 pm

  I have had my 1997 Boxster for 5 years, I have a blast with this car, the engine note is music to anyone lucky enough to hear it. This car has been very reliable, this was the first year for this car and it was made in Germany, newer ones are made out of the country and still have great quailty and reliability. This car is great for a get away weekend or a nice sunday drive. This car also functions well as a daily driver. Two trunks give you plenty of room for shopping and getaways! On the track this car comes alive, with its mid engine design, it gives even the most basic drivers a sure footed feel. The best roadster of the bunch, this car is very well regarded in Europe.

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  Great car - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By pbschroeder - February 7 - 11:30 pm

  We have had this car for about a month. It is much faster than our 06 Boxster. The engine sounds great. We have an automatic, which makes it a bit of a gas hog, but it shifts quickly and rockets away from the line.

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  Goodbye SL500 Hello 911 - 2005 Porsche 911
  By 05Black911 - January 14 - 12:00 pm

  After a series of problems with my new 03 SL500, I decided to roll the dice and replace it with an 05 911 Carrera. Wow, what a difference! The Porsche is a weekend car, and I love the way it handles through the southern California canyons on the weekends compared to the much heavier SL roadster. The six speed shifter is well designed and easy to use (although I have to wait another thousand miles or so on the odometer to really push it to the redline). Im also impressed with the fit and finish of the car -- so far not one mechanical defect. Ive owned several MBs and BMWs (my daily driver is an X5 SUV), and so far I dont feel the Porsche will be as problematic as past experiences.

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  concern owner - 2004 Porsche Boxster
  By otto ockleberry - January 9 - 10:00 am

  Car has been all that I wanted in a sport car. But I have some reservation about it being a everyday vehicle. Finding a resonable mechanic for mantenace and repairs is not an option.

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  Great Car, but Overpriced - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Scott - December 17 - 6:13 am

  I wanted to test drive the new entry level Porsche. The Boxster S is the same price so it is a better deal. I liked the car, but it needs 50 more horses to really be worth the $55,000 price tag. The handling and shifter are the best. Compared to BMWs and the Corvette, which both cost same amount, this Cayman is way more fun to drive and it has better handling. But 245HP is way to weak for a $55,000 car. Porsche also needs to stop jacking people on the options which can easily add $10,000 - $20,00 more to the cars price. Skip the Cayman and get the Cayman S or 911. But that engine sounds sweet!

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  Manage your expectations - 1997 Porsche Boxster
  By RavenFan - November 19 - 10:00 am

  First, this is a fun car. I purchased this a replacement for my Vette. It turns just as many heads, but bang-for- your-buck, the Corvette and S2000 are clear winners in the price category. However, this car is far more reliable. The power is limited and the exhaust note is soft. A little cramped inside for the six footer. Minor problems and it eats tires.

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  Cayenne GTS manual - 2009 Porsche Cayenne
  By pulluru - November 17 - 7:23 pm

  Was surprised how good the ride, comfort, and build quality was. With winter tires, handles great in snow. My cousin who just bought a BMW 3 series, took it for a hard drive and couldnt stop talking about fun it was to drive. If only I didnt have to fill the tank every other day. Get the dynamic chassis control option if you can; worth all the pennies.

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  great car - 2017 Porsche Cayenne
  By David wang - November 14 - 7:47 pm

  some dealers do not provide more option or price option for consumers (cars type)

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  911 S way to go - 2006 Porsche 911
  By John - November 1 - 6:30 pm

  I purchased this car used one year ago and I am still going around driving it just for fun on a daily basis. This car is just plain fun to drive. It picks you up, keeps you happy. For a car I cannot think of a better purchase. Ferrari? Got 200K? Lotus? Looks like a Go Cart. Vette? Stiff American muscle car, no sophistication. Sorry, but this car is tops. Expensive but not unreal. I can think of no faults. Sure, it could use a blue tooth and XM Radio options but this is just a classy, amazing automobile. Buy one before life passes you by! Oh, and if you live in a nice climate get the convertible!! Just adds 50% more fun to the drive. Amazing car.

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  996 C2 - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Val (Folsom,CA) - October 25 - 10:00 am

  New transmission put in at 1,200 miles. I constantly travel much faster than what it seems. The E-gas seems to be inconsistent and I still kill the engine when not reving high enough when engaging 1st gear. Weird clutch engagement.