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 Car, But Not a Daily Driver - 2009 Porsche Cayman
  By DeeM - July 31 - 2:03 pm

  The 2.9 L Cayman has plenty of power for the public roads with good low-end torque. Cabin space is limited while the rear window provides limited visibility. The exterior design grows on you and it is refreshing since the 911 has not changed much in its history. I had an issue with a missing key which took over 1 hour for the dealer to program. The passenger window does not close properly with automatic feature. I dislike Porsche dealers and salespeople - they think its so special. Its expensive. The interior materials are top quality now with lots of leather, alcantara, and carpeting. Fit is solid with only a minor rattle from passenger side. Ride is very hard, especially with 19"

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  Senior Citizen Says - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Miller - July 30 - 10:00 am

  We have had the car for 1500 miles. Everything about it is terrific except the transmission response in D3. It is a little flat when doing in city driving. If it is driven in Tiptronic, the transmission and the performance is awsome. The physical finishes in the car are first class.

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  A dream to drive - 2003 Porsche 911
  By foxydreamgirl13 - July 30 - 10:00 am

  This is truly a dream to drive. I owned a 96 carrera until August when I got my new 2003. The carrera is a classic car and the 2003 is rockin! A beautifully made car.

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  Fun to drive - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By PAUL - July 25 - 1:10 pm

  In the last two years Ive owned two Cayenne S. Things to note the air suspension and panoramic sun roof are worth the money, plus itll sell easier with them. The reliability however is bellow par! Plan on bringing it in monthly to change every bulb, followed by something else after that.

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  Rare and True Performance - 2004 Porsche 911
  By Mr.Michael - July 23 - 8:00 am

  The GT3 is a 100% performance vehicle. Its very low production has made the price of these cars stable. You do get what you pay for, however. The car keeps you very alert. Correct driver input is required. This is a real drivers car. It has no electronic traction control or stability management aids, no sunroof, no rear seats. Just a raw 911 driving experience.

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  Diesel Diva - 2013 Porsche Cayenne
  By Gail Leonard - July 19 - 5:51 pm

  No longer available in the US in the diesel version, which is a shame, because it combines all the fun of driving a Porsche SUV with the fuel economy of a diesel. The diesel version has much better pickup than the base gasoline Cayenne and is just a blast to drive - those 400 plus foot pounds of torque make the vehicle leap from a flat start. If you put it into the optional Sport mode, its just sick. Its my perfect vehicle.

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  Great Sports Car - 2004 Porsche Boxster
  By Proud Porsche owner - July 18 - 2:00 am

  This is the finest sports car I have ever owned. Its not the fastest car I own but its the best handling one. I have always looked at Porsche as the leader in fine sports cars and am certainly glad to own one. I presently own five other convertables but consider this the best sports car.

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  porsche - 2004 Porsche Boxster
  By plw - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Attractive exterior, retractable hardtop, quick operations, accurate and pinpoint driving, great price for a porsche

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  Awesome Car - 1996 Porsche 911
  By andyboy46 - July 15 - 5:46 am

  I test drove dozens of Porsches & read a lot about all models, from early 993s, 996s, Turbo 996s and a couple of 997s. There is nothing that compares to the style, sound, power, build quality of the amazing 993 car. It is practical and fun to drive. In my opinion the last of the air cooled Porsche was and still is the best, most stylish all round sports car on the road. Every time I get behind the wheel I am glad I bought the "old school" model, it has a style and personality that will never be manufactured again. It took me 6 months to get used to it but I just love this car.

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  Love at first sight - 2004 Porsche CARRERA GT
  By Nicole Victoria Neal - July 14 - 10:00 am

  When I saw this car 4 the 1st time...I thanked Porsche for making this beautiful car.