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:

• 

  The Car - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By fcompagnino - July 30 - 9:20 pm

  This car is just a pleasure to drive also its power is amazing...i also like the luxury features

• 

  its awesome - 2002 Porsche 911
  By tbleo - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Just one drive is all that it will take to understand.

• 

  Poor Quality From Porsche - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By PorscheSux999 - July 20 - 3:13 pm

  I bought a Cayenne S 2 yrs ago. To date, it has spent over 45 days in the shop. I continue to have recurring random warning messages come up. Like others, I did have alignment issues in the first 8,000 miles which cost me $350 for the alignment and $1,200 for new tires (I didnt buy them from the dealer). The car is still having issues and Porsche has given up on fixing them because they dont know how to. I was told they would buy it back from me but after 4 weeks, they decided not to. Worst luxury car I ever bought. Going back to MB and BMWs. NEVER AGAIN!

• 

  A pleasure to drive (6 Cyl) - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By Papparaz - July 20 - 7:20 am

  I test drove a 4Runner and an MDX. The Cayenne was just too fun to pass up. I bought used from a dealer who provided additional 2 years CPO warranty. The tiptronic in manual mode gives adequate pep but my wifes Avalon is still faster 0-60. Passes well on the highway. Exhaust note is a nice touch - except when listening to music. No tow bar installed yet but it is planned so hope there is enough power. The park assist option is both handy and annoying but it can be turned off by pushing a button. Everyone seems to agree the cup holders are too small. Can idle rough after cold start if fuel < 93 octane. Overall I just love driving this vehicle and have had no problems after 3 months.

• 

  a masterpiece - 2004 Porsche 911
  By nick hunter - July 19 - 10:00 am

  the porsche gt2 is one of the sleekest, most refined cars of the new millennium. The price is the only thing that drives the normal, everyday car-buyer away from it. Honestly though, it remains in a class of its own due to the classic porsche standard of making the worlds greatest sports cars.

• 

  fun , cool - 2003 Porsche 911
  By zgo zug fee - July 17 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE IT its the best thing that i ever bought

• 

  Not for everyone - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By wesrx - July 15 - 9:40 am

  My Cayenne V6 is wonderful to drive although the acceleration is slow unless you use the manual mode. The handling is superb and road feel is good with quick response to emergency maneuvers. Visibility is good on both sides. It is fun to drive and you do not get tired driving the car for long distances. I am satisfied with my ownership and driving the Cayenne.

• 

  Great Sports Car - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By thecory - July 13 - 8:46 am

  Fun to drive and plenty of power. Im 62" and comfortable although the seat is all the way back. Still plenty of head room. Standard seats really hug you might be a little narrow for someone over 200 lbs. Tall passenger seat totally obscures the small window behind the door creating a blind spot. They can also hit and damage the headliner if not careful. Bose system has too much bass but a satisfactory adjustment can be made. The wheel size makes a huge difference in ride quality and the larger wheels will probably lead to more rattles with time. The used Caymans I drove with 17s felt sold and had little rattling. 18s were a little worse and 19s were much worse. I went with 18s for looks.

• 

  911 S Noise - 2011 Porsche 911
  By tsmalley - July 12 - 10:52 pm

  I purchased my 2011 Carrera 911 S July 3, 2010. I have put about 7500 miles on it. With so many Porsche "Options" to choose, from, one of the options should be the "QUIET" option (Road Noise). At most times over 60 mph, you cant hear the radio. At cruising speeds on the interstate, theres no point trying to listen or talk for that matter. The second issue I have is with the comfort. The seats are just plain hard and not comfortable for a long drive. They are infinitely adjustable but the basic comfort is not there. With 30 plus years of making the same car, one would think concepts like noise and comfort might be an OPTION for this vehicle.

• 

  Cayenne S - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By N - July 8 - 12:03 am

  Cannot complain about this vehicle at all! Excellent ride and incredibly comfortable. Definite a head turner vehicle.