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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  M3 killer? - 2005 Porsche Boxster
  By tmc - April 19 - 9:46 am

  I owned an E46 BMW M3 convertible (current M3 for those who dont know) and this car blows it away. How can 276 hp beat 333? Its lighter and handles amazingly through the curves. I compared it to a Z4 3.0i and the Boxster S won hands down. Its hard to find the limits of this car in a turn, its just that planted. And the engine sounds great! My only regret is I wish I had gotten sport chrono for the remapped accelerator option, but thats not all that important in the scheme of things. Suggestion to anyone buying one: get a good radar dectector!

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  Best yet - 2002 Porsche 911
  By 177MPH - April 17 - 2:00 am

  This 996 is the best "911" yet. Great blend of handling, speed and comfort. Truly an "adult" sports car. Class and panache.

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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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  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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  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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  so much power - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By xanga - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Man i love this Suv i used to own a 2000 Bmw X5 that was a good car but this one is way better. their is too much eletronics i dont even know how to use but i like the navi.but i dont know if this Cayenne has a rollover senor.but over all this car is the bomb!

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  fast powerful expensive - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By asl - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive with amazing acceleration and braking. Thrilled with car, less so with service and cost of service. Need snow tires if you live where it snows. Too much torque for all weather tires. Handles well in snow with the snow tires. You either love or hate the look. I love it. Porsche has a driver training school in Birmingham( a day for off road and a day at the track. Expensive but recommended

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  Major Electonics problems - 2009 Porsche Cayenne
  By Great - BUT - BAD el - January 17 - 6:33 pm

  This is the BEST driving car I have ever had, BUT the PCM does not work. It resets every 3 min and Porsche does NOT have a fix. It has been over 4 months and still no fix. My understanding that ALL top level Porsches have this problem. Too bad because it is the best driving car I have ever had. I will not buy another.

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  Fun To Drive, When its not leaking - 2000 Porsche 911
  By markmjm - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I sold my 95 NSX because it couldnt safely accommodate children. My 2000 911, of course, can do this, and its more comfortable, it offers more technology (in terms of safety, performance, etc.), and it is about as much fun to drive. However, despite good JD Power reliability ratings I have been disappointed. With only 6000 easy miles on the odometer, Ive had to deal with 3 oil leaks -- a pinched O-ring, a leaky valve cover, and in the past few days, the main oil seal has begun to fail. I understand that 911s have a reputation for oil leaks but this is a bit much, especially compared to that NSX....

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  Reliable, fun daily commuter car - 2001 Porsche 911
  By Madmanners - December 30 - 10:33 am

  I bought it late 2004 after crashing my 94 SL500 (183,000 miles). This car is seriously fun to drive. Passengers might complain about the very firm ride; but I am all smiles as I straighten every curve! My only real complaint is the Porsche tax, which makes the Mercedes tax look reasonable. However, this car has been the most reliable German car that Ive owned. The rear main seal failed at 99,500 miles (replaced under 100,000 mile warranty), the ignition key housing cracked (not a warranty item), I replaced the clutch when the rear main seal failed, the cooling system leaked twice, and the ac condenser had to be replaced. This is car is not an Infiniti. Otherwise, routine maintenance.