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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  I think I made a mistake... - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Dano - December 18 - 1:56 pm

  I drooled over the Cayman for a month before finally buying the car. I think it is a real stunner in sheet metal, prettiest car on the road. I am starting to find the interior noise and the rough ride wearing on my nerves, especially if the pavement is rough. I came out of a 330ci that was a nice car and almost as peppy, but not as much fun to drive. The dealer suggested I change out the tires to a non performance model but that is a bit costly so I guess Ill just deal with the road noise. I cant imagine going on a long trip in the Cayman without plenty of Motrin. Starting to remind me of my ex - beautiful to look at but hard to take after awhile. Maybe I just miss my BMW.

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  It Drives Like a Porsche - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Olivier - December 12 - 6:20 pm

  I bought my Cayenne used, one year old. Im quite amazed at how it holds the road for such a heavy car and the way it really handles like a Porsche. It is a very good compromise, as its first- class in every situation, perfect handling on twisty roads, very good off-road (providing the right type of tyres) and very practical. It is not a true sports car of course, but still a very good every day car.

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  couldnt last a year - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By bearvine - December 7 - 10:00 am

  this thing is fun to drive and has the power but my god what a terrible ride...i tried to gut it out and keep this truck but my back and my butt cant take it.i have never been so dissappointed with a vehicle.i had it in the shop 4 times..the radio has a mind of its own....good bye cayenne... hello escalade

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  Porschesuv - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By billyboy - December 4 - 12:00 pm

  Like the power and quality of build. Transmission takes getting used to but tiptronic great. Can cruise forever at 80+. So far so good.

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  Not worth the money - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By scott - November 18 - 6:00 am

  The Cayenne is a very heavy sports car to put it kindly. Its not for the daily commute unless you enjoy being bounced around like a basketball. Gas mileage is 11mpg around town with premium. The suspension is so stiff my wifes afraid to drink her coffee on our commute. We have a 4runner that can easily hold its own with the Cayenne performance wise. My Tundra can easily keep up in a straight line. I know because I have "raced" my buddy while he drives the vehicles listed above. It currently has 17k miles and already has a tail light out. I also dont like the baby cupholders. For 70k get something with comfort and performance...its not the Cayenne.

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  cool ride - 1996 Porsche 911
  By Johnnybgoode - November 10 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car! I waited far too long to buy it. I love the 4th gear as it has a great pickup and a lot of range when you step on it. Handling is great as well!

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  Two years in - 2000 Porsche 911
  By Seamus - November 10 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Porsche. On the whole I am pleased with the car and would consider buying another (likely a Turbo as I really feel the car needs another 50+ hp). Reliability is fairly good although I and many other 996 owners have had new rear main oil seals. The last factory ECU tune downloaded at service now has the check engine light flashign on and off.

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  It just doesnt get any better. - 1996 Porsche 911
  By pc - November 9 - 1:16 am

  First, the prices listed on this site are ridiculously low...expect to pay about $65-70k for one 30-50k miles range, and premium for lower mileage. This is one of, if not the highest rated sports cars of all time...but who cares about them, if you like the look, the craftmanship, performance and drive will not disappoint. My friend with an NSX said he felt embarrassed with his Nissan next to the 911 TT. The styling is classic - why do you think Porsche ran back to it for the 997. This car is quick, fast, smooth, unbelievably stable, yet utilitarian enough to be my daily driver. Whats the point of having a great car you never drive...otherwise its just a really expensive piece of art.

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  Hedonism on wheels - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By DoktorT - October 27 - 6:56 pm

  I am a true porschephile, but the nose never realy worked for me and I actually prefer the looks of the Touerag. Then I drove it. End of story. I own a dozen porsche 911s, and a couple of turbos, and this is fast. It also handles suprisingly well. Its possible to get 21MPG on the highway if you can keep it under 70 and keep the cruise on. I did this for a short while after picking the car up in tampa and driving it 1000 miles home. I found that I could cruise at 75-80 with ocasional burts up to 100 and still keep avg MPG at 19.4. Well worth it for the fun factor. This car is loaded. It has taken me 2 days to learn the nav audio system but now it seems intuitive. A blast!

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  Amazing Car - Poor Quality - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Porsche bill - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Great car to drive, but rattles more than my Dodge pickup. Two weeks at the dealer did not fix the rattles, only created new ones. Now I know why Porsche has become the most profitable car company. I wont buy another. Dont buy a new Porsche if there is no dealer in your town. Im in the market for a MB.