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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  What Fun - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Scott - October 12 - 10:36 pm

  I have had the 04 Cayenne S for two months and it has exceeded my expectations. The vehicle is a blast to drive and handles great. The fact that it can handle like a sports sedan and still be an SUV is amazing. I have had a couple of warranty repairs - a rattle and a drivetrain issue, nothing crazy for a car with 37,000 miles. Overall I am quite pleased.

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  Turbo, the only way to go - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Jimmy Wu - October 6 - 10:00 am

  The turbo model is a true Porsche vehicle.

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  Its not what I wanted but ... I cant help liking it! - 2007 Porsche Boxster
  By tomfla - September 29 - 6:47 am

  I really wanted an Elise, but ... I bought the Silver Bullet with 43K miles on her. I have had the base model 2007 Boxster for 3 months/ 7000 miles. I have had no mechanical issues with the car. I did have to replace the front brakes and rear main seal but that is to be expected in a used Boxster of this age. The black leather interior is quite nice, there are no cracks even at 50K miles. Interior comfort features are somewhat as space is at a premium. Build quality, fit and finish are better than I expected.

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  Favorite sports car! - 2010 Porsche 911
  By freddys555 - September 14 - 11:43 pm

  41,000 miles giving me many smiles each time I drive her. The dual clutch PDK system made by Aisin is flawless and communicates very well with my input. The smart HID headlights by Koito was a major improvement when compared to my 2006 model. I bought the base model coupe because I have a 06 Turbo. Huge driving impression difference, a totally different car than the Turbo. I hate to say that I have had numerous reliability issues. Engine, oil consumption, electrical problems! Replacement of EGV took 4 weeks, failure to diagnose electrical issues for 3 weeks, and a few more hellish issues. But this is an amazing machine and its driving impressions outweigh all the demerits experienced...

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  You get what you pay for.... - 2001 Porsche Boxster
  By sbathina - August 30 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It is pricey but probably worth it. I drive a junker during the week so im constantly reminded of the excellent handling of the car. I drove a 350z last week for comparison. I wont be trading in my porsche! Plusses- Good acceleration no modifications meeded EXCELLENT brakes Minuses- Fit and finish sometimes lacking

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  If you want a smooth and quiet ride... - 1999 Porsche Boxster
  By AndyInAtlanta - July 5 - 4:53 pm

  Dont buy a boxster if you are looking for a comfortable, smooth luxury ride. I didnt realize getting performance (so to speak) meant having my teeth jarred loose over every pothole. I understand a sports car needs to feel the road, but do I have to have my face rubbed in it? I guess I have a Princess and the Pea attitude, cuz I hate feeling every little bump in the road. I love the car, the power is ok, the styling is amazing, but they need some kind of upgrade or option for smooth ride. For any sports enthusiast that says thats just the way sports cars drive - not exactly true. Corvettes feel SO much more comfortable. But the boxster was a better value for the $s.

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  Fun , fast , and refined - but....... - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Bullit - July 5 - 10:00 am

  This is the most comfortable and refined sports car I have ever owned or driven . It can be used as a daily driver - its easy to shift , loads of power , even at low revs. Handling is relatively neutral , steers like a go- kart , and the brakes inspire confidence. But Porsche initial quality is poor. At 2500 miles , main oil seal replaced along with a clutch. Clutch was bad from the start. Memory option on seats didnt work - dealer had to rewire the seats. FM Presets didnt work on the stereo - dealer hasnt replaced it yet after 6 months . Hello -do you want me to buy another Porsche?

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  Fun SUV, but lots of bugs - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By mts - July 2 - 3:36 am

  This SUV drives more like a sports sedan than an SUV. It is an absolute blast to drive on a daily basis. I also use it to tow my racecar to the track and with its 7,700 towing capacity there are very few if any competing vehicles that has both of these qualities. It has excellent brakes and the V6, thought not a speed demond like the S and turbo models, does quite well and will be more than adequate for most owners. The downside to this vehicle is it comes stuffed with plenty of build quality bugs. Most are only annoyances, but they are still completely unacceptable for a premium brand like Porsche. If you can overlook these small problems it may be for you. Otherwise look elsewhere.

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  True Porsche - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By docfyre - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Sexxy styling for a SUV. Gets lots of attention. Very fun to drive. Gas mileage is pretty bad. Mine has already gone in the shop for replacement of computer system. Somehow it got currupt and the vehicles electronic system went haywire.

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  Turbo Porsche 911 Review - 2003 Porsche 911
  By mrazmba - May 31 - 10:00 am

  Where to begin.... This car is FAST. Takes turns at high speeds without feeling G-Force. Smooth design allows fellow drives to awe in its beauty. Only one drawback, if you dont pay attention to speed limits, the police are easily readible to give a citation. No warning here, just tickets.