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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  Targa/Review - 2003 Porsche 911
  By msadvntrous - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I have never driven such an amazing machine. At first I had to take it easy to learn how to handle the power and respect the car. I love the acceleration power, the handling is uncomparable, you have to get use to the weight in the rear engine compartment, the auto correcting feature has kicked in a couple of times and I have been saved from a spin out. I give the targa a 10+

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  996 turbo coupe 911 tip - 2003 Porsche 911
  By ricktperry - March 29 - 10:00 am

  fine car, except for some interior rattles everything seems fine. dealer fixed a few of them but the seat belt retractors sound like they rattle the sun visors are the only cheesey item i have found in the entire car

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  Love at First Sight, Every Time ... - 2001 Porsche 911
  By HTTP403 - March 29 - 2:03 am

  My Porsche 911 never fails to exceed my expectations. Whether it is a drive up to the cottage, a cross country trip to the East Coast (2,500 km), competing in Targa Newfoundland, taking it to Mosport for track days or going out for groceries this car delivers whatever is required. The running costs of the car arent excessive and insurance wasnt a killer (one of the benefits of middle age). Five years after buying it Im still surprised at how much fun it is and how great it looks. If youre a car fan you owe it to yourself to get into one of these if you can. And the good news is they just keep getting better!

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  Perfectly balanced - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By John - March 29 - 12:50 am

  The blend of handling, braking and acceleration makes the car a joy to drive. I purchased a basic model (non-s, 5 speed, 19 inch wheels, bose, heated seats) which was actually hard to find. If you want to pay for all the other goodies go for it, but they are expensive and some add quite a bit of weight. Trust me, you wont miss them and you can save 25 grand. Its a drivers car all the way but remarkably comfortable, quiet, and it really does get the 29 mpg highway.

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  The 2.7 (aka base) Cayman - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Don - March 24 - 3:53 pm

  Much has been written/said about the Cayman s; all justified. The Cayman 2.7 has enjoyed fewer reviews, yet it remains a totally engaging Porsche. It has the same platform, same build quality, same fun to drive, better fuel economy (mine gets 27-28 mpg mixed driving... And runs at 30+ at steady freeway speed!). So, what is the downside? surely not the 10k less Price! Yes, it has 50 less hp, concomitantly less torque and 5 speeds instead of the lovely 6 speed. But for daily driver duties, one cannot even use the 245 hp the Cayman 2.7 offers! Ive taken my 2.7 on a track day (thunderhill) and find that it handles and marks well most other makes and was a blast to drive.

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  2004 911 GT3 - 2004 Porsche 911
  By einstei - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Awesome car!!! Incredible on track and fun on the street. If your looking for the ultimate 911 this is it!! If all you do is drive on the street buy a turbo or a C4S. If you want something less common, go to the track, and know how to handle a true drivers car buy this. I added the GT3 seats that are optional in Europe. Standard sport seats are fine for everyday driving but lack ample support for track use.

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  Car Excellente - 2004 Porsche CARRERA GT
  By jfnsdns - March 16 - 2:00 am

  This car was fantastic. great speed and nice design

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  exellent - 2004 Porsche CARRERA GT
  By lkjooo - March 16 - 2:00 am

  it is a great car and fast too!

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  Excelence - 2004 Porsche 911
  By xtrafine04 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  wonderful. I love it, its my dream car!

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  So far, so wonderful - 2004 Porsche Boxster
  By Dealin D - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Excellent driver, fast, and fun. No problems at 7,000 miles. Tires still excellent, never used a quart of oil. 25 miles to a gallon....tight body. This is my second Boxter, had great success with the first one too.