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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  Great - 2004 Porsche CARRERA GT
  By Greg12345 - June 4 - 10:00 am

  This car was the best car i have ever owned. it is my favorite and easy to clean. just the other day i went to the gas station cause my tank was empty and it only cost me $5.00 and ot gave me a full tank of gas.

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  Glad I bought one! - 2008 Porsche 911
  By BayAreaC4S - May 30 - 11:56 pm

  Always wanted a Porsche but didnt think I would enjoy it this much. Feel very confident when driving on the highway or mountain roads. Power is always on tap and when you want to go, it moves! Handling is like being on a roller coaster . Built quality is top notch. Not as quite as my wifes Lexus but hearing the engine roar is beautiful too ! Bose Premium Stereo is wonderful. Clear, good highs and bass. Stereo / Nav. takes a bit of getting used to . More complicated then it really needs to be. Should have had Lexus engineered it. Over all this is a great car ! Love the opt. Sports Chrono / Stiffer shocks button ! Makes the C4S a different animal...

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  911 of SUVs - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By DWL - May 30 - 10:00 am

  The 911 I drive in the summer is a blast; thought Id have to give that fun up for upper Midwest winters. No way! The Cayenne Turbo has a feel surprisingly close to that of my base model 911 (No S, no turbo, no PSM), and I can still haul my family up north for skiing. I finally enjoy long car rides with my tots in the back!

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  Porsche 4S - 1998 Porsche 911
  By Harrykj - May 27 - 2:00 am

  The performance of the Porsche 911 4S is totally awesome. It has great handling and accelerates like its got a plane to catch. I previously owned a Boxster and there is simply no comparison; the 911 is serious, the Boxster is a toy.

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  Trouble - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By parker511 - May 23 - 7:06 am

  First let me say that from the day that I bought the car, there was something very wrong with the allignment. After taking it in 3 or 4 times with the same problems, I was getting frustrated to say the least. Up until this point, everything was "under warranty." Suddenly, when I took the Cayenne infor an oil change & to fix te ongoing problem--when I picked up my car, the bill was $700 for an oil change & balance. Right then I decided to trade it in before something incrediblewent wrong!!

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  High Performance, Low Quality - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By bill sun - May 20 - 5:20 am

  I bought my Cayenne six months ago. Its fun to drive and I really enjoyed it until I had to send it back to the dealership for repair recently. I test-drove BMW X5 V8, Range Rover, Lexus GS470, Acura MDX and Volvo XC90 V8 before I bought the Cayenne S, which gave me the best road experience among all. The only one I didnt test was Mercedes GL450. The reliability was fair, or even poor. The plastic trim beneath the rear door broke in two month and I had to get it repaired at the dealership. The cup holder was broken two month later. One day I found the control panel was not working, and the the 4 wheel drive was not functioning. I scheduled a service appointment on the next day, but my Cayenne wouldnt start. Before I could drop the car at the dealership. Porsche sent a service guy help me to jump start my vehicle. Now the car is in the autoshop. I guess its a circuit and/or battery problem.

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  Love the Cayenne S - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By Mark - May 19 - 3:43 pm

  Have had my Cayenne S for five months and love it. The S model is incredible to drive, I cant imagine having a turbo. It is very smooth. Its navigational system is excellent. The only drawback I can find is the small cup holders on the interior.

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  WOW, now this is a sports car! - 2001 Porsche 911
  By spamjuice - May 19 - 9:06 am

  After sending away my 2004 M3, I bought my 2001 911 Turbo and what a difference that was. This car will give you goose bumps in the turns, acceleration, the roar of the rear engine and in braking. It even looks fast at the stop light! I have to admit, it took me a little time to adjust to the rear weight bias, but overall, the car is very manageable. I only dared to switch the PSM off every now and then. Everything is fantastic in the car, the interior with the curves look more Italian than German. Never had a problem with it so far, built like a tank.

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  Exotic and Drivability! - 1999 Porsche 911
  By Dr. W T - May 18 - 1:20 pm

  Owned similar cars and brands, but NEVER liked a car more than this one. It has the best combination of a daily driver, exotic car, looks, and best of all reliability. Its looks are ageless. I got more compliments on this one than any other cars I owned (though the classic Benz came close). The best thing is it leaves me with a great smile every time I drive it.

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  WOW CAR OR TRUCK? - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By BOB - May 17 - 10:00 am

  BEST DRIVING EXPERIENCE EVER HAD