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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  almost flawless - 1999 Porsche Boxster
  By Dr. Lloyd - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Every time I get an itch to upgrade to a 911, I just go out a take a spin in my Boxster. This car has the handling, the brakes, the top down fun, and plenty of storage space (two trunks!) The steering is super responsive. At 3500 rpm, the engine sings. Every time I get in this car, it makes me smile. Whenever Im done driving I have what boxster owners call permagrin, I cant wipe the smile from my face. This car is best in the twisty mountain roads, where almost nothing can beat it. From the doors forward, the Boxster is almost the same as the 911. The only problem is that the 911 has the larger engine, and who needs rear seats?

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  Blue Boxster - 2005 Porsche Boxster
  By gregs bb - August 14 - 6:00 am

  This car is a blast to drive. Puts a smile on your face. Handling is exceptional and very forgiving. Power is good, but there are lots of cars that will beat you. Feels great at speed and is a real confidence builder. Engine is tied tighly to rest of drive train and is very responsive. Great looks and a real head turner. Seats are very comfortable (get the power seat option) and driving position is excellent. Visibility is great too. Engine makes that wonderful sound. Make sure you use premium and a little octane boost does help. I have had an issue, the passenger side power window stopped lowering when you grab the door handle (needs to do this with the top up, since the window binds).

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  911 my first real car - 2003 Porsche 911
  By paullang - August 11 - 2:00 am

  this is the first real car I have ever owned. Great performance, simple interoir, beautiful exterior, very intuitive operation. Radio operation is simple compared to my 740i.

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  I enjoy my Porsche cayenne - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By linda paul - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I have the Porsche Cayenne and I really love it. Its not as fancy as my husbands Tourareg, but I do like the way it sounds like a porsche when you take off. Its also very nice inside and the paint is very nice.

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  Not for everyone - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By wesrx - July 15 - 9:40 am

  My Cayenne V6 is wonderful to drive although the acceleration is slow unless you use the manual mode. The handling is superb and road feel is good with quick response to emergency maneuvers. Visibility is good on both sides. It is fun to drive and you do not get tired driving the car for long distances. I am satisfied with my ownership and driving the Cayenne.

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  Great Sports Car - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By thecory - July 13 - 8:46 am

  Fun to drive and plenty of power. Im 62" and comfortable although the seat is all the way back. Still plenty of head room. Standard seats really hug you might be a little narrow for someone over 200 lbs. Tall passenger seat totally obscures the small window behind the door creating a blind spot. They can also hit and damage the headliner if not careful. Bose system has too much bass but a satisfactory adjustment can be made. The wheel size makes a huge difference in ride quality and the larger wheels will probably lead to more rattles with time. The used Caymans I drove with 17s felt sold and had little rattling. 18s were a little worse and 19s were much worse. I went with 18s for looks.

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  911 S Noise - 2011 Porsche 911
  By tsmalley - July 12 - 10:52 pm

  I purchased my 2011 Carrera 911 S July 3, 2010. I have put about 7500 miles on it. With so many Porsche "Options" to choose, from, one of the options should be the "QUIET" option (Road Noise). At most times over 60 mph, you cant hear the radio. At cruising speeds on the interstate, theres no point trying to listen or talk for that matter. The second issue I have is with the comfort. The seats are just plain hard and not comfortable for a long drive. They are infinitely adjustable but the basic comfort is not there. With 30 plus years of making the same car, one would think concepts like noise and comfort might be an OPTION for this vehicle.

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  Better than my X5 - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By Sam - June 14 - 9:26 am

  My Porsche Cayenne rides very well. It has just enough power, but could use a little boost. It handles better than my last vehicle (a 2003 X5) and stops better too. This SUV looks great, and its paint job is much better than the one on my X5 too. Its sound system isnt great, I should have gotten the upgraded Bose. It leases for almost exactly what the X5 loaded does. It is a nice change.

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  Its a Porsche for a reason - 2016 Porsche Cayenne
  By Sean - June 4 - 10:00 pm

  I have had this vehicle for almost a year now coming from a bigger and somewhat slower SUV ( Full-Size Range Rover) this Porsche is a performance vehicle and once you step on the gas you feel it. The breaking system is unbelievable precise (also very expensive to replace via the dealer) the infotainment and interior design is that of airplane if your familiar Porsche then its pretty easy if not it could get confusing. Sometimes I wish the in dash screen could be a little bigger. For the size of the Cayenne the trunk space is kind of disappointing barely can hold anything . I was so use to my range rover being a rough off road vehicle so nyc potholes didnt really bother as the air suspension would absorb the bulk of it in the Porsche the suspension is more tuned for performance so I feel more of the road while driving.The handling on this vehicle decent its not better than BMW around corners but does a good job All in all its a great performance SUV for a good price just a little pricey on maintenance if I were to do it all over again I probably would go up a model to the S or GTS thats just the inner speed demon in me though

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  911 S Conv.,6 speed stick sh. - 2008 Porsche 911
  By Heinz Scheidemandel - June 4 - 4:36 am

  I traded in a 1989 Porsche 911 conv., which I liked a lot. The new one is in many ways a disappointment, although it also handles well. Has a great engine. It is loaded down with unneeded and and unwanted gadgetry, which distracts from the driving fun.The "integrated on board computer with stereo a.GPS" is awkward to use a. frustrating. No oil stick!!