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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  Still the Best - 2004 Porsche 911
  By cnblitz - April 23 - 10:00 am

  Power, handling , styling.....Nothing even comes close

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  great car ! - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By walterusa - April 23 - 10:00 am

  a lot fun !

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  Over 100k and still a fantastic drive! - 2005 Porsche Boxster
  By jeremp - April 9 - 2:31 pm

  I purchased this beauty in April (2011). I Dr. traded it in at 100k miles. He did all the service religiously, and it works fantastically. The manual spoiler switch was broken when I bought it but a part from SunCoast Porsche fixed it. I do the work myself which keeps maint. costs down. I am a simple guy with a simple income but I feel rick driving the Boxster around town. I never put the top up, (I drive an 05 IS300 on rainy days) and I still get 24-25 MPG. I LOVE this thing!

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  Top down at 40 degrees! - 2003 Porsche 911
  By Mco - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Very well built, much larger and more room inside than expected. With the top up the 911 is amazingly quiet. Instruments are superior to anything out there. Very pleased! This is my second Porsche, and it really is worth every penny.

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  987 vs 986 - 2005 Porsche Boxster
  By gsd98jsh - April 9 - 4:06 am

  I owned 986 (2001 Boxster) and just upgraded to 987 (2005 Boxster). The sound of the new model is so much better. The new manual transmission is so tight and precise. The clutch is so much easier to operate than traditional Porsche models. The taller roll bar and lower seat allows tall person like myself (6 2") to fit in the car much more comfortably than before. I had one modification on my old 986, Becker Radio (CDR2200?) allowed me to install an auxillary line for iPod, but the new fiber optic digital audio system has to have FM transmitter in order to connect your iPod. In other words, the sound quality from your MP3 player really suffers. I guess I will have to begin burning many CDs.

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  Fun to drive when not in the shop - 2007 Porsche Boxster
  By topoff - April 7 - 5:03 am

  In the 4 weeks Ive owned the car, its been in the shop 4 times and going back again. Indicators showed low tire in the first 3 days of purchase. Had to buy a new tire. Wind noise around side windows, then controller went out for auto up driver window. While fixing that, they disconnected door side light. Dealer doesnt carry parts, so its always 2 trips for repair. BMW Z4 wasnt in shop this much in 3 years I leased it. But fun to drive when I have it. If this keeps up, next review will be titled "piece of crap." Evidently lots of understanding needed for intricasies of the brand.

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  99 Boxster is excellent 2nd owner car! - 1999 Porsche Boxster
  By Maria Vitakis - April 5 - 10:50 am

  This older model, low-end Porsche drives better than any of the top of the line cars from other manufacturers. It is quick, solid and takes curves better than any other car on the road. After a year and a half my daily work commute is still an exciting experience. I can drive anywhere, park anywhere and the valets fight for my keys! If this is Porsches basic model, I cant even imagine what a Carrera must be like.

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  Sweet Car - 2006 Porsche Boxster
  By greggroggendorf - April 5 - 9:40 am

  My Boxster is a blast to drive. I cant wait to go on a long road trip! It takes a little while to get the engine noise off your mind, but the pipes on the exhaust let you forget about it once you get on the pedal.

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  too good to be true - 2003 Porsche Boxster
  By chandler - March 29 - 10:00 am

  This car has been everything I wanted and more. The one exception is the cheap plastic for the air vents and the front middle console has to be revamped for real use. As well the steering wheel could use a tilt. I have driven the car accross country twice, one in winter, and a tild would be of the greatest value. I would love to be a spokesperson for this car and as a father of two young ones, it is my everyday car. Price, handling, style and reliability all come for a price that I find very impressive. But thats what I always thought a Porsche would be ever since I first wanted one. At the age of about 6. Kyle Chandler.

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  WOW!!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Porsche Boxster
  By KYM - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I Love this car!! I have waited my whole life for a Porsche. It is so amazing. I love listening to the engine more than the fantastic stereo.