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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  Overall an excellent vehicle - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By GP - June 6 - 8:06 am

  Before owning the Cayenne S, I owned a BMW 745Li. The vehicles are pretty similar. The BMW is incredible but the Cayenne is even more incredible considering`that it is an SUV and not a luxury car. The Cayenne S is well worth the money.

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  Will never part... - 2005 Porsche 911
  By uwe2 - June 5 - 10:20 am

  Im the second owner, for > 3 years now. I like the performance, the look, and the compliments I still get from people today (the vehicle will turn 6 years this summer). No way to describe riding this piece of German engineering, you have to experience it for yourself. The only complaint I have is that the clutch doesnt seem to last very long - I had to replace it at ~21k miles, and Im not driving with a heavy foot.

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  best suv ever - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Raimundo Alvarez - June 4 - 10:00 am

  It has BMW X5 4.6is road performance, or better, and Range Rover off-road ability! Great exterior and interior designs.

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  Weekend Delight - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By firsttimer - June 1 - 9:26 pm

  I purchased the Cayman to replace our 05 SLK350 and drive it primarily on weekends. I test drove most of the competition as well as the Cayman S and 911 Cabriolet. For me, the Cayman has the perfect blend of style, performance, efficiency and value. Sure, there are times when I think I could use the extra hp but those times have been seldom. Although some will tell you that they prefer the more "classic" line of the 911, I think the Cayman is in a style class by itself. Just hand the key to any valet if you need confirmation. If you want a livable, fun to drive two seater, I dont think there is any car on the market that can match the new Cayman.

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  tall Steve - 2008 Porsche 911
  By steve - June 1 - 5:40 pm

  awesome!! simply the best! worth every penny. my friends cant stop looking at this beast

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 1999 Porsche 911
  By William T - May 29 - 8:16 am

  This is my first Porsche, having owned Mercedes and Japanese luxury cars previously. It is very fun to drive and extremely reliable. The handling is superb. I understand why Porsche 911s are legendary. I love the interior and exterior design. Every inch of interior space is utilized and I can actually carry a third passenger occasionally on short trips. This car is great for LA driving. It can be used for joy drives or everyday use.

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  What you expect from Porsche Engineering - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Larry Wilde - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I went to purchase a Range Rover, test drove it, finding the car typically top heavy. Being a past Porsche owner, I was reluctant to test drive the Cayenne because of its plain appearance. I was exteremely impressed with the speed and handling experience of the Cayenne, and immediately decided on the purchase. The Cayenne is a little thirsty with fuel,and the suspension is firm, but the end result is an SUV that is a blast to drive.

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  Good but Not Great - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Estrid - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, head turning car. Broke camshaft at 2000 miles after perfect break in. Dealer replaced engine. Engine misses when hot at low rpm and oil pressure can fluctuate at sustained rpm. Dealer says computer diagnostics show everything normal. Alignment was incorrect from purchase date despite dealership review after 200 miles. Alignment now correct and handling is vastly improved. Even after the headaches, it may be the best performance and looks for the money.

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  No Regrets - 2000 Porsche Boxster
  By Danielle - May 26 - 11:43 pm

  Owning a Boxster has been everything I thought it would be and more. Nothing beats cruising around with the top down on a beautiful day! I drive my car every day, rain or shine (its my primary vehicle), and still get psyched each time I see it (its really mine!) and get inside and start driving. I would recommend definitely getting the car checked out by an independent (not affiliated with the dealer/seller) mechanic before you buy. Although the Boxster is a great car, its not cheap to own, and you want to make sure the one that you buy is in good shape. I havent had any major problems with mine, although the top did get stuck in the down position, but was easy and relatively cheap to fix.

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  Great SUV - 2011 Porsche Cayenne
  By ChadJamesR - May 26 - 10:00 am

  My wife loved the new look of the Cayenne so we decided to purchase one. It has been a great vehicle for the time we have owned it. We bought the VR6 model instead of the V8 as the $14k increase in price didnt seem worth it. The performance of the VR6 is everything you could want out of a SUV. Gas mileage is great at around 23mpg during city driving and up to 27 mpg on trip to the airport. If you want a sporty SUV and still have it practical, I dont know if there is a better vehicle on the market for you. I gave it an 8 for performance as the V8 and TT give the ultimate performance. The ride is a little rough but what do you expect with this good of handling.