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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  1996 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo - 1996 Porsche 911
  By John Lyon - August 13 - 2:00 am

  None better for DRIVING, handling. Handmade and reliable. Much more romance and performance than the watercooled production models of today. An incredible feel that gets better everytime you drive. This car grows on you, and makes anything else you might drive seem silly and mundane. It truly is like a fine pair of gloves or boots, getting better with every wear. Better than sex. Perhaps just a bit cheaper in the long run.

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  Porsche Cayenne S - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Johninsawgrass - August 3 - 7:53 pm

  This is a high performance SUV that is a lot of fun to drive. Gets lots of looks from other drivers. Service and follow up by Porsche is first class in all respects.

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  More Power Please - 2000 Porsche 911
  By BP69 - August 3 - 10:00 am

  The input from the steering wheel always impresses me. The car is terrific to drive, light on its feet, and a pleasure to drive. It needs more power though. I was looking at a GT-3 or a turbo but then found TPC on the East Coast. They are shipping me a supercharger and I will have around 440 hp. Problem solved!!

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  Awesome - 2000 Porsche Boxster
  By porschePete - August 3 - 10:00 am

  What you have dreamed of all along...

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  The SUV Sports Car - 2016 Porsche Cayenne
  By Kevin Brands - August 1 - 5:03 am

  Have 45 K miles on my 2016 Porsche Cayenne. Completely pleased. Check ups tend to be more expensive than other cars but this car is worth every penny. Built like a tank, it is the Swiss Army Knife of vehicles. I tow several boats with it, drive in dirt fields, and fly down the interstate. LED headlights are some of the best I have seen and it drives like a sports car with confident handling.

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  Fantastic Car - 1995 Porsche 911
  By Fantastic Car - July 30 - 7:43 am

  Ive owned my C4 for five years now and have to say that its virtually trouble free and 100% reliable. Ive test driven newer Porsches with a view towards trading up but have resisted mainly because Im not so sure it truely is a step up. For now, shes a keeper.

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  I love this car - 2003 Porsche Boxster
  By DIC_CAMARILLO - July 27 - 6:00 pm

  This is our 3rd Porsche and what a pleasant surprise. This car is so easy to drive! The mid engine design allows this car to be driven so hard. You feel so confident driving this car fast. The materials are great, with the exception of some cheap plastic inside. The power top is wonderful and fast. Awesome looks! Great interior, comfortable seats, lots of storage and yes, Awesome looks - did I already mention that this car looks incredible! If you get one, go for the 2003 and newer. You get a glass rear window, more power and a glove box. Those additional items are worth the extra money. Also, you dont need to get a stick in this car - the tiptronic works well and is easy to use.

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  The Funnest Car I have ever owned - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By mudman - July 27 - 10:00 am

  I have never owned a car where the excitement never seems to reduce, it gets better ! The Cayenne even put pleasure back into my daily commute. Zero regrets. Selected after 24hr road tests of FX45 Tech and BMW X5 4.4.

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  Great Car - 2006 Porsche 911
  By David - July 26 - 2:20 am

  The 2006 Porsche 911 turned out to be one of the best sports cars on the market. It has great handling, style, performance, and so much more. It is worth every penny of its price.

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  Absolutely phenomenal sports car! - 2010 Porsche Panamera
  By Porschephile - July 22 - 11:20 am

  I had the highest expectations for this Porsche, the 8th one Ive been blessed to own in my lifetime, and it exceeded every one of them! This car is spectacular in every sense. Superb styling, in and out, despite what the car mags say, performance that rivals cars half its size (including my Aston Martin Vantage), incredible technology and sheer driving bliss! The performance/ride settings can satisfy any and all desires. It can be a supple cruiser or a beastly racer, and it weighs over two tons! Are you kidding me?? And the controls are superbly designed and executed. I am having an inappropriate relationship with this car!!