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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  Only A Porsche - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By Lisa - May 14 - 2:40 am

  The only car on the road that can clearly please the owner, the passengers and the ones lucky enough to see it drive by.

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  A real mans car - 2002 Porsche 911
  By brent - May 9 - 10:00 am

  Have had different cars in past, so I decided to try the 911 Carrera4 Cab. The look of class, success and prestige pour from this car. As I drive down the windy road, I see 5 Corvettes look in envy,but anyone can afford a GM. A Jag or I mean Ford pulls up and I smile. Then a Mercedes..I mean Mopar pulls in and I shake my head. When I spend $100,000 on a car, I dont want to see 10 of them on my way to the store,or wish I had another...Drive one, it is a peice of classful art.

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  My 60th Birthday gift to myself. - 2004 Porsche 911
  By dek - May 5 - 10:00 am

  The right front brake calliper was scratched on delivery, they replace it. Went to a Porsche Sponsered Driving School in Phoenix. Started shifting hard between 1st and 2nd and wouldnt go into 1st sometimes. After much insistance a new transmission was installed at 1600 miles. Now have 2300 miles on it w/o additional issues. NO MORE RACING FOR ME. Uses about 1.6 quarts of oil every 900 miles, which isnt unusual for a high performance motor. The quality is fantastic. I had a SL 500 before this and had many, many problems.This is my 2nd new Porsche,it would be difficult to drive anything but a Turbo especially a Cabriolet.

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  Tiptronic S - 2003 Porsche Boxster
  By Raphael Gergi - May 4 - 11:48 pm

  I first bought a boxster 1997 2.5L and was absolutely sad about the performance however sold it and got my Boxster S 2003 3.2L, reliable car yes however been finding some difficulties with the transmission (solenoid, Valve Body etc.), i also feel that the car needed a slight increase in the power.

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  Best car yet - 2009 Porsche 911
  By porschefan - May 3 - 4:43 am

  Traded in 07 Turbo Coupe for new 09 Turbo cab. Extremely happy with it so far. New PCM is fantastic improvement. With current market conditions, got a used car price on a brand new car (25K off). The coupe was great on the track but my passengers didnt appreciate the ride. The 07 also had a clutch issue. This car is gorgeous, sexy and fun with some level of comfort and amenities that a car at this price should have. I have owned several BMWs, SL55 AMG, Cayman S and Turbo Coupe, this is my favorite. I test drove and considered Ferrari 360 and 430, although they have the sound and exclusivity, you cant compare reliability, cost of service and usability of this everyday supercar.

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  Brads C2 - 2003 Porsche 911
  By Brad Westfall - May 2 - 2:00 am

  I think this vehicle is one of the best I have had. Coming out of a 2001 and 2002 Corvette this vehicle is superior in quality,looks,and comfort. It took a little while to get use to not having the "RAW" power and torque that the Corvettes had, but this Porsche is FAST. The fuel economy is less then the previous cars; however 6th gear in the Porsche still offers some acceleration which the Corvettes did not. No complaints so far and I have 9500 miles already.

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  There is no Substitute - 2002 Porsche 911
  By mike - April 20 - 8:43 pm

  The Porsche 911 is the finest auto out there bar none. It is fast off the line and can out handle most professional race cars. The sporty looks really turn heads and maintanance is not as costly as it is on most Europeansorts cars. Own at least one in your life time!

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  Class In Itself - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By kinta - April 20 - 4:30 pm

  The Porsche Cayenne turbo is a great SUV. It gets the looks and questions like any other Porsche. Off roading isnt its best feature though. I prefer the Range Rover over this truck and that is why I traded it in. The Cayenne had a lot of oversteer in icy conditions. The Ranger Rover isnt as fast with the super charger, but it uses the same amount of gas and is actually more comfortable. The head room is also better in the Range Rover, but build quality is better in the Cayenne Turbo. The AWD is OK in the Cayenne, but its same as Audis. If standing out is your game and speed is the key, get a Cayenne, but for practicality and pure off road use go for the Range Rover.

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  A GT3 SUV - 2009 Porsche Cayenne
  By bgsntth - April 17 - 3:23 am

  Will reiterate everything the pulluru already stated. This is an amazing vehicle. Very hardcore. Im 64", and have ample room in the front and rear seats. The cargo capacity in the rear is compromised, however (i.e, very small for an SUV). The ride is really good, even with 21" wheels, even in San Francisco. Sports-mode transforms the vehicle. Handling is ungodly, with cornering speeds being higher than my 2007 Cayman. PDCC is a must, though I would pass on the variable steering, as it is very artificial and "weird" in 20- 50mph city driving.

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  not what I thought - 2001 Porsche Boxster
  By NAMALLA - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I have had the care for less than a year and I am already looking for a new car. My mechanic and I are on a first name basis because the Boxter is always there