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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  Porsches are cool - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By pollie - March 22 - 10:46 pm

  Hi I have a Porsche Cayenne s. It drives great, and its looks are very good. It is fun to drive because it has that feel of a true race car. driving it with PSM off is magical.I like my Cayenne except there is something on the dashboard that rattles that I need it fixed so I can like this 60,000 dollar car better. I like Porsches! there fun and I like my old one 2! bye

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  Our first anniversary gift to ourselves - 2002 Porsche Boxster
  By The Eiserts - March 13 - 8:00 pm

  My DH and I decided to buy something very unnecessary for our one year anniversary, so glad we did! We had been looking at the 2006 Mustang gt, but those are a dime a dozen now. We picked up our new toy for $16K in excellent condition. We love the comfort, handling, and speed. Yeah baby! We actually fight over who gets to drive! On our test drive, we got it up to 120 mph and it was barely over 3000 rpm ! Need I say more! This is one fun ride! Its a dream to drive in town as well as on the open road. Dont hesitate to buy this car!

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  Craven Moorehead - 2002 Porsche Boxster
  By Craven Moorehead - March 13 - 2:00 am

  For everyone who always wanted a sports car but ended up with just a sporty car, this is the real thing.

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  A luxury car that is not overstated - 2015 Porsche Macan
  By langdonstreet - March 11 - 2:08 pm

  The car drives like a charm. In the 2000 miles from FL to NY we averaged 26.5 mpg. The technology helps keep me in check.

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  Pure exitment - 2000 Porsche 911
  By morris944 - March 9 - 1:00 pm

  This is definitely a great purchase. This car is fun to drive and I cant find enough reasons to drive it. Its horsepower and torque have a nice balance. The only complaint is the suspension. It is too soft for such a performance vehicle. A stiffer suspension would give this car more predictability. However the PSM certainly compensates for it.

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  Best car on the road - 2004 Porsche 911
  By porshe - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. When I run it hard it handles the road like nothing out there. It feels like it is part on my body. Outstanding in every aspect.

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  Downsized on Retirement - 2016 Porsche Cayman
  By Gerald B. B. Keane - February 16 - 8:05 pm

  Upon retiring, I didnt need a boat-of-a-car anymore, so I decided to downsize. The Caymans the perfect choice. I considered a 911, but it may be a two-seater, but it feels and drives like a bloated Buick. Although I come from a Lexus family (5 cars, 48 total ownership years), Im not accustomed to the design and build quality that Cayman gives. It is rock solid and is a pleasure to drive. The gas mileage is much better than my last Lexus, and its performance, as expected, blows it away. I specially ordered a manual transmission and have no regrets. This car doesnt deserve a namby-pamby automatic transmission. Ill admit its not that easy to get in and out of, but thats the sacrifice you have to make to own a car that catches your eye every time youre near it. A friend recently was torn between a Corvette and a Porsche, to which my response was "Why would you consider buying the best hamburger McDonalds makes over a steak at the states best steak house?" A Corvette over a Porsche? No rational person could make that choice. (The friend ended up cancelling his Corvette order and bought the Porsche.) Ive had my Cayman for 9 months now, and I have no reason to change any of my earlier opinions. Its worth every penny of what I paid. Why would anyone buy anything else?

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  Great car - 1999 Porsche Boxster
  By Susan - February 15 - 11:30 pm

  Ive had this car 6 years and have really loved it. Mechanically, Ive really havent had any big issues outside of changing 7 headlights (this may be specific to the electrical system in my car). Also if you are hit and run while parked, I promise no one is going leave a note with insurance information (happened twice). Lastly probably as a result of the beautiful aerodynamic body design, I have had more dings in my windshield than I can count (I have 5 right now - Ill get to 6 and change out the windshield again). If you can see past these very minor issues, I would guess youd be very happy to own this car. I have been.

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  Nothing Better - 1999 Porsche Boxster
  By Rob Wilson-Black - February 6 - 3:43 pm

  The Boxster is a great every day driving car, but ice can be a challenge without specific tire changes. Be careful never to let water into the air intakes on the side of the body, especially while washing your car, as this can lead to serious engine trouble. The classic body holds its beauty and theres nothing more fun to drive, except for the 911 obviously. This car is great for kids in the passengers seat because one can off the airbag. The 1999 year is among the best for engine reliability and Consumer Reports agrees with that in years past. What a value for the dollar. It loses only about $3,200 dollars per year in value. It is the cheapest sports car and there are tons of used ones are out there. European delivery was the best.

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  Flawless Reliability - 2002 Porsche Boxster
  By william travis - February 6 - 3:46 am

  This car has been an amazingly reliable vehicle. I have had it for 4 years and have not had to return it to the dealer once for service. The radio had some problems and the dealer got a little snippy but I managed to fix it myself.