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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  There is no substitute - 2002 Porsche Boxster
  By houstongal - August 7 - 10:00 am

  ...Just drive one, youll understand =)

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  the perfect car - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By PorscheMan - August 2 - 2:00 am

  base line nothing better anything you could ever hope for speed manuverability unfortunately..price isnt one of them

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  the best and getting better - 2002 Porsche 911
  By ricker - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Just traded my 99 996 for the 02 model-- the 20bhp and retuned exhaust kick butt and make this even better than the previous model. As always the paint and fit/finish are flawless-- the car is a real head-turner every place I go. Porsche knows how to build the best street legal race car that can still hold up to the rigors of a daily driver. I get a smile on my face everytime I slip behind the wheel and my left hand cranks the engine.

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  Childhood Dream - 2003 Porsche 911
  By msarge - July 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Porsche. I spent part of my childhood in Stuttgart as an army brat and said one day Ill own one of those cars! The day finally arrived and it was well worth the wait. Performance is awesome, limited only by the driving abilities of the driver. I now have total closure with the old addage of "Porsche, there is no substitute." Excellent vehicle for the true driving ethusiast, who has lots of loot to lay out fot this worthy babe!

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  Porsche out did themselves - 2004 Porsche Boxster
  By porschefan - July 22 - 10:00 am

  This car handles like a dream and is more fun to drive than any car Ive ever owned. Porsche out did themselves with this car.

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  95% 911... 70% THE COST - 2009 Porsche Cayman
  By tammi - July 21 - 6:33 am

  Plain and simpleÂ…this is one awesome car. Great acceleration, lightweight, great handling and heart stopping top speed. The Cayman S is like a rollercoaster ride without leaving the ground. Will you get more with the 911S? Yes. Is it worth the extra 25-30K. I donÂ’t think so.

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  The best sports car on the planet - 2014 Porsche Boxster
  By smerdyakov - July 20 - 11:30 am

  I purchased a new 2104 Boxster on 10-2-14 at Checkered Flag in Va Bch. I drove both S and base cars, thinking that I would surely want the S: I was wrong. The base car does not have, as the Edmunds "con" headline asserts "mediocre acceleration". It may be somewhat slower than the S version, but it is far more than adequate for normal use. In fact, it is faster than the 2006 Cayman S that I once owned. The one option that I recommend as essential is the PDK transmission, which is a remarkable unit. Those who insist on having a manual six-speed are making a mistake. In the recent past I have had several versions of the Cayman, a Audi TT RS and a Corvette GS. The Boxster is superior to all

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  MY Porsche - 2003 Porsche 911
  By porsche power - July 14 - 10:00 am

  best damn porsche ever made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  my cayenne - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By griffen99 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  should i by a sports car or an SUV? dont settle, buy a Cayenne. While I have had it for less than one month, this vehicle is awesome. Handles like nothing else out there, I have the "S", and the 340HP is GREAT. Sure Id rather havve 450HP, but this works just fine. Thye took there time and gave us a GREAT SUV. X5 doesnt even come close.

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  Definately Worth the Money - 2005 Porsche 911
  By BobObO360 - July 10 - 7:56 am

  The 2005 Porsche 911 Carerra S is an excellent car. It corners beautifully. The Sports Chronos Plus Package really helps its acceleration and control, but suspension wise... the car is very stiff, not good for those who want luxury. If you want luxury get an SL500. Porsches are made for great performance, especially the handling.