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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  Awesome - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By Mikey - May 24 - 5:13 pm

  I love this car. I had a BMW before, but the Cayman is a true sports car. I have had the car for 3 months and have already had 5 people stop me at read lights or the gas station to tell me how awesome the car looks.

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  Beautiful - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By David Barowich - May 24 - 1:13 am

  I have a big family of 5 and this SUV fits us perfectly. It gives an amazing ride and has the most beautiful interior you could see. The warranty covers practically everything. This is an all around awesome vehicle. I recommend it!

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  Love This Car - 1997 Porsche Boxster
  By Pete - May 23 - 5:06 pm

  I have read horrors about the Porsche Boxster after I purchased mine, but it seems the problem are mostly on newer models manufactured in Finland (check driver side sticker). Mine is a 1997 Porsche Boxster with 101,120 miles, made in Germany and it is running GREAT! The only problem I am having is that the clock stopped working (digital clock) and I cant find which fuse (if it is the fuse) is out. Other than that, this is a great car.

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  Too much fun - 2008 Porsche Boxster
  By Jim - May 23 - 5:20 am

  Went to the local Porsche dealer to look at a used 95 Ferrari and spotted a Boxster S on the floor. I decided to take it for a spin and it now sits in my garage waiting for Spring. These cars are definitely built with the driver in mind. I doubt if there is a car made that is more well- balanced than a Boxster S.

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  03 Carrera White - 2003 Porsche 911
  By PCHEN - May 20 - 10:00 am

  The Carrera is a very easy car to drive fast. Its also very comfortable too. Must get the Xenon lights and 18" wheel option. Leave out the PSM because youll never need it. Spend almost $3500 just for power leather seats! Ouch...Great car. Very pricey. But worth buying the legend.

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  Club Coupe is a Winner - 2006 Porsche 911
  By clif - May 14 - 7:53 pm

  This is an incredible car. It is sensitive to tire pressures, 381 hp w x51 kit. The harder you drive it, the better it drives. i.e. more the confident you will be in its capabilities. The engine is very flexible and has gobs of power above 4,200 rpm. It has the sport chrono which makes the throttle more sensitive, firms the shocks for more precision driving and opens that melodious Porsche exhaust up. After 5,000 miles, I still get excited driving this car. There truly is no substitute. It is a world beater with 3.8 liter six cylinders. Wow. The engineers have triumphed over the physical issues of a rear engine vehicle.

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  Fun Car - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Porsche Fanatic - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Just bought the 02 Targa and it is awesome! The Targa top is very cool and the automatic sunshade is very nice!

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  Great SUV - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Edwin C. - May 11 - 4:16 pm

  I LOVE my 04 Cayenne Turbo, except at the gas pump! I am averaging 14.1 MPG, having to add a quart of oil every 2,000 miles or so, and it goes though a set of Pirellis every 10,000 miles or so. Other than that its perfect. Im thinking of getting a n 8,000 lb trailer.

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  New to 04 Porsche Cayenne - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Hudnut46 - May 6 - 8:36 am

  While shopping for the best price on an ‘04 BMW X5 4.4, I found my ’04 Cayenne S. First I thought the price was going to be more expensive than the ’04 X5, so I really only looked at out of curiosity. When I took this SUV for a test drive I was shocked at the performance…Wow! The power and handling are superb! I was able to buy my Porsche for $9,000 less than other dealers wanted for an ’04 BMW X5.

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  Different Porsche - 2006 Porsche Boxster
  By Brian Chaney - May 2 - 4:16 am

  Unlike other Porsches, this one has the older style, newer technology, and is more economic than ever.