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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  99 Boxster - 1999 Porsche Boxster
  By dsb65 - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Recently purchased my boxster and have loved it. Purchashed without a warrently, so am a bit nervous but still loving it everyday.

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  My "Annie" - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By June F. - April 1 - 10:03 am

  I will never own another car! The Cayenne drives solidly. It provides great handling and I feel safe in it. I can carry so much stuff in the back with the seats down, more than my husbands truck and my daughters H3. The Cayenne has great power to get out of any situation. I use this car like a workhorse and put tons of miles on it. I wish I could use regular gas in it, this is my only complaint.

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  Its a fun Porsche - 2002 Porsche Boxster
  By LinnieThePooh - March 24 - 11:16 am

  I purchased my 2002 Boxster S with just over 2,000 miles on it. Its the overall performance that sets this car apart. Its straight line performance is acceptable, but this car really shines when you throw it through curves. It has a mild understeer entering a corner, turning into a neutral feel through and exiting the corner. This car has great balance only mid-engine cars can provide - when you toss it around, it feels that all the momentum and weight are around your inner shoulder. Its easy to correct when the rear-end is starting to break loose. This is a sophisticated sport car.

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  Unbelievable Vehicle! - 2000 Porsche 911
  By Chip McElroy - March 20 - 10:00 am

  Incredible vehicle... Like no other sports car I have ever driven. Needs some American standards in the inside like storage and cup holders. Onew of the smoothest manuals I have ever experienced!

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  Solid Performer - 2002 Porsche 911
  By blongo - March 20 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle has performed as expected. Dont expect a Lexus ride on the 18 inch performance tires (but we didnt buy a Lexus) Fit and finish was good with no rattles (with a suspension that tight what do you want?). Stereo is fine (want to hear the engine at 6000 rpm anyway). This is a very fast car even without the turbo. If you want comfort and all the bells and whistles go buy a BMW M5. This is a great sports car!

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  O my turbo - 2005 Porsche 911
  By Ron - March 19 - 9:56 pm

  The best handling car and the fastest car I have ever owned. At 175 mph it feels like 75. Very fast and stops just as well with no brake fade.

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  911 Turbo = Beast - 2004 Porsche 911
  By timdf - March 16 - 10:00 am

  Great engine / chassis, pulls hard in any gear and is easy to drive under any conditions - an every day super car.

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  Cayenne S after 14,000 miles - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By fastdiablo - March 13 - 8:40 pm

  The Porsche Cayenne has a stellar motor, taught suspension, and unreal handling for a 5,000 lb. truck. The tiptronic shifters on the steering wheel are outstanding. The interior fit and finish are superb, its ergonomics are comfortable, and its driving position is firm and supportive. This trucks quality and design are German to the nth degree, which is a great thing. The navigation and stereo are both easy to use. The sound system is excellent. This vehicle has lots of usable space and the back seats are spacious. Folding the seats down could be easier though. Ive had two very small problems in 14,000 miles. First, there was a rattle in the rear door which was a cable that became unfastened - easy fix by the dealer. The second was that the windshield wipers were sqeaky - they were replaced by the dealer. I have never had any mechanical issues.

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  Turning Heads - 2003 Porsche Boxster
  By Louise - March 10 - 10:06 pm

  In my 30 years of driving experience, this is by far the most impressive, fun car to drive. I work for a company that employs 500+ people, and have had people I dont even know approach me about this car. I am getting a "thumbs up" from everyone! It is certainly an attention getter. The looks are impressive and driving it is like a "mini vacation." It is a thrill to leave work, put the top down, crank up the stereo and cruise on home. I could use up all the available space in this review and not be able to fully convey what a pleasure this car is to own and drive.

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  hotdog - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By fjddoc - March 6 - 6:26 pm

  This is one of the smoothests most well engineered vehicles Ive ever driven. It performs and handles exactly like a Porsche 911, but with the weight and safety to be an every day SUV.