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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  third Porsche - 2003 Porsche 911
  By DonR911 - October 20 - 10:00 am

  this is my 3rd 911...it is awesome....even the Tiptronic is better then I expected.....worth every penny....and more....

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  Every Day Fun in the Sun - 2002 Porsche Boxster
  By jim - October 20 - 4:10 am

  I drive the Boxster every chance I get (except in the snow). Its great on long trips and holds enough luggage for two people for a weeks travel. I have had no problems and everyone wants to drive it. It is the best car I have ever owned.

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  Fun - Safety - sure-footed on the road - Love-it! - 2017 Porsche Macan
  By Schnooky - October 14 - 7:01 pm

  if you just want a good SUV, get the new Audi Q5. But - if you want a drivers car - get a Macan. Yes - 2 very similar cars on the outside - though on the Macan, the 4-whhel drive gives preference to the REAR WHEELS, and the Audi to the Front wheels. The Audi is built in Mexico with great German engineering, but the Macan is build in Germany. The only thing that really upsets me is that both the Speedometer and Digital Speedometer are NOT close to being accurate. At cars 75mph, real speed is 72mph, even at 30mph, real speed is only 28. So if you know this (and that my dealers said this is normal and within specs) - whats the problem - well - if the speedo is off by 10% as an example - when you hit 50,000 miles in 4-years and your warrantee is no longer any good - BUT you have only traveled 38,000 miles - what to do? Oh yes - from what I discovered, the "$830 Porsche Connect" is about totally worthless! Otherwise, thoroughly enjoying my Macan.

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  My Cayman S - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By vipersaint - October 12 - 11:13 pm

  Handling without peer; superb balance in the corners; unmatched braking; Porsche quality. Car is funnest to drive of any Ive had (inc. Vettes and Vipers) - pure driving experience. Commands attention. Xenon lights a must. Buy the S model, youll thank yourself in the end.

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  2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible - 2006 Porsche 911
  By barryvon - October 11 - 12:26 pm

  My 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible is silver with the natural brown leather (baseball glove) interior. It is beautiful. I have not had any issues with it, other than my dealership. It sounds good and moves great. The best feature is the PASM & PSM, which make this 911 a comfortable daily driver. This feature alone antiquates pre-2005 models. The S package for $10,000 makes the needed difference. Get the S and get the full leather option as well, for $4800, the rich leather smell and look are awesome. My garage smells like leather and the engine every morning. This cars total price came to $107,000, which is more than I expected but once you are spending $91,500 whats the difference, add the ubgrades and make it a great luxury car. It has a quiet convertible top. This car sounds awesome in a tunnel! There is no wind with the screen and windows up. It has a good navigation system, too.

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  Fun and Powerful - 2004 Porsche Boxster
  By lww105 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  This is a very fun and addictive car to drive. Quality is way better than other roadsters Ive owned and driven. Very powerful for a two-seater. No worries when overtaking. Not many cars on the road can keep up with this one.

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  What a Fun Vehicle to Own - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By frank - October 5 - 2:53 am

  This is the best SUV I have ever owned. After having driven a Jeep, a Mercedes and a Range Rover, Im totally sold to Porsche. At any speed on any road you have full control. The only minor negative point is the price for the options.

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  When performance meets luxury, beauty & co - 2016 Porsche Macan
  By Girish Gudla - October 4 - 1:32 am

  For me, this is one of those beautiful looking cars with Porsches classic design elements and luxury embedded. Performance is the soul of this car with amazing braking & acceleration. Pros: Luxurious, sound of the exhaust pipes, performance, good options which cover most of the use-cases & requirements, leather seats, panoramic roof, PDLS(this is a worth feature) Cons: the infotainment system looks pretty old though when compared to Audi/BMW. Expensive options which adds significant cost to the final price. Mileage is not great(340hp V6 engine). Rear seats leg room is not super great.

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  Pure Adrenaline - 2007 Porsche 911
  By Stefano Vranca - October 3 - 4:40 pm

  I just got the new Carrera S to replace my 2006 BMW M5. Both cars are phenomenal machines that give you a distinct and completely different driving experience. My 911 is a manual and I cannot tell you how glad I am to drive a stick again. This car is absolutely phenomenal, a stunner, I absolutely recommend it.

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  Porsche Bostwer Review - 2008 Porsche Boxster
  By Katty Luis - October 1 - 6:40 am

  The 2008 Porsche Boxter is a great one person car that is fuel efficient and extremely comfortable. It is a great purchase if you are looking for a one person car.