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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  2002 996 -porsche - 2002 Porsche 911
  By larryelectric - October 31 - 10:00 am

  The car is a drivers dream , solid and responsive at all speeds. The only limiting exprienced was the driver.

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  First Impression (1,000 miles) - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By rincon6 - October 30 - 1:00 pm

  I love the 08’s more aggressive look and the thing flies. It now has more than enough power and it’s extremely versatile. On mellow trips I keep the “sport” function off, but hit the “sport” button and the transforms itself into a monster! Its handling is excellent, it has tight steering for an SUV and it is very responsive. I traded in a Range Rover and the difference in performance is night and day. In the Cayenne, I almost forget that I’m in an SUV. Looking down the hood from the driver’s seat it feels like driving a sports car, but visibility is better, and bumps, railroad tracks etc…no problem. At $46,000, the base Tiptronic Cayenne is not only an awesome SUV, but one of the best values out there.

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  RAYS REVIEW - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By RAY KHAMI - October 27 - 10:00 am

  BRAKES ON THIS CAR .........UM WORK REALLY WELL

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  2002 Carrera 2 - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Jim Keenan - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Car exceeds expectations. Build quality was flawless as was the paint. I literally went over the car with the proverbial fine-toothed comb and couldnt find a flaw. Car is extremely tractable around town, with a torque band that allows it to drive off without having to change gears constantly. Mileage is 28 MPG highway, 22-23 combination highway/city. 0 - 60 MPH in about 4.7 seconds, top speed 175+.

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  996 C2 - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Val (Folsom,CA) - October 25 - 10:00 am

  New transmission put in at 1,200 miles. I constantly travel much faster than what it seems. The E-gas seems to be inconsistent and I still kill the engine when not reving high enough when engaging 1st gear. Weird clutch engagement.

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  Pamela B. Bankert - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Pamela - October 25 - 9:23 am

  Fast, powerful, and comfortable with terrific handling. Feels like a Porsche in every respect. Very roomy, with wonderful interior details including a self-adjusting heated steering wheel. Quality thoroughout the vehicle, even in the little details. Unusual enough to be distinctive and to create comments from other drivers! Expensive to maintain with oil changes at the dealership running around $250! Not the best car for the budget-conscious driver, but is predicted to hold its value. A step above the BMW X5!

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  a roadster SUV - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By lilgen - October 21 - 10:00 am

  A SUV that has the response of a 911 and handles like a Boxster S . Porsche did it again! And Looks awesome too!

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  The Porsche of SUVs - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By Fred Hill - October 20 - 8:23 pm

  This is an amazing vehicle. It has the Dynamic Ride Control, which eliminates body roll in turns. It is fast as hell and drives more like an SL 55 than a truck. The lines are gorgeous and it is fun to drive. If you are looking for an SUV and you have the money, buy the Cayenne Turbo.

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  Best combination of handling and speed - 2006 Porsche Boxster
  By pbschroeder - October 20 - 12:06 am

  Weve had this car for about a year and a half. It is relatively fast, very comfortable and handles great. We had an 01 Boxster, which was a VW compared to this. It is not as fast as some other cars, but the handling more than makes up for it.

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  Best Car Ever - 2003 Porsche Boxster
  By steve watkins - October 19 - 9:30 pm

  I loved Honda S2000 until I drove the Porsche Boxster. It is a great car, fun to drive. I have never had a car that turns so many heads. It has lots of power, great handling, and it makes going to work a pleasure.