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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  Ill wait for the Porsche minivan - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By justbob - November 12 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car! Just not what I needed it to be, which was something that was more comfortable for a small family. Its not Porsche fault, Ive just changed.

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  Where do I go from here? - 1999 Porsche 911
  By Ed Yates - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Longtime owner of an E36 M3, which I love and had worked on so it had about 300 hp. Always wanted a 911 tho, and found the perfect one, which i bought at a pretty good price (good enough so i could keep the M3). WOW. What a car. The driving experience is SO different from the M3, what with the 50/50 weight of the Bimmer and the much more tail heavy nature of the 911.Not quite as easy to drive fast as the M3 (the Bimmer being damn near impossible to break lose) but much more rewarding when you really dial it in.Cant think of another car I would rather have, and Ive driven Ferrari 360s, 355s,M5s, E46 M3s, etc. If you can afford it...Buy it!

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  ZOOOOOOOOOOOM - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By hubbard - October 23 - 10:00 am

  The car is great to own, however I have had a few problems with my nav system. Other than that it is a beast, but be prepared not pass up many gas stations. I wouldnt waste my time or money on the V6. If you can afford the turbo, you wont be sorry, however my S runs with the best of them.

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  Great car! - 2002 Porsche 911
  By Eric Twiste - September 25 - 10:00 am

  The best all-around sports car you can buy! The exterior speaks for itself. The interior is comfortable, set up great for driving, and (with full leather) looks and feels expensive. The interior design is not beautiful, however. Performance is amazing. The car pulls acceptably from 2000 rpm, strongly from 3500, and like a rocket over 4300. Great exhaust note. Braking and handling are incredible. Even with all this performance, around town the C4S is quiet. The interior is roomy. The ride is firm but nice. Noise is not a factor at normal speeds. The stick shift is smooth and effortless. This car can easily be your daily driver, and it is for me.

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  WHEEL ALIGNMENT - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By NICHOLAS CESARELLO - September 22 - 10:00 am

  THIS AWD (CAYENNE S) IS QUICK IN MANUAL. EATS TIRES, THE DEALER CANT OR DOES NOT HAVE THE KNOW HOW ON HOW TO ALIGN A 4 WHEEL DRIVE SUV. I HAVE A SHIMMY AT 68 MPH SINCE 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO BALANCE THE TIRES (ORIGINAL ONES AND NOW NEW )AND ALIGN WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE CAYENNE S RIDES VERY HARD

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  Lasting Contemporary Design - 1995 Porsche 911
  By dicktoth - September 15 - 1:03 am

  The 1995 Porsche 911 has one of the best car designs in the world. It is fun to drive. I have had it for eight years and it is still an exciting car to drive. I have a 6 speed and Polar SIlver is the color. It is hard to tell what year the car was designed. The exhaust sounds fantastic. The power vs. car body is balanced. Most importantly this is an exciting car to drive!

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  It is a sweet machine - 1999 Porsche 911
  By riverrock - August 19 - 10:00 am

  No problem to date. The car is fun to drive, and it is a true everyday performance car.

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  One Awesome Ride! - 2005 Porsche Boxster
  By Gator987 - July 29 - 6:26 pm

  After owning a 2001 Boxster, I decided to trade it in for a new 2005. I didnt know if the original could be improved. However, the test drive I took definately showed me that the 987 is better than the 986. The car is so much fun to drive. The bump is horsepower is enough to be noticed (especially in sport mode). Great handliing is retained. The interior is very nice! I could not imagine a better two seat roadster. The new updated exterior is gorgeous. Go Porsche!

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  Why drive a car? - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By DArt - July 22 - 10:00 am

  Why drive a car???? When you could drive the best of both worlds!!!! Performance, performance, performance...with some function! Seats 5 and some cargo space. Drives better than most, if not all, mainstream cars on the road today. So, why drive a car? Big time head turner, especially when I pulled into the Lexus dealership. Was the envy of their sales staff!

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  997S break in - 2007 Porsche 911
  By Alan Eland - July 9 - 1:53 am

  My fourth porsche and its my most enjoyable car, I had the dealership add sport exhaust and the sound is outstanding in the open mode, it handles great and rides a bit rough in sport mode but I love it.