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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  Top Roadster - 2000 Porsche Boxster
  By vignalij - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Before I bought the S, I looked and test drove a new Honda S2000 & Nissan 350Z, and a used BMW Z4, Boxster S, Audi TT, and Mercedes SLK. The characteristics important to me were: 1.Fun, 2. Style 3. Overall driving feel 4. Performance 5. Cost The Boxster S edged out the S2000 even with cost factored in. Bottom-line -- None can quite measure up to the overall performance, feel, and style of the Boxster S. Now I know why Porsche says “There is no substitute” – it’s true.

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  Extra loaded - 2004 Porsche 911
  By mark - June 5 - 1:36 am

  I bought my 03 Black Turbo tiptronic with 3000 miles on it, but looked brand new and was loaded with extras. The owner had over $158K in it, but things like 19 inch Axis wheels, full carbon fiber, Boxster red leather, 280 watt Alpine stereo including XM and upgraded large screen GPS (nine languages) assures me I will never seen another one like it. Super performance as well as a real head turner. If you can, spend the extra money and make it special!

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  Cayenne, wonderfulbut overly complicated - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By KW - June 2 - 10:00 am

  The more I drive the Cayenne, the better it gets. I now know why people love a Porche. Overely complicated from window wiper switch to electronic navigation. It is by far the most ridgid and stable SUV I have ever driven. If looking for a top end SUV, you will be happy

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  Boxster - 1999 Porsche Boxster
  By Pollard - May 30 - 2:00 am

  What a super car. I always wanted an old speedster and boy am I glad I did not find one, and selected this car instead. This is all of the fun of a speedster but with all of the modern conviences

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  Accept no subsitutes... - 2002 Porsche Boxster
  By Derrick - May 26 - 9:26 pm

  As a former BMW owner, this has got to be one of the best cars I have ever owned. Execellent styling and handling. Bought my 2002 model boxster in in 2005 and I can only imagine how wonderful it could have been brand new. In my reseach this car was described as the "Honda" of the Porsche family. If you are shy dont buy one, this car attracts stranger and many curious on-lookers.

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  Love my Boxster - 2005 Porsche Boxster
  By tony p - May 24 - 8:50 pm

  My Porsche Boxster does not have as much muscle as my old 1999 Chevrolet Corvette but it has adequate power for me. It certainly is a lot more fun to drive and more comfortable. It has no roll on the curves. It feels like you are attached to the road surface.

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  Prefer Cayenne to X5 or ML - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By Annette - May 23 - 1:40 pm

  Have owned this car for little over a month. Is a joy to drive. Fast and reliable - true Porsche driving in an SUV. Have owned both a BMW X5 and a Mercedes ML 320 - Cayenne is far superior to these other two. Gas mileage is comparable to the others. Interior is finished beautifully - I have the aluminum finish vs. wood. Modern and sleek. I purchased the 20 inch sport techno wheels which make the appearance more aggressive. Overall, a tremendous driving experience!

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  GREAT car - 2001 Porsche Boxster
  By Mizzou Grad - May 20 - 10:00 am

  More fun than one should have with clothes on!

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  A Truely Awesome Machine - 2003 Porsche 911
  By M Bailey - May 20 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the highest quality car that I have ever owned. The fit/finish is excellent. Eventhough Ive only had the car for a short time, it has a feel of solidity and reliability that my previous rides did not have. Of course the car is tremendously fast but it accelerates quietly with very little drama. You can find yourself at 125mph before you know it. The car is so capable and solid at high speed that it just begs you to go faster. The handling is also excellent with a perfect amount of steering feedback. The grip on curves is astounding especially enlight of the rear engine configuration.

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  997 Carrerra - 2005 Porsche 911
  By Sergio - May 19 - 10:16 pm

  This is a beautiful, sporty, and amazing machine! Unlike the older model, (996) this 2005 has all the retro Porsche styling along with the smoothest, quickest, and most firm 6 speed Ive ever experienced! Top speed, dont even ask....