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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  Best of the Porsches - 1996 Porsche 911
  By ny owner - August 12 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun car to drive - great pick- up at every gear. Very forgiving drive train. I prefer its styling to that of the latest models. This is my second Porsche, and I am still waiting for improvements in styling and reliability of the new models to replace this one.

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  CAR OF MY DREAMS - 2004 Porsche 911
  By JOHNNY C - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I am 44 years of age and always wanted this car. This car far exceeds my expectations in almost every area!! It handles like a go cart, excellerates like a rocket!!! and the rear seat comes in very handy on those days when i have to take both children. For a top down true sports car (unlike the SL 500) there is simply nothing better!!

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  cayenne review - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By cayennestyle - August 11 - 12:10 pm

  thecayenne is a great car that has spunk,and is very luxurious. i definitely prefer the cayenne over the touareg

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  2001 Boxster - 2001 Porsche Boxster
  By 01BoxsterNM - August 11 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car, best I have ever owned.

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  Traded in the x5 - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By c4s - August 11 - 3:06 am

  Had a 3.0 x5... no comparison. Also drove the 4.4 to make sure. Great features, handles very well; I waited for the model year switch to save a few bucks. I like driving this as much as my c4s. Great job Porsche.

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  Fantastic Car - 2001 Porsche 911
  By 2001 911 Cpe - August 8 - 6:00 am

  The 911 Carerra is a great car. Excellent performance in a package you can drive every day. And it looks great. Car seems rock solid, and I have had no problems with it. Looking forward to Porsche DE.

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  This car is awesome - 2007 Porsche 911
  By KEF - August 7 - 1:46 pm

  This is my first 911. I had always been a fan of American iron but decided to take a look at the Carrera. I took one for a test drive and was hooked. Took it on vacation recently and averaged 25 mpg @ 80 mph. The break-in period is 2k miles and the car has to be driven lightly (under 4K RPM). Youll find yourself parking it at the back of the parking lot to keep poeple from denting the doors. We got one transferred from a different dealer that had Xenon, Bose, heated seats, and a few small options. I would say if you can afford one and are looking for the perfect combination of power, comfort and luxury, this definitely is the car for you. If I had to do it again, Id get the tiptronic also.

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  The only super car you can use every day - 2007 Porsche 911
  By Dan - August 6 - 9:30 pm

  This car is a leap foward for anyone wanting the performance of a Ferrari/Lamborghini but the practicality of a usable car for every day driving on U.S. roads. There is quite simply no other car that can compare for use on normal road conditions. I did bump the HP & TQ to 600 but it isnt necessary, as this car can deliver everything you could ever desire right off the show room floor.

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  2500 miles of joy - 2008 Porsche Boxster
  By drmikeic - July 31 - 10:33 pm

  My new RED 2008 Boxster listed for $53,960.00 was able to get it for $45,300.00 It is wise to shop around. There is no need to go for the "S" model, stay with 18" wheels.The car is perfect in every way. Excellent heat, cold in ct. I drive it in 40 degree weather and am very warm. Get the wind stop however. The finish, build quality is beyond BMW, last car was a 2006 mz4. The ride is comfortable at 80 mph on interstate or 30 mph around town. The two trunks carry everything a normal person would carry, I even put my backpack leaf blower in trunk. As far as visual it is a breathtaking auto from all angles. Watch out for "racers," they always want to race you. Smile and let them go, your car is a joy.

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  me - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By asda4444 - July 24 - 2:00 am

  this is a great practicalesuv with a sporty feel