Porsche road test reports and car reviews

Porsche Boxster 2.7 2001

I stretched my bank account purchasing a 2001 Boxster as a second car. The only time it comes out of the garage is with it’s top down. I wish I had purchased one before, it is fantastic. I had to replace the coil packs, but once having done so it runs like a dream. Definitely a country lane car, fabulous sound, fabulous feeling, it’s the sort of car people have to turn and look at when you park; it’s in triple black. It is said eveyone has to own an Alfa sometime in their life, I say it should be a Porker. I don’t need all the accessories when driving a Porsche, just the top down, a nice bit of speed and that lovely howl from the exhaust.

Porsche Cayman R 2012

Utterly superb. No faults to report so far - 6/12 ownership. Handling sublime, PSE sounds great. Real world mpg 25 which is excellent for something that goes this well. What’s not to like? Destined to become a classic in my opinion.

Porsche 911 997 Carreras S 2005

Awesome performance and handling, you will not be disappointed on the road but it’s not as practical as some suggest. All the BMWs will be overtaking you on long motorway trips and they’ll be in more comfort too. But it’s special and every serious driver should own one at some point.

Porsche Boxster 3.4s 2010

Just sold our 2006 S, which was a great car and cheap to run, with 26k miles out of a set of tyres for instance and 27mpg. Took a bit of a hit on depreciation though. I have now just bought a new one with the PKD gearbox; a totally different drive, brilliant, better brakes, engine revs easier and makes acceleration on our country roads quicker and safer. I drove a Carrera 4s and was not impressed as much as you would think compared to the Boxster. I bought mine from Porsche Exeter and recieved again excellent customer service. I will probably buy the new model out in 2012 when we change in two years time.

Porsche 911 996 Turbo 2001

Awesome. I’ve owned many amazing cars over the years. I was an Aston Martin enthusiast for a decade. I thought there was nothing better than a Vanquish. I’ve changed my mind completely. This car is amazing. The handling is sublime. The performance has to be experienced to be believed. Why on earth did I wait until I was 44 to own one? What a package. Cheap to run too, in comparison to other super cars. Get one, you won’t regret it.

Porsche 911 996 2001

Having owned a variety of sports car, the 911 (996) is absolutely mind-blowing. I love this performance car as it truly is amazing in every way. Simple design focus on engine and drive, complimented with sound and drive that is unmatched. There is no vehicle like this. I have driven all sorts - Aston Martins, Maseratis, Ferraris etc. The 911 C4 is right at the top by far. Trying is believing.

Porsche Cayenne 2011

Wow it’s a amazing car, you should try it.

Porsche Boxster S 2008

Dynamite handling and performance. Great looks. Sound at low RPMs is whiny bordering into annoying. Great summer car for New England!

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2010

I lusted after a Spyder the minute I first saw one. After a few months of indecision, I decided on my ideal specification of Boxster and then spent time looking for one. My ideal car had to have climate, satnav, 19" alloys, parking sensors, cruise etc and it just had to be white. After locating a demonstration car at a Porsche dealership I set off to purchase it. Upon arrival, a Boxster Spyder was sitting on the forecourt without any of the specification I had decided I needed in a standard Boxster. I took it for a spin and fell in love immediately, and drove off with it within 24 hours. It was the best decision I’ve made and the most communicative car I’ve ever driven. It steers so wonderfully and communicates sublime feedback, it sounds glorious and outruns my friend’s TTRS with ease. Every journey feels special. The roof does not leak but it is noisy over 80mph but with practice, it’s just a two minute job to take off or on. I’m absolutely delighted with my Spyder and it’s so much nicer to drive than a standard Boxster and it’s even more gorgeous in the flesh too.

Porsche Panamera 4S 2010

I had a Porsche Panamera 4S on loan from Performance Car Hire after a complete idiot driving in the middle of a country lane smashed the wing mirror off my Bentley GTC Speed! I had been spoiled by driving the Bentley for the last 18 months and very much looking forward to seeing what the Panamera was like. This is not the best looking car in the world and I think it would be fair to say that most people will love it or hate it. The looks are rather strange. It would be fair to say that it looks like a Porsche 911 with a saloon bolted to the back! To be fair that is probably exactly what this car is meant to be! It really is a family man’s 911 ! There is absolutely loads of room in the back for two adults (or child seats as I had!) and a very large boot for luggage, golf clubs (or prams as I had!) I have to say that the Panamera impressed me! Put the car in sport plus mode and my god does it shift! This is a big, wide car and an absolutely fabulous cruiser on the motorways. The car effortlessly munches the miles! On a 466 mile round trip to Portsmouth from Prestbury the car effortlesly cruised and managed a relatively impressive 25 mpg. The Panamera is a very luxurious, smooth, easy to drive supercar and the good this is that in almost 500 miles I didn’t see another one on the road. All of the controls are very well laid out and the Porsche satellite navigation system is not only brilliant, but also very easy to use. Was I impressed enough to want one? Given a choice between this and other cars in the luxury sports saloon class such as the Masterati Quattroporte, Aston Martin Rapide, Jaguar XJ I would pick the Porsche.

Porsche Boxster 2.7 2004

I bought my 2004 Boxster 2.7 - 986 Porsche through eBay as private sale. It is basic compared to my BMW convertible, which came with a lot of toys. One option I do miss is the cruise control on that long motorway drive. Remember it’s a thoroughbred sports car not a soft luxury car so drive it. The engine feels strong and the body feels stiff. Controls, doors, boots etc are very German. You can even get a set of golf clubs in the back boot. When you rev over 3500rpm the sound from the exhaust is very Porsche. Have a go at doing some simple maintenance i.e. Air & pollen filters and plug. Access to the engine compartment is easy and fun also it makes you part of the car. Get the oil and oil filter done at a garage for the stamp in the book. Life is too short, it’s a bloody Porsche buy one...

Porsche 911 GT3 2007

I sold my Ferrari F430 and it was quickly replaced with a 997 GT3 on the basis that it is, according to the experts at least, one of the best driver’s cars in the world. It had a lot live up to. So after several hundred miles, how does it fare? Well, the steering is sublime, there is enough power for you to enjoy most of it on a public road, and the build quality is excellent. At rest it may not wake the dead like a Ferrari but floor the accelerator in a tunnel and as you reach 8000 revs the sound is fantastic - a more guttural and a less contrived sound than a Ferrari. Pure race car. This is a car that has been bred for the race track. There is not an ounce of slack in it. It may not have the presence of a Ferrari but it is car that you can enjoy both on the road and the race track without fear of it falling apart. I have a few minor niggles in that the gearing is too long particularly in 3rd gear (I understand that is is shortened on the RS), the clutch is too heavy and the Sport button lets the exhaust below but also loosens the traction control (I would like sound and security!), and you have to be wary of the semi-slicks in the cold/wet. But overall it is a very good race-bred car that you could use every day in relative comfort and for this reason it must be one of Porsche’s finest achievements. 9/10.

Porsche Cayenne HYBRID 2010

I bought the New launch Hybrid Cayenne back in July. Within two months the car was off the road, the Hybrid System had problems and the car wouldn’t start. The car was returned to the dealer in the Midlands on a truck, the dealer saying all problems had been fixed. Again in November the Cayenne Hybrid System failed and the car wouldn’t start, the power steering also failed. The Car again went back to the Porsche main dealer who told me that they were to replace the main wiring loom. The car was off the road for a further 2 weeks. In December the car failed whilst my wife was on the motorway going into safe mode, she pulled off and the car broke down in the middle of the street. Warning lights HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE and CHASIS failure.

Porsche Boxster 3.2S 2003

My ’03 3.2S hasn’t missed a beat in eighteen months/13,000 miles of ownership. A recent 2,300 mile tour of Scotland gave an indicated 37.2 mpg. While that may not impress owners of small cars, I was staggered! One thing I’m not impressed with is the brakes. The large vented discs and red callipers may look great but they certainly don’t feel it. Normal driving is fine... but jump on the brakes and the pedal feels very spongy. Repeated heavy braking quickly leads to bad fade. I certainly won’t be using the Boxster for track days without an upgrade.

Porsche Cayman 2.9 Manual Gen 2 2009

This is the first Porsche I have owned, a purchase I made with my heart rather than my head. For many years I have driven family cars, my present vehicle came after much soul searching and reviews. I finally made my way to Porsche for a test drive. I wanted it to be horrid, to get the desire to own a Porsche out of my system. On the contrary I was hooked. I spent the next two days thinking long and hard, do I get a badged up BMW or something of that ilk. On the Monday I got the inevitable call back from the dealership and the negotiations began. 3 hours later I had struck a deal, £6000 of extras including Supagard and GAP insurance were on the car and I still only paid the list price. I took delivery 3 weeks later as the car was in the UK and have not looked back since. Wife hates it, daughters love it, wonderful to drive long distance, superb on the twisty stuff. If this is a ’poor mans Porsche’ then I am happy to carry that label. After 3 months the excitement of ownership has not worn off, on the contrary I just love it. My 911 owning friends have been taken aback by its beauty and driving experience so much so they are considering ’downgrading’. It is well screwed together, looks the part, sounds awesome and is a pleasure to drive, no regrets, go on buy one, you know you want to!

Responses to this review

Hi paul ... I am thinking of buying a Cayman and am Having a test drive this Friday. Which dealer gave you the good deal as I would like to speak to him - Rob Adams from England

Porsche Cayenne 3.6 tip auto 2007

This is my second Cayenne, my first an 04 3.2, which kept and enjoyed 80,000 miles in over 5 years. The 3.2 was quite underpowered, the 3.6 feels a lot lighter, more responsive and gets better mpg (I’ve actually broken 27mpg on a run). I’d encourage anyone to buy a first generation Cayenne as a lower cost taster, then go to your local Porsche dealer and strike a deal they are doing fantastic deals at the moment and servicing is cheaper than your average family saloon with 20k intervals.

Porsche Cayman 2007

No car I have driven has EVER come close to the sublime experience of piloting my Cayman S at speed along a twisting B-road. And don’t assume it’s my first quality car - I’ve owned a BMW M3, a Jaguar XKR, a Merc, an Audi - I’ve tried cars from most premium brands. And before buying the Cayman S I tested it against a 911 and was sold on the Cayman in seconds - it was as though they were designed in different centuries, which indeed they were... I challenge anyone to spend time in that car and not emerge from the cockpit grinning from ear to ear. Yet, even allowing for the intrusive road noise from the big 19" rims, it’s a car in which you can journey cross-country all day, like a proper GT. But to use it only as a GT is to ignore the Cayman’s real achievement - which is to turn every road into a racetrack (and you into Michael Schumacher or Lewis Hamilton) so informative are the messages coming through the steering wheel, so precise the handling, so firm the grip. It has ample power, and could handle more, yet returns 26mpg in real world motoring on A and B roads and over 30 on the motorway. How’s that for a car that does 0-60 in 5? My only gripe is the creaking from the rear (like plastic rubbing on plastic) that so many other owners complain about. I’ve got used to it after a couple of years and you can dampen it by dumping a coat on the back shelf if your dealer can’t find the source of the problem. If only the Cayman had four seats I’d have more excuses to drive it... but then it wouldn’t handle so sublimely... so let’s celebrate the Cayman S as the ultimate no compromise sports car!

Porsche Cayman 2008

I’ve had my Cayman S for nearly 4 months. At first it rattled a lot, especially the dashboard. It was so bad my dealer had it for 3 days but they couldn’t find the problem. However, as it ages the rattles reduce which is a bit weird!!! The performance and handling are truly amazing. You have to keep a close eye on the speedo because the chassis and aerodynamics are so good you don’t realise how fast you are travelling. A couple of hours is the max before your body and especially your ears need a rest. But after 10 minutes rest you can’t wait to get back into the cockpit to have another go!! The longer you have this wonderful machine the more you appreciate it. What a car. What an experience. Thank you Porsche. Driving will never be the same again.

Responses to this review

Help! Love the Cayman and have window shopped for six months at a local respected garage dealing in high-end cars. Porsche is one of their main showroom pieces. I started a used one 3.4 2006 that has sat for a while. It has 34,000k, is clean but shook and blew white smoke for 15 seconds. The dealer said this happened because it has not been started for a while. Should this scar me off or is this Porsche/Cayman characteristic? I test drove an orange 2010 Cayman 6000 ks at the same garage this Friday the 3.4 special additional for 69,000 Francs. The orange takes me aback but after a while it looks cool and the paint work detailing are really well done. I am getting ready to retire and want a toy for the roads near my place in the south of France. Any advice before likely taking the plunge is welcomed. Cheers - John Shabatura from Switzerland

Porsche Boxster 2004

What a fantastic car, why pay 20k for a Ford when you can get a great low mileage Porsche Boxster for the same price. Build quality is superb and the handling is spot on. It is a superb all rounder and is just as happy pottering round town as on the open road.

Responses to this review

Your right mate... Life is too short, it’s a bloody Porsche, buy one... Ed McLatchie from Essex

Porsche Boxster S 3.4 tiptronic 2006

Have had the Boxster now for 18 months and 11000 miles. It`s as fast as anyone would want on the roads, and handles instinctively - point and go. Traction control is brilliant when you over do it. Previously had BMW Z4, which by comparison was tail twitchy, breaking out suddenly - scary. Tiptronic box with `paddles` is excellent, but don`t expect much more than 16mpg when pushing on - 29mpg possible on motorways. Its a head turner, and not much difference in appearance from 911, particularly at front end. Problems to date - key stuck in ignition lock requiring recovery to garage - change of ignition barrel handled well by Porsche, including courtesy car. Otherwise solid and reliable. Compulsory extras - rear parking control; larger steering wheel (standard is `skinny` feeling) Extras to avoid - funny colours; expensive sat nav/telephone; radio upgrades (can`t hear it anyway when you`re roaring) I usually get `itchy feet` about 18 months into owning a car, and start lusting for others, but not with this one. It makes commuting a pleasure, and the weekends fun.

Porsche Cayenne 4.8 Turbo Tiptronic 2008

Amazing handling makes this one of the most exciting SUV’s you can drive. It’s a hugely powerful car and will out drive the X5 hands down. A bit disappointing on looks and it’s not cheap but it’s the performance you buy this car for and it certainly delivers.

Porsche Boxster 3.4s 2006

This is really my wifes car and has done nearly 10,000 miles. Excellent, much improved from the old 3.2 with great build quality and performance. Why pay 20K for a 911 and get fractionally more performance value for money? The best soft top on the market.

Porsche Cayenne GTS 4.8 litre V8 auto 2008

The new GTS is far "sportier" than the Turbo and also costs £20k less. This a huge improvement of the old Cayenne S that has serious suspension issues and the ride is now much less jarring and feels more like a conventional car rather than an SUV when driven. In my opinion this is the best SUV, far better than its rivals such as the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo 2007

The Cayenne Turbo is a monster of a car. The fastest 4x4 production car available. This car is amazing! It has the pace of a supercar and handles like a sports car. Build quality is excellent.

Porsche 911 Carrera S 2005

You may have heard that the 911 is good - well it’s good and then some. There aint many motors you can drive at 27mph in top and then right up to 185mph - not that i have! Handling is great - only problem is affordability - but that’s what makes it special when you get one. Oh yeah last thing - everyone looks to see who’s driving it.

Porsche Boxster 3.2S

Porsche really are living on past glory. New Engine at 6500 miles in the 3.2S Boxster. Nice to drive (my wife thought it was great) but big loss when you sell. Then bought a GT3 then but needed a diff at 11000 miles. Get your act together Porshe you are taking the piss on reliability.

Porsche 911 Cabriolet Carerra S

With the howling sound of this engine being revved hard in your ears and the wind in your hair you can say to yourself 'Hey man I've arrived....' Yes this Porsche needs to be driven hard as all Porches do! And so what if you annoy any 'less worthy' underachievers sharing 'your' motorway lane whilst your taming this beast, Tough!! If they could sell timeshare like you can then they might have one too!

Porsche Cayman 2.7 Manual

The Cayman offers so much at such a reasonable price! If you want a car that looks the part and drives fantastically well for around £40K look no further. I would recommend to anyone. Take one for a test drive and you will not want to give it back honestly!