Porsche

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Porsche

Almost a century after its founder started designing automobiles, Porsche is still going strong and that’s the result of a premier cure for a mid-life crisis similar to Harley – Davidson. Porsche’s lineup includes four model lines: the Boxster, the 911 models, the Cayenne SUV, and the Carrera GT. And if these vehicles are too expensive, Porsche also offers watches, luggage, and tennis rackets bearing its name. Descendants of the founding family still control the company and these days it has enlarged its area by offering consulting services to other companies involved in auto and furniture manufacturing, mechanical and electronic engineering, and construction.

Porsche – a brief history

Ferdinand Porsche played an important role in the development of airplanes and racing cars, and the construction of tanks for the Wehrmacht. He is an automobile engineer with more than a thousand patents to his name. He was appointed chief engineer at Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart in the 1920s. Later on, he set up his own engineering workshop and designed among others the Volkswagen. At the plant where Volkswagen was made, Wolfsburg, he was chief of operations and at the end of the war he was interned by the Allies.

He was released a few years later and started building his first car with his son, Ferry Porsche. The car was named the Porsche 356 and it was a sports car and a reminiscent of the Volkswagen.

Porsche 365

The Porsche 356 is the first Porsche production automobile and it was sold from 1948 through 1965. Although many consider Porsche 64 as being the first automobile produced by the German company, the 64 was never mass-produced and it was only a drivable test-mule. The 364 was created by Ferdinand Porsche and his son, Ferry Porsche, designed by Erwin Komenda and its engine features derived from the Volkswagen Beetle, deigned by Mr. Porsche Senior.

The models available were initially coupe, cabriolet (luxury convertible) and then roadster (a stripped down convertible).

Before being withdrawn in 1965, it went through several changes. The most desirable versions were 356 “Carrera” (often sold for well over $150,000), “Super 90″ and “Speedster”.

Porsche 550 Spyder

In 1953, Porsche needed a race car more powerful than the 356. So they created the 550. This was the first true competition car from Porsche. It was lightweight, it had two seats, aluminum body, tubular frame and an open top. They were racing only with Volkswagen. The initial pair of 550 dominated their class at Le Mans finishing one-two in the 1500cc division. Then, one of the two cars won its category in the famed Pan Americana Mexican road race.

Subsequent 550`s carried on what the initial 550`s had started.

They were fitted with the four-cam Carrera flat four cylinders. They soon became dominant cars world wide. During races, it was fast and easily maneuvered so no other car stand a chance. But people loved it purchasing every one of these quick little cars they could find.

Porsche 914

Introduced in September 1969, the Porsche 914 was a sporty, mid-engined two-seater with a targa top and a 4 cylinder boxer engine. The idea for this new model came up as Volkswagen and Porsche collaborated to create a new car. VW would take 914 bodies and finish them as 914/4s, and Porsche would take their portion of the body shells, and build 914/6s. When sold in North America, however, all 914s would be considered Porsches.

Porsche 914 is not like other Porsches. It has pop-up headlamps, a vertical rear windshield, and a flat deck lid covering the rear trunk and engine. It has no backseats so when you sit down, you are practically on the floor, which is on the road.

Porsche Approved

When a pre-owned Porsche meets the high quality standards set by the brand, it will receive the name Porsche Approved. So if you want a Porsche but you can’t afford a brand new one, a Approved vehicle is your best choice since you can be sure that it will meet your expectations.

But what is the difference between a Porsche Approved certified vehicle from a conventional pre-owned vehicle?

First of all, the Porsche Approved cars are inspected by factory trained technicians and if they find any faults, repairs are carried out in line with the strict Porsche quality criteria.

Porsche Boxter

The Porsche Boxster and Boxster S are fast, powerful cars and most

of all the best-handling production roadsters on the planet.

Introduced in 1996, it remained essentially unchanged, other than

moderate horsepower and interior-options tweaks. That’s what

Porsche usually does with the successful models: it retains car

look and configuration for ages.

A more powerful second-generation Boxster was introduced in 2005

and it keeps Porsche’s conservative evolutionary path. Like its

precedent, it is a mid-engine, six-cylinder two-seater that looks like

Porsche Spyder. Still, over half of Boxster`s structure and electronics

Porsche Boxter built in Valmet

In 1998, Porsche realized that if they wanted to sell more Boxsters, they needed to produce more cars. To do so, they contracted with a plant in Finland called Valmet because the plant in Zuffenhausen couldn’t handle the increased production.

The initial plan was for Boxster to be produced in Finland for only two years. Everybody thought that by that time the demand in Zuffenhausen would decrease so that plant could handle all production. But the Boxster demand remains high, and so does the one for 996, so against all expectations the plant will remain busy for the foreseeable future. Zuffenhausen can assemble 30,000 cars per year, so the only way the Boxster would be moved entirely to Finland is if Porsche could sell the better part of that many 996s. In the short term, that isn’t likely to happen though. Most of the cars destined for North America are built in Valmet.

Porsche Chayenne – the engine

With every new automobile, Porsche tried to redefine the meaning

of performance, by creating a more powerful engine. Cayenne Turbo

makes no exception to this rule. Like all Porsche engine, it is hand

assembled and the twin turbo V8 rises to an exacting level of technical

excellence.

Motronic ME7.1.1.is a system that controls the split-second precision

of the Cayenne V8 and V6 super engine. This new highly intelligent

engine management system balances impressive power with great

smoothness. All this to prove that Cayenne`s “brain” matches its brawn.

The Motronic system is built to monitor a wide range of sensors and

Porsche checking fluids

In order to avoid big, expensive problems, you should check under the hood of your Porsche on a regular basis. By following these simple monthly checks you will find and solve these potential problems.

First of all, you should check the oil, but only when the engine is warm.

That’s because it expands when it’s hot and contracts when it’s cold; different temperatures will give you different readings. And since you’re already checking the fluids you should also check the brake fluid. It’s easy to do and only takes a minute.

Radiator fluid, or coolant, is the most important part of your Porsche’s cooling system, which protects your engine from overheating. Low coolant can lead to a breakdown and expensive repairs. Before checking the power steering fluid (which is also easy on most cars) you should see if you have it. Try to parallel park with one hand and eat an ice cream cone with the other. If you can do that, then you have it.