Porsche 911 Carrera S (991.2)

The Porsche 911 Carrera S (991.2) presents an unusual question in a 600-car catalogue: why pay more when its headline numbers do not sit at the very top? Its used price rank is 359 of 600, making it more expensive than 241 cars in the collection, while its cost per bhp is £181. The answer comes from what those figures represent together: a focused combination of layout, performance and engineering character rather than a simple chase for the biggest number.

With 414 bhp, the Carrera S ranks 406 of 600 for power, placing it in the top 68% of the catalogue. Its 0-100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds is faster than 308 cars here, and its 308 km/h top speed ranks 234 of 600. The numbers describe a car that is not trying to dominate every measurement, but instead occupies a carefully balanced position. For a collector choosing from 600 cars, that balance is the reason the £75,000 used price can make sense.

The detail that separates this Porsche from much of the catalogue is its flat-six foundation. Only 47 of 600 cars use a flat-six engine layout, and just 36 pair that layout with rear-wheel drive. The Carrera S adds twin-turbocharging to that formula, placing it among only 18 twin-turbocharged flat-six cars in the catalogue. Its 2,981 cc engine, 500 Nm of torque and rear-wheel-drive configuration create a specification that stands apart without needing the highest power figure.

That distinction matters because the Carrera S sits within a relatively specific corner of the collection. It is a Germany-origin sports car, from a country represented by 197 cars in the catalogue, and it comes from Porsche, which contributes 65 cars to the selection. The 2+2 coupe body style also gives it a different role from many dedicated two-seat sports cars, combining a familiar sports car shape with a more versatile format.

The opening calculation looks different after considering the full picture. £181 per bhp is not a bargain measure when viewed alone, but this Porsche is not defined by output per pound. It earns consideration through a rare combination within the catalogue: a rear-wheel-drive, twin-turbocharged flat-six sports car with performance that remains competitive across 600 choices. In a dream garage, this is the car that adds precision and balance, a machine chosen because its numbers tell a complete story rather than a single impressive line.