Hello everyone. This is Mina, the administrator of “Welcome Home, PORSCHE.” This project, Porsche Owners File, was born from readers’ requests to share the genuine voices of various Porsche owners. For the 20th installment, we have a purchase, options, and driving review of the rare Japan-only model, the 911 Turbo S Exclusive, kindly provided by “accent.”

〘Owner Information〙
・Featured car: 911 Turbo S Exclusive
・Pen name: accent
・Region: Northern Kanto
・Family: Wife, two dogs
・Previous cars: Mostly German cars, but this is my third 911 and fifth Porsche overall.
Cayenne (early model) → 911 (997.1) → Panamera → 911 (997.2) → 911 (this 911 Turbo S Exclusive)
*All turbo or turbo S models

1) How the Purchase Came About

One morning, while browsing the American Porsche website, I discovered the 911 Turbo S Exclusive. I hadn’t driven a Porsche for a while, but I thought, “If this model comes to Japan, I want to drive a Porsche again!”

Soon after it appeared on the Japanese site, I headed straight to the dealer and placed a reservation. Since this model was limited to just six units in Japan, I had almost forgotten about it when the dealer contacted me to say, “Your car is ready for purchase.”

I thought, “No way!” but figured this kind of chance might only come once in a lifetime, so I pushed myself to make the purchase.

2) Options / Specifications

It’s fair to say the car is fully optioned. However, the choices were limited to features like “Adaptive Cruise Control,” “Front Lift,” “Rear Wiper,” and “Burmester Audio.”

3) Delivery Process

It took about half a year from the “Your car is ready for purchase” notice. Limited edition cars apparently undergo different import inspections, so it took several months after arriving in Toyohashi.

4) Performance Impressions of the 911 Turbo S Exclusive

Personally, it feels no different from the 911 Turbo S (991.2). Numerically there may be differences, but sensibly, I don’t think most people, including myself, would notice a big difference.

① Engine / Engine Sound

The engine sound is the distinctive flat-six tone. At idle, it’s very subdued with a dry, lean impression. But once you step on the accelerator, it roars with a thunderous sound and over 600 horsepower that pins your whole body down with gravity, making your head spin.

Even in city driving, you can precisely control the revs and extract just the right amount of power you want.

If desired, you can easily induce a power slide with centimeter-level precision, and because torque is linearly distributed to the front wheels during this, it’s also easy to bring the car back as if pulled by invisible ropes from the front.

With the right conditions, you can enjoy sporty driving with complete peace of mind.

② About the PDK

The PDK feels much more refined compared to the previous (997.2) model. Also, selecting Sport Plus via the steering wheel switch transforms the shift program into something akin to a racing car.

It’s so impressive that you might feel like your driving skills have improved.

③ Ride Comfort and Feel

I think it’s excellent. The soft and flat ride quality is maintained across all speeds, and the car firmly holds its ground where it needs to. The body’s rigidity feels like a safe, giving a strong sense of protection and unity with the car every time you corner.

Also, the seat shape, softness, and support are all outstanding and greatly contribute to the ride comfort.

④ Handling / Brakes

I think it’s excellent. Because there’s no engine weight at the front, the spring rates can be softer, which I believe greatly contributes to the feel. Like animals that push off the ground with their hind legs and steer with their front legs, this design philosophy feels rooted in fundamental principles.

With older 911s, it was common to enter corners with some brake trail to control weight, but with modern 911s, this is almost unnecessary.

As with any Porsche, the brakes inspire absolute confidence. The image is of all four wheels sinking evenly and biting into the road to scrub off speed.

Next page → Fuel Economy, Maintenance, and Overall Impressions of the 911 Turbo S Exclusive