Four seats, four-wheel-drive, full-on luxury and full-on performance. Both the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS and the Bentley Continental GT admirably fulfil that wish list, as long as you’re ready to lay out something not far short of £100k.

You can’t buy the Bentley new at this money, but a two-year old specimen at £89,850 makes it an intriguing option to the factory-fresh Porsche at £95,862.

Which one represents not only the best experience, but also the best value?

The Bentley instantly hits you with a cushioned thump of grandeur. The sense of occasion ratchets up a notch when you ignite the baritone V8, click in the first of eight speeds in the automatic gearbox and point the beast at a batch of bends.

Supreme engineering shines through, unblunted by our test car’s 22,000 miles. The Conti’s catapulting low-end thrust is mightily present. Allied to adaptive air suspension and light, accurate steering, the Bentley somehow manages to evaporate its 2.3 tonnes, shrugging off the expected understeer and adhering to a chosen line with iron discipline. Its ride is classically grand tourer-smooth, even over the worst British surfaces.

The Porsche Carrera 4 GTS is the best of the road-biased 911s. Compared to the syrupy Bentley, its ride feels harsh even with optional adaptive dampers.

But the 911’s pin-sharp responses and poise leach into a driver’s soul. Easily embracing the extremes of refinement, comfort, precision and exhilaration, it beats the Bentley on handling. The sound and seemingly endless power of the engine are utterly addictive.

Picking a winner here is like trying to quantify chocolate over vanilla. Each has its own unique irresistibility. Can they be split on more mundane considerations, such as price and running costs?

Buying an official Pre-Owned Bentley confers the kind of perks usually reserved for new-car buyers. It comes with an unlimited-mileage three-year warranty, and fixed-price servicing at £95 a month.

The new Porsche’s servicing package is better value at £1360 for four years. It also throws in European roadside assist and driving tuition at Silverstone. But when you take the dreaded depreciation into account, the Bentley wins.

So, which to choose? The multi-tasking, accomplished Porsche is a special performer; the Bentley simply makes you feel special. Ultimately it comes down to what want in your motoring life. Both will surprise and delight.

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS (new)

Price today: £95,862

Price when new: £95,862

Engine: 6cyl horizontally opposed, 3800cc, petrol

Power: 424bhp at 7500rpm

Torque: 325lb ft at 5750rpm

Gearbox: 7spd manual

Kerbweight: 1545kg; 0-60mph 4.4sec

Top speed: 188mph

Economy: 28.5mpg

CO2/tax band: 233g/km/35%

Bentley Continental GT V8 (2013)

Price today: £89,850

Price when new: £125,000

Engine: V8, 3993cc, twin-turbo, petrol

Power: 500bhp at 6000rpm

Torque: 487b ft at 1700rpm

Gearbox: 8spd automatic

Kerbweight: 2295kg; 0-60mph 4.8sec

Top speed: 188mph

Economy: 26.7mpg

CO2/tax band: 246g/km/35%