Man Maths: Porsche Panamera GTS

But it really does need to be a second-generation model. It’s a better car overall, its cabin doesn’t feel so dated and it’s better looking, although I accept that’s a bit like choosing between Cinderella’s stepsisters. The gen-two model was new in 2016 – look for the slimmer, far sleeker taillights to identify old from new. Its platform would later underpin the 2018 Bentley Continental GT and the Flying Spur that followed a year later, both of which were a big improvement in dynamic terms over their predecessors.

So the Panamera has good genes. Question is, which variant? The Sport Turismo, more estate than hatchback with its longer roof, is the most handsome of the lot, but beyond that it depends on how you’ll use it. If you’ll do lots of short journeys and you can charge at home, a plug-in hybrid would make a lot of sense. Long motorway journeys? Don’t discount the punchy turbodiesels (although these were only on sale for a single year). Want crushing performance? Obviously you’ll need a Turbo badge on the back.

But if you want to lean into the Panamera’s sports car alter ego, make it a GTS. Like all Panameras other than base models, the GTS has four-wheel drive, and while it’s not as powerful as a Turbo variant, its twin-turbo V8 will still deliver 454bhp, or 473bhp if you’re looking at a post-2021 car. GTS in Porsche-speak often means ‘sweet spot’, and for those looking for a more dynamic sort of Panamera, that’s exactly the case here. Importantly, though, even a GTS is a comfortable, quiet and cosseting companion on longer drives.

You can find them for just under £50,000, but spend another ten grand and you can afford to be choosy about spec, colour, mileage, condition and so on. These second-generation Panameras, codenamed 971, are known to be more reliable than older 970 examples, but you should expect to pay quite handsomely for parts and servicing. It’s a Porsche, after all.

If you can live with that, you’ll be delighted to see your Panamera GTS waiting for you wherever you are, and whatever sort of road you’ll be driving on.

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