Porsche Carrera 4 S

Inside, simple lines and a well-designed fascia get the job done with the minimum of fuss. Liapproves. “It’s a typically Porsche interior, very purposeful and not extravagant,” he says. “The design is very functional with very clean lines. Pedal positions feel comfortable and there’s a useful footrest on the left. Gauges are nicely laid out; everything comes easily to hand.” He adds: “To accentuate the sportiness of the car the biggest dial is the rev counter with a digital readout in the middle to give you a good idea of your speed.”

The satellite navigation system is delivered through a clear screen and includes the position of police speed cameras. Alas, the software on our test model was not up-do-date, but it made little difference – traffic conditions on a Saturday morning made the possibility of accidentally breaking any speed limits extremely unlikely. Power-assisted steering is delivered through a neat padded steering wheel that Li finds very comfortable, making maneuvering the car a pleasure, especially when driving with hands in the classic ‘quarter-to-three’ position.

This model sits lower to the ground than the other versions, giving it a sportier look much to Li’s taste. “The car looks very good from the back, especially with its wide tires and the wider wheel arches,” he says. Determined traffic-light drag racers have the option of engaging launch control when in sports mode, but they had better know how to handle the acceleration