It's so hard to justify spending over a hundred grand on a car. Of course you hand the keys over to me for a week and I'm happier than a tornado in a trailer park. Yes, I watch too many of my kids' movies. Getting behind the wheel of the Porsche Panamera, I'm as happy as a little kid. Why would a four-door sports machine make one father of two kids happy? The Panamera just seems to find the right balance between sports performance and everyday family car.

Start with the flat out sexy curves that hug it's way around the body of the Panamera — it's muscular and gorgeous all at the same time. The sloped roofline falls back to the rear end, allowing on lookers a visual treat from every angle. This Panamera sits on optional 20-inch sport wheels, which gives a great view of the huge disc brakes and painted brake calipers.

Making this Porsche a Porsche is a 3.6-litre V6 that effortlessly squeezes out 300 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to a seven-speed sequential-shift double-clutch automatic transmission, also known as a the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or, thankfully for me, PDK for short. Power is transfered quickly to the all-wheel-drive system and with just a little extra muscle on the gas, it growls with pleasure.

Active safety features that help to keep you pointed in the proper direction include Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with ABS and traction control. The combination may flash a little warning sign every once in a while, but you won't feel too much correction from the system. It seems to be able to tell when things aren't in optimal conditions, even before you notice.

Thanks to the long wheelbase and outstanding suspension setup, cruising on highways or city streets is a treat. The optional adaptive air suspension also helps with your comfort level. Want a little stiffer ride? Feel like you need a bit more comfort? Maybe you're right in the middle. It can all be selected with the touch of a button.

Inside, you get the same outstanding leather treatment you can expect from the Porsche tailors. Front and back seats are super comfortable and hug the bodies of both driver and passengers alike. Front-seat occupants get the benefit of power seats for any kind of adjustment you would ever need, but both front and rear passengers are treated to heated seats.

The optional Bose surround sound system hooked up to 11 loudspeakers makes all your tunes on standard radio, satellite, CD, audio DVD or iPod sound amazing, and will keep the family rocking to dad's favourites.

Like they have any other choice.

Bluetooth handsfree phone compatibility will keep the drivers hands where they belong ... on the steering wheel.

And really, would you ever want to take them off?

Driving the kids to school is a pleasure. They have tonnes of room in back for to stretch their legs and all the while with me having all the legroom I could ever need. Protecting your precious cargo are driver and front passenger front airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags and side curtain airbags that extend from the A to C pillars.

The Panamera isn't a car for people on fixed budgets or even slightly larger budgets, but it's great to know if you ever fall upon a good chunk of cash that you might just take a drive to your local Porsche dealer to look at one of these. Your kids will thank you for it.