[fiordland]

Good question, I think you'd have to be very careful as you could very easily spend a whole lot more for a similar size and powered vehicle. The SP23 is really asking the tough questions to a hell of a lot of other sedan/hatches.

In the unlikely event I replaced the 3 I'd be looking for larger interior and a substantially superior vehicle. That rules out cars like the Lexus IS 300, Audi A4, I'd want a significant jump which I think would be something like the A6 3.0.

Despite what some of my work colleagues think cars such as the Lexus IS200, IS300 are nothing more than fancy looking corolla's. Neither are the standard BMW3, Audi A4, C180's particularly coveted by myself as I realise they are now "me too cars" with so many now out there on novated lease they're not even status symbols for the extra 20 thousand.

Do they offer substantive hikes in size, status, ride quality, etc, when put up against the 3? No they don't.

The Audi A4 2.0 for instance is the same size interior, considerably slower and starts at $20,000 more, sure you've got a slightly higher residual value but really....

The truth is if I received a substantial salary hike I'd not buy and A6, it would cost me a lot less to switch the Xtrail Ti leather for an X5 diesel and I think it would be a similar quality step.

 

[fiordland]

EBD is simply an ehanced form of ABS it will only work with your foot firmly on the brake and can in certain circumstances assist you by rapid and individual micro changes to the braking force on all 4 individual wheels unlike standard ABS which can be as prehistoric as being uniformily applied across the brakes on just two wheels.

EBD doesn't apply traction, it operates seperately across the 4 tires in milleseconds leading to an improvement on stopping distances by comparison to ABS.

Another words, EBD-ABS is something that should be standard in new cars of today. EBS doesn't "apply traction", it maximises available traction at computer speeds much faster than a human can manipulate the brake pad.

DSC = Dynamic stability control is also fast becoming established, it's an additional enhancement, it overides your use of the accelerator and in basic terms applies ABS if the car's CPU decides your going to fast under acceleration to take the next bend. It senses traction loss as you turn the wheels and cuts acceleration and starts applying EBD which allows you to simply put your foot to the floor and steer the car through a chicane. Obviously not entirely exciting for the car driver for the cars computer to handle both acceleration and braking with you only steering the vehicle. Personally I think it would be nice in the wet or in your first couple of weeks of driving a performance sports car such as the RX8 to use DSC, after that I'd want to have the ability to switch it on/off, regrettably some cars with DSC don't allow you to turn it off, like any "automatic" system it limits the available rev range - fun factor.