I've made it a habit to lock the car by hand immediately after closing the door - even before starting the engine.

It really is second nature once you get into the routine of it.

Best part - it's free

I think space requirements in the coming few years should be a major decision driver in your case.

I drive an M3 hatch and find the boot space to be unimpressive.
I struggle with 4 adults and luggage - one of the bags will have to travel at the back seat.
Golf bags are also an issue for me. I usually have to put down one seat for it to fit.
Child seats may be an issue, depending on how far back your passenger seat is pushed to.

I fall into the family with young child category, and find the 3 to be too small to be my primary car.

Agree with this. Daytime during winter, I just roll the windows down and leave the A/C off. Fresh air is drawn from outside and comes up warm through the air vents to prevent fingers from freezing.
No problem keeping istop activated for 2 over minutes while waiting at traffic lights or train crossings.

In summer, it becomes second nature to switch istop off and turn the A/C on immediately after starting the car.

FWIW, I've had my M3 for 3 years now and almost touching 40k kms and I'm still on the original battery.

This post has been edited by Chinoz: Jun 27 2017, 01:07 PM

I spoke too soon - I had my battery changed yesterday
I don't drive it as much these days and I guess it didn't like being left outside in the winter cold for a few days consecutively.
Could probably squeeze a few more weeks/months out of it if it was my daily driver.

FWIW, I'm driving the Aussie M3 without i-Eloop.
Not too sure what the original battery was, but I did see a GS Yuasa marking on it while it was being replaced.

They plugged in an external power source to the car while replacing the battery, and I didn't have to recalibrate i-stop after that.

Firstly, there's a 2.5L turbo in the CX9, so I guess the possibility, however minute, is there for them to put it in the 3 or CX5.

Secondly, I'm a big NA fan, so I'm pleased to see Mazda continue to develop sans turbocharging (even though everyone and their mothers are shoving a turbo down their tiny <2L engines).
I do not agree with the sentiment that turbo power makes a car fun to drive - I've always appreciated the linear pull of a good NA engine.

So I recently got a Subaru with a CVT. This is my first time owning a CVT, but I've previously rented a Mitsu ASX with CVT and I wasn't impressed with it - it felt lethargic, it droned and very uninspired as a whole.

But with the Subaru - it's a 3.6L unit with bundles of torque - it felt smooth and effortless.
The revs were happy to stay low while the car still pulled.
It made the whole notion of changing gears feel antiquated - no more jerky gearshifts.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is - don't diss it until you've tried it

Is this a sedan "feature"? My HB can open from driver side and button on the boot, but not from the key.