Yeah but what a 2007 model and a big fuel bill. Finding it hard enough to think of spending that amount on a 2 yr old car let alone a 4yr old. Once chipped minimal diff in performance. I like the idea of the torque in the 335d but cant bring myself to get a diesel as like a bit of sound - which is the only reason Id pick an M3 over 335i.

I did do the E92 M3 fastlaps with Tiff Needell at Thruxton - that was an experience lol. Thought he was gonna bin it into the double chicane at the end but turned into a perfect powerslide with the tail not so far away from some chap in an Aston Martin V8 :)

Spent time in and briefly drove a V8 M3 today for the first time. DCT is outstanding and I traditionally hate the sloppy nature of auto-boxes with a TC, so this was new territory for me. I found it very smooth for general slow speed manoeuvring and yet it was instantly responsive and engaging when you wanted manual control.

All in all, I was pretty much converted to DCT inside 60 seconds. Otherwise, lovely car to drive and usefully potent.

I agree , that is the best part of my car , did you have a play with the gear change speed button next to the gearstick , put that onto the fastest settings and its lightning fast :D

Wish I could have it on my rally car !

Yeah, we pootled around in drive mode and then had the gearbox on the fastest setting in M mode. All in the wet :D

well Imprezas have so much "character" compared with the german cars , that why they are drivers cars, with Bmws( my previouse car before this M3 was the E60 M5), they are great cars but lacks that driver appeal which is in abundance in the Classic imprezas .

my M3 will probally go in a year's time (had the M5 for one year only)...but I will never sell my P1 which I've owned since 2002 !!

In my 30+years of Driving performance cars the P1 impreza is the car that I had the longest time :), so what does that tell you !!

believe me if you can stretch to a M3 go for it as if you bought the 335 after a while you wish you had bought the "M", ages on cars is not a factor when buying rather it the condition of the car that you should worry about.
I would rather buy a 10 year old porsche than a 2 year old Ford :).

In fact I actually did buy a 23 year old porsche 944s (which is at Hartech in bolton getting the once over Heath check right now).

heres the link to the car
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=631962

How do the costs compare running an Impreza vs M3 V8? I would imagine only slightly more if you don'r hoon it around everywhere as you would go through some tyres!

I keep toying with one of these as my next car and adding Pros and Cons and can never decide :D One thing is for sure I would need another set of wheels with winter tyres as it would be an everyday car doing 5k per annum.

I took delivery of the M3 in Dec 09 ...drove it afew days then the snow hit Manchester big time could not even drive up my driveway as the PS2 sport tyres are crap in snow ,so kept its in garage till late Jan 10.
last year I was prepared for the winter as I purchase some M3 oem 18" wheels and had them fitted with pirelli Zoto Zeros winter tyres (make a huge difference).
running cost depends on the mileage that you do as the service is condition base(CBS),
in 18 months Its has cost me around £400-450(run-in service and brake fluid service )I have done 8950 mile as of yeaterday....but I did a in-between oil change myself @ 4000miles.

oil is very expensive as it castrol TWS motorsport oil for M engine and you'll need 9 litres !!
.
Its use alot of fuel 16-17mpg around town.

for me insurance is cheaper on the M3(P1 cost more because of the mods running 450-460bhp).
if you dont mind the 16 mpg, it a great car as a daily drive (esp with7 speed DCT box ).
but i prefer my P1 if i was to go "racing" on the street :)