Nattie, I never said because its newer it's better..... that would be extremely childish of me to take that viewpoint.
I am fully aware that people on here are driving around in 7 year old cars, and you correctly pointed out that I did too.... I also drove an 'H' Rover as my first car, should this mean that I won't want to upgrade at any point in the future from that? your logic isn't logical...
Also I'd beg to differ that an older M3 would wipe the floor with my tin pot stage 1 8P - comon, you know about these things, stupid comment to make! Also I do love all this talk about 'proper drivers car' like your going to be driving it like you would around a track on public roads, makes me laugh
an 02 plate M3 against my 8P S3...... yeah I can see how your drawing a comparison
My point was that as an all round car and for 20k you'll be hard pressed to find something similar, all you have done above is show how your willing to mediate and 'put' up with an old Golf for your daily driver (the most time you'll spend in your car, the drive to and from work!!) to have an old M3 for the weekend. I'd be willing to bet that most on here if they had 20k to spend on a car will go for something more upto date than they currently have, with more different toys and features....otherwise you've just spent 20k for nothing!!
As for toys, I think you'll find comparing the bits on an 8L versus 8P will land you in trouble, the options list is far more advanced...sure I only have a crappy LED RNS-E which is **** by market standards, but add in the subtle touches which make newer cars, even standard equipment and how functional it is - You can take off the electric seats, lack of lumbar... but then if i went into the little touches the 8P has from out of the box, what parts have been re-engineered etc......its no contest.
Take this from me having owned both and being completely impartial....I will not be going back to an 8L, I loved my dolphin grey beast!! but this car with all it's faults is a much nicer car to live with.....this may sound really stuck and apologies if it sounds the wrong way but that is my thoughts on the subject, end of. Go get one for a month, live with it long enough to discover all the extras that aren't immediately obvious when you sit in it at the dealer, the bits no manual or car magazine will write - then get to know the power bands and how driveable it is, I could go on....