It's an illfounded rumour that the stock shocks are so horrible. Alignment and tires are very important though, if wrong the car doesn't feel great, and most people use dealer alignment values which are mostly good to prolong tire wear, not how the car feels.

The M3 E46 I drove was 100% Eurospec and very low mileage. It was great to drive. But once getting in a TT it's just a different category of a car. The M3 goes together with sedans / "tour buses". Turn the steering wheel and not too much happens until you wind a lot on the wheel. Maybe if you change the steering rack on a M3 it will feel better. The shifter swims around a bit. Semi soft hung up tranny and engine mounts at hard driving also make the M3 feel more daily than sportscar than the TT, all phasetimes are longer with rapid driver action. Small details like that make up a huge difference in driving experience. All these little things add up. Get in a TT and life is different, car is solid and you will feel everything (not compared to a GT3 but compared to an M3).

On the other end of the scale, you can complain and say the TT engine vibrates more on idle due to engine mounts. The steering is too direct and can make the car darty on bad roads. The shifter can seem to firm. Pedals might feel too heavy, noise level from the wide rear tires too loud. It's all personal preference - some people prefer to drive other cars rather than a TT b/c it's easier to drive, is more silent, is more comfortable.

So the M3 is a great car no discussion. If I needed one I would definitely have one for it's overall fun factor and usability.
But the TT fulfills the needs I have for a daily and is just better in every way from my enthusiast standpoint and especially when hitting the track.

If you want a great daily with some sporty character then M3 is good.
If you want a sports car on the verge of supercar with daily capability it's the TT. Life will be sweeter but also harder.

Happy driving.

 

congrats!
cant beat 2.49% APR

 

Ah Penfed and the CA DMV...good memories...

 

Damn, too bad I am no longer enlisted.

Still, USAA does well.

 

Grats on the purchase. There is another I am eager to take a look at that Tony has up for sale.

 

Thanks! No doubt, money is cheap these days.

Good memories...
is there something I should know about when dealing w/ Penfed and CA DMV?
You don't need to be enlisted. All you need to do is make a $20 donation to military housing foundation and booooom, you're in! I can thank 6speedonline for that lead!

 

 

Congrats on the purchase. I've gone from a daily driver NSX a few years ago, to having the TT now as a daily driver. It works fine as a DD, I think. It makes me look forward to going to work every day.

 

Eggszactly!!!

 

Just got mine back. Was without it for three weeks. Just reaffirmed why I love the P car so much. Great fun!

 

White? Sweet, congrats!

 

It all depends on if the seller has a physical title or an electronic one. PenFed was less than helpful about transferring the title in electronic form. 5 weeks after I bought the car it was still registered to the seller but with PenFed as the lienholder...it took me 2 DMV appointments and several phone calls to work this out. Just make sure you get a piece of paper or a Form 227.

Re: penfed membership, I didn't even make a donation. Having a family member in the military is enough to get in.

 

Loved this comment! I`m new here, just come from over 20 years with BMW which included a couple of M models. Switched to a 997TTS and liking it tremendously! It is so different and completely rewarding - she is used as a daily driver. I guess the touchscreen PCM has taken a bit of time to get used to but otherwise no issues really.

Cheers,

 

Wellcome to 6speed...people are very nice and know a lot,very helpfull

 

Thanks - will post some photos next week.

Cheers,