E46 M3? Really? I never understood the fuss with those and I definitely wouldn’t part with mint money for one untik Redish motorsport have checked the rear subframe carrier panel.
TTRS, meh.
911 for me. Sod the wife, hobbies come first 
I had a new 911 from 2002 to 2005. What do you go to for a change? My (then)teenage boys persuaded me to go for the Mitsubishi Evo 8 MR8, ha ha. 9 months / 9k miles later and two services, the Japanese plastickie interior was not doing it for me , although the car was very capable, so I bought an E46 M3 SMG - back in the German build fold, and I thought it was extremely good, so I can see the appeal. The E46 just looks a bit dated now; whereas the 911 is still roughly the same ageless motoring sculpture. As already said - 911 all the way....... 
Hmmmm, yeah, my friend had an Evo 9 FQ360 for about a year and that put me off the Jap scene to be honest, apart from the Honda S2000. As you say, ghastly interiors but the worst thing for me was the horrendous ride quality, ridiculous exhaust drone, comical turbo lag and even funnier fuel consumption. I really, really do not get those cars at all. I much prefer the way the Impreza drives.
I had an E46 M3 for about 6 months many moons ago, and indeed a chum still has a very mint low mileage example.....but again, it's too one dimensional for me, like the Evo. I don't like the tramlining, I don't like the <4000k rpm lack of torque, I don't like the solid tappet noise (or the inspection 2 service price that goes with it!), the ride quality isn't brilliant and they destroy rear subframe carrier panels for fun. The E39 M5 is more my style
An M3 for old, picky gits who like low down torque but still want some 'M'ness.
The reason I like 911s so much is because of a drive of a 993 3.6 Varioram, in the uncommon wide body flavour. It's the only car in the last 2 decades to leave a lasting impression on me
