I've been looking at a 335i myself recently as a change to my stock GTI.
Did you notice any major changes in costs between the two? i.e. fuel, servicing, parts etc.?
I think the fact that you keep stating you want the ed30 is now talking me out of it already
It takes some getting used to mate. The 335i is a much heavier car and it feels that way too. I can't really say its the faster 0-60 than my old stage 1 gti which was 326tq compared to 335i stock of 301tq but after 60 is when the car really comes alive
I used to really love the upshift fart on my dsg but the 335i has a much better exhaust note even from the stock exhaust or you can do the golf tee mod which costs nothing, all you do is disconnect 1 cable from the boot and you have a much louder exhaust.
There are a couple reasons I said I would like to get a ed30, 1. Being that it has 4 doors which is just more practical. Sure there are 335s that have 4 doors but don't look good. 2. With the 335i you cant filter through traffic like you can on the gti.
On the plus side it's a bimmer and you don't look like a kid :) you don't get fiestas revving their engine at you. No one is trying to challenge you. You just don't seem like that nutter that is about to do something dangerous :D The bimmer has made me a more calmer driver I sometimes just cruise and relax. On the gti I was on attack mode all the time
Having said all that if I had a good px offered to me for a ed30 dsg I might still take it.