S3 or Golf R or even an S1?

I think it's OK for an A3 to be designed for more Autobahn in mind, a 184 S-line would be ideal as a cruiser on a smooth autobahn, but an Audi "S" car with poor damping and handling characteristics?

Sure, the compression/rebound settings can be changed with aftermarket dampers, but..

Shouldn't really be the case out of the box, really. Not for a "S" car.
 
Having driven the S3 & the R i would say the difference in ride is small, so small that I don't think I'd realistically go any quicker on the UK roads with an R. The S3 isn't poor in any way, but it's is setup differently, I found the S3 better in town but still quicker than most cars out of town.
The look of the Saloon, inside and out, the positioning of the controls and the mag-ride among others meant it was a better choice for me.
To get this in perspective, if you want a car purely to go fast from A-B then the Golf MAY be quicker than an S3 but only if you can take advantage of the tiny difference at high speeds on UK roads. For the rest of us, the rest of the car outweighs any possible advantage the R might have.
So, all things considered, the R is good but the S3 is a better car unless you actually prefer the look of the R.
Like most things in life it's 'horses for courses'.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Psyman79
It isn't just about speed/power though, is it?

For me, the other elements that should shine in a "S" car would be steering, turn in, bite, feedback, suspension and handling too :)

(Otherwise you might as well buy a powerful S-line!)

(Granted they may be saving all these elements for the RS3, but hey, wait and see)
 
Last edited:
audi upgrades
I went out for a test drive on Wednesday in an S3 S-tronic hatch and didn't die once :). This was on roads i know fairly well but were all either muddy, frosty or pot holey and felt like the car handled everything perfectly well. I've never really considered an R as an option and would probably have gone for the Leon Cupra if the wife hadn't ok'd the S3 saloon.

I drive enthusiastically but never too far over the legal limits and thouroughly enjoy myself in the process and i feel that the car i've ordered is the car i want and have no regrets.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Martinbanshee, Dazzeroo and Blackwhite
dejongj said:
Personal preferences and standard equipment aside, an accurate financial comparison would mean comparing discounted prices against discounted prices. I don't know what the discounts were for the S3, 12%'ish was easily achievable on the Golf R.
Click to expand...
With the A3/S3 being higher priced when I did my haggling over the last few months I found that bigger discounts could be had on them than Golfs. The result was that you can bring an Audi down to pretty much the same price as a VW with equivalent equipment and that's how I ended up with one. Depreciation isn't a massive factor when I'm buying a car, but when you consider Audis tend to depreciate significantly less than VWs it all adds up.
 
Well before anyone rushes out and swaps their S3 for an R remember it's not perfect either..

 
  • Like
Reactions: Psyman79
The Leon Cupra is a mighty fine car. If there was a Cupra version of a saloon i probably would've gone back to Seat.

Although Aberdeen Seat really didn't seem too interested in trying to do a deal and that put me off.

In my opinion its the best looking of the 3 with the exception of my S3 saloon ;)

Si.
 
cilurnum said:
With the A3/S3 being higher priced when I did my haggling over the last few months I found that bigger discounts could be had on them than Golfs. The result was that you can bring an Audi down to pretty much the same price as a VW with equivalent equipment and that's how I ended up with one. Depreciation isn't a massive factor when I'm buying a car, but when you consider Audis tend to depreciate significantly less than VWs it all adds up.
Click to expand...
Out of interest, and indirectly already in my previous post, what kind of discounts are on offer? I've never been able to get more than 12.9% on an Audi myself and that was hard work. Not readily available.

You'll find that the R residuals are rock solid ;)

Like for like there really isn't anything measurable between them. Opinion wise the press almost all agree on one over the other. But that doesn't matter as when buying surely only your own opinion counts.
 
Specced the same, I would have said there would be about £5k between, which is a big % on something relatively cheap. Would be a no brainer on a £100k.
Dave
 
Psyman79 said:
Thanks to "leasegate" a world full of 2nd hand Golf Rs at low low prices :)
Click to expand...
Possibly or not. You can't predict the future. Sure a few will become available but I doubt as bargain prices unfortunately. I say unfortunately as I wouldn't mind buying one cheaply myself :)

As many have said before. I see more S3 on the road each and everyday than an R.

So the past performance we know and it is rock solid. The future is just guess work.
 
dejongj said:
I see more S3 on the road each and everyday than an R.
Click to expand...
Must be an 'area where we live' thing. There are more Mk7 Golf R's than there are mk7 Golf's near to me. See a couple of different ones each day. Think some peoples have been wise to the cheap lease deals Of late on the Mk7 Golf R's ;)

Have seen a couple of S3's, but yet to see a S3 saloon on the road since I ordered mine in July 2014

dejongj said:
The future is just guess work.
Click to expand...
Very very true :thumbs up:

If only we had a crystal ball! Lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nawaid and dejongj
I see golf R's quite often and only ever seen 1 S3, maybe that's not the case in other area's, I think that's probably down to price! Looks wise the S3 is a wolf in sheeps clothing, the golf R is a wolf in wolves clothing! The S3 is about class, build quality and prestige, the golf is shouty and aggressive looking. Interior wise, again the S3 speaks class, I thought the golf felt cheap. As for the drive, to most people you wouldn't definitively be able to say which is better, both are a pleasure, fun and very quick. The experts have proven the golf to be quicker around a track, but what is a few tenths of a second to the average driver on the road?! Journalists and motoring experts will always decide that the cheaper car wins when the 2 cars in question are so closely matched. For me its the S3, that's why I've bought one obviously, my reasons were due to the clear difference in class on the interior and because I don't want to look like a boy racer anymore, as well as me having seen more golf R's on the roads. But would you expect any different from someone on an Audi forum?!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nawaid
Seriously, do you really think the Golf R looks like a boy racers car? Just shows how people are different as I think it is incredibly understated. Almost full looking considering the performance on tap. A GTI looks much wilder I think. But hey each to their own. As I said before, the interior of the S3 to me is a huge put off. I really really don't like it.

Perfection to me would be the s3 saloon looks with the Golf interior.
 
  • Like
Reactions: buz and Martinbanshee
dejongj said:
Seriously, do you really think the Golf R looks like a boy racers car? Just shows how people are different as I think it is incredibly understated. Almost full looking considering the performance on tap. A GTI looks much wilder I think. But hey each to their own. As I said before, the interior of the S3 to me is a huge put off. I really really don't like it.

Perfection to me would be the s3 saloon looks with the Golf interior.
Click to expand...

Each to their own as you rightly say
 
dejongj said:
Seriously, do you really think the Golf R looks like a boy racers car? Just shows how people are different as I think it is incredibly understated. Almost full looking considering the performance on tap. A GTI looks much wilder I think. But hey each to their own. As I said before, the interior of the S3 to me is a huge put off. I really really don't like it.

Perfection to me would be the s3 saloon looks with the Golf interior.
Click to expand...

Got to say I do like the look of the Golf R, definitely understated, the interior isn't quite to my liking but it's got a good standard spec. It's got to have the Prets, 3 doors and the swirl prone Lapiz for top looks though.
 
dejongj said:
Who knows what the future holds ;) based on past and previous model R. Isn't that the same for the S3?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's just a guessing game I suppose but it did very slightly concern me when I first looked at the Golf R. It wouldn't have been a deal breaker but was something to bear in mind.
 
If you did get on board the original leasegate offers, they were fantastic.

Chance to get into a 300PS car for £250 (or less) a month! Nothing else could get anywhere close on monthly payments! Audi PCP for the S3 is at least £400 if not £500 on similar terms.

And of course, any residual effects wouldn't affect those on lease!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Martinbanshee
Cracking deals alright, the concern was the potential glut of cars coming on the market when the leases end as the deals were so popular, too popular it appears. Potentially not so good for the non-leasers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: veeeight
It's not just the glut of cars but the glut of probably standard spec R's. Extras on the lease deals ramped the costs up really quickly so I think most won't have bothered.
I seriously considered both cars, with cost being a big factor as even with my preferred spec the R was about £70 less / month. There are plenty of reasons why the S3 won it but a massive positive for me was the roof bars on the S3 - they're not available on the golf and they make life a lot easier for carrying bikes etc.
 
Was visiting London for work this week and counted 5 Golf R's parked up in Fitzrovia alone. All 64 plates and all seemed to be leased judging by the number plates and lack of dealer stickers. They where there everyday I walked down the same road so guess they were locals cars and not visitors.

Very popular - be very interested to see what they will be kicking around for in 2 years time.....
 
Shame - seems a nice car but not a big seller
 
Speaking of which. One of sons friends has just got a red 5 door Golf R manual on lease. Says it quicker than his Porch 911 Carrera :eek:
 
In S mode after about 1200 miles, the S3 is .."unlocked", scary performance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Challinor
.


This, over the RS3 ........

I love the 5 pot on the RS3, but.....


Golf R400
0 - 62 in 3.9s

 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Dazzeroo and Blackwhite
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Andru8
Contemplating S3 or Golf R
Replies
131
Views
12K
Scottk
Scottk
A
Keep SEAT Leon Cupra 290 or upgrade to Audi S3 or even Golf R
Replies
17
Views
11K
Goner
G
hmy7k
S3 Sportback or Golf R Estate?
Replies
39
Views
10K
mjcourtney
mjcourtney
SJ43
GOLF R/S3 brakes on an A3
Replies
31
Views
29K
Dunedin
Dunedin
A
S3 or not S3 or maybe an S4
Replies
55
Views
17K
Simonb1975
S
Top
Back