(Mk6) Golf R vs S3 - Differences?

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sauluk

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So I test drove an S3 and a Golf R, both 5 doors with S-Tronic / DSG so effectively the same car but I wanted to sample them both. It's left me with a few questions.

The S3 left me quite cold in summary (sorry) as the steering was too light, the S-tronic felt too lazy (in Drive, not sport / manual) and it didn't give enough feedback in the corners. I thought it'd be the same story in the Golf R so I hopped in one of those today but didn't find the same issues - steering nice and heavy and decent feedback and the DSG was pretty good.

Are these cars really much different or have I imagined this!?? I want to like the S3 more as I prefer its looks, interior (and badge) but I couldn't ignore the difference I felt in driving the two. Did I miss something in the S3?

I'm not trolling, more fact finding and wondering if I should have another go of an S3.
 
Feel more confident throwing the golf R around than an s3 but with a decent suspension on the s3 that may change my opinion but out the box I feel the golf R does feel better
 
S3 has speed adaptive steering... i.e goes stiffer at a higher rate of knots and vice versa....
 
Suprised you didn't notice! Im still on the fence about it to be honest. In the 8V you can alter the settings on it.. I wonder if you can change in on the 8p via vagcom..
 
Hang on, does that mean I can turn off the city car like steering at low speeds? Coming from an M3 it just felt very light
 
The S3's steering feel and feedback are almost non-existent.

It is,as someone said,like a Playstation steering wheel,which is a pity,but that,coupled with heavy understeer,makes the car a bit dull to drive without doing quite a bit to it,to get some of the feedback returned.
 
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Hmm. Glad it wasn't just me. The Golf didn't seem to suffer from it so much.
 
The light steering is a real bugbear for me on the 8P, only the early (pre 2006?) cars are adjustable in VAGCOM. When I get in my BMW after the A3, the steering feels so meaty and sooo much better, like you're actually turning something.
 
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