Golf R vs RS3
- Thread starter RYuill
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Who cares? Massive pinch of salt and very loaded review - just listen to his intro. 
I will never take my S3 (which doesn't get destroyed by the R, as claimed, I drove both extensively and went for the S3, so says a lot) on a track day ever. And if and when I have an RS3, it will be the same. Most balanced review of the RS3 so far was Xcar but I like to make up my own mind and have my own opinion, I don't need to be told what to buy. If the R or RS3 stepped it's **** out like the reviewer wanted, on a public road, he'd **** himself.
I will never take my S3 (which doesn't get destroyed by the R, as claimed, I drove both extensively and went for the S3, so says a lot) on a track day ever. And if and when I have an RS3, it will be the same. Most balanced review of the RS3 so far was Xcar but I like to make up my own mind and have my own opinion, I don't need to be told what to buy. If the R or RS3 stepped it's **** out like the reviewer wanted, on a public road, he'd **** himself.
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When they say 10K more than a Golf R should they not take into account DSG not being standard? Leather interior not being standard? 5 door an extra on the golf? 19 inch wheels extra on the golf? There's nearly £5K straight away surely? Plus the LED lights which the golf doesn't have oh and the 2.5ltr engine.
Getting so bored of the Golf R being described as a worthy rival of the RS3 by journalists who are given one to drive around in for free for a year..........yet the S3 is just written off every time as its not a good track car? Please join the real world where 99% of people do not or would not track their family hatchbacks.
Finally........The R residuals will crash further shortly assuming you don't bin it on your track day first.
Getting so bored of the Golf R being described as a worthy rival of the RS3 by journalists who are given one to drive around in for free for a year..........yet the S3 is just written off every time as its not a good track car? Please join the real world where 99% of people do not or would not track their family hatchbacks.
Finally........The R residuals will crash further shortly assuming you don't bin it on your track day first.
s3_trev
Northern Ireland
For some reason the following quote springs to mind, "if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid". The only thing this video proves is that around that particular track on that particular day, that R was faster. Change the setting and the challenge and who knows? Also, who are the target market for the RS3? I can only assume its a more 'mature' market than the Golf R so really, are any RS3s ever even going to reach a track? Lots to think about before coming to any conclusion here, and I dont even like RS3s lol!
s3_trev
Northern Ireland
Also, who made the Golf R the flagship 4 wheel drive hatch? The driver was a bit of a **** in my opinion.
RYuill
Registered User
1inchpunch
Registered User
Surely the golf R can't be so much better than not only the s3 but also the rs3? Ignoring the times, the guy just seems to be smiling more in the golf bits.
I mean, its practically the same car as the s3 so how have they set it up so much better?
I mean, its practically the same car as the s3 so how have they set it up so much better?
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Why all the focus on track performance? I doubt most will ever make it to a track, mine certainly won't. Ideal fast road car imho.
TX.
TX.
Well, that was depressing!
Not just the content - which is amongst the most biased that I have seen - but the whole presentation. You could see the conclusion almost in the opening line.
Did he really want to be doing it? Seemed like someone had applied an atmosphere vacuum.
Not just the content - which is amongst the most biased that I have seen - but the whole presentation. You could see the conclusion almost in the opening line.
Did he really want to be doing it? Seemed like someone had applied an atmosphere vacuum.
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Hmmmm ...
Firstly - I really don't care !
Second - after being taken round a track recently by a Pro in an RS3 during an Audio showcase day and seeing first hand how insanely capable the RS3 is, I am amazed the RS3 isn't faster than the Golf R, which makes me question the drivers ability in the video above.
Thirdly - the Golf R does not excite me remotely whereas the RS3 does - the noise alone in the RS3 is worth the extra £'s to me.
I'm sure the Golf is a very capable car and well rounded package, but it aint in the same league as the RS3.
Good points above too about the RS3 not being £10k more once standard RS3 equipment is factored in.
Firstly - I really don't care !
Second - after being taken round a track recently by a Pro in an RS3 during an Audio showcase day and seeing first hand how insanely capable the RS3 is, I am amazed the RS3 isn't faster than the Golf R, which makes me question the drivers ability in the video above.
Thirdly - the Golf R does not excite me remotely whereas the RS3 does - the noise alone in the RS3 is worth the extra £'s to me.
I'm sure the Golf is a very capable car and well rounded package, but it aint in the same league as the RS3.
Good points above too about the RS3 not being £10k more once standard RS3 equipment is factored in.
Have to agree, I was taken around Thruxton by a BARC driver a few weeks ago, before being let loose myself.
The guy would put the car in a situation, which I wouldn't even have dreamt about. He was a very very experienced (ex racing) track driver (and racing is what tracks are for!) - not somebody who have driven araound a track a few times.
In his words, it is one of, if not the fastest production car I have driven around Thruxton, and that includes some exotics; it beats Golf R and the Mk3 TTS hands down in terms of outright performance, and is significantly quicker either of them.
I still fail to understand why reporters even bother with a track based comparisons for 'road cars', other than they are unlikely to find any opposing traffic, and can drive the car faster than the legal limit!
To reverse the Top gear analogy of a 'star in a reasonably priced car'; this review is more like, 'reasonable priced person in a star car'.
The guy would put the car in a situation, which I wouldn't even have dreamt about. He was a very very experienced (ex racing) track driver (and racing is what tracks are for!) - not somebody who have driven araound a track a few times.
In his words, it is one of, if not the fastest production car I have driven around Thruxton, and that includes some exotics; it beats Golf R and the Mk3 TTS hands down in terms of outright performance, and is significantly quicker either of them.
I still fail to understand why reporters even bother with a track based comparisons for 'road cars', other than they are unlikely to find any opposing traffic, and can drive the car faster than the legal limit!
To reverse the Top gear analogy of a 'star in a reasonably priced car'; this review is more like, 'reasonable priced person in a star car'.
This quote says it all for me TBH
In reality, how many of us are actually going to track our cars?
So the track testing & opinions of any car based on this are IMHO a load of b0ll0x
Have just watched it and figured out what’s wrong …… he’s in comfort mode ” EvoGent “ forgot to switch it to dynamic. 
TheFiftheElement
Registered User
The trouble is a lot of us when buying our cars do a lot on online research and get caught up in BHP figures, 0-60 times, track times etc. when in reality 99% of us will never track a car, or use launch control on a regular basis.
The review above does give a potential owner an idea of how sharp a car turns in, how well it carries speed and I guess an idea of how fast the cars will cover ground at maximum attack. It would be interesting to know how much more the 5-pot weighs over the 4-pot, as this surely must contribute to the Golf having a sharper turn in, and the brake fade.
The review will not however give the owner an idea of what the car is like to own and drive day to day, the 5 pot in the Audi is a HUGE selling point, the S3/R engine although fast, is pretty dull to listen to. You can't put a price on the smile value of a nice 5 cylinder warble or 6 cylinder howl. Who cares if the R is small % better on a smooth track.
Given the choice of the car to own, do 'normal' journeys in, I think the RS3 would put a much greater smile on your face and be a more satisfying car to own than the R or S3.
The review above does give a potential owner an idea of how sharp a car turns in, how well it carries speed and I guess an idea of how fast the cars will cover ground at maximum attack. It would be interesting to know how much more the 5-pot weighs over the 4-pot, as this surely must contribute to the Golf having a sharper turn in, and the brake fade.
The review will not however give the owner an idea of what the car is like to own and drive day to day, the 5 pot in the Audi is a HUGE selling point, the S3/R engine although fast, is pretty dull to listen to. You can't put a price on the smile value of a nice 5 cylinder warble or 6 cylinder howl. Who cares if the R is small % better on a smooth track.
Given the choice of the car to own, do 'normal' journeys in, I think the RS3 would put a much greater smile on your face and be a more satisfying car to own than the R or S3.
Top gear test results around knockhill
Rs3 weighed in at 1550kg, what a porker!
It's hardly a surprise, is it!
On a circuit with lots of straights, outright power will be the overwhelming factor, whilst on a twisty circuit with lots of direction changes, agility and handling will be the dominant factor!
On a circuit with lots of straights, outright power will be the overwhelming factor, whilst on a twisty circuit with lots of direction changes, agility and handling will be the dominant factor!
Interesting the M135i gets the highest top speed though, must be more to the RS3 than just power
Must have been a very dry and hot day otherwise that BMW would still be on the track or in a ditch....
M135 is a very impressive bit of kit. Can be had in x drive form also, not sure if available in the UK
No it's not unfortunately, BMW say there is no market for it, that's despite a poll on the BMW forum revealing half would have gone for the X drive. BMW have even been spotted testing a 4WD version of the new M5 coming out so even they it seems admit 4WD is the way forward
M135 couldn't shake me at all over 20 mile drive back from Salisbury this afternoon. Slightly damp road, but he never edged away from me at all, and I often had a little in reserve.
My son was looking at his phone and said 'your 0-60 is faster than his dad, even if he has the auto box'..... Good lad!
My son was looking at his phone and said 'your 0-60 is faster than his dad, even if he has the auto box'..... Good lad!
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For all the Golf R fanatics:
http://www.vwroc.com/forums/forum/28-vw-golf-r-mk7-chat/
Seriously getting so bored of hearing about the Golf R on this site, we're going around in circles, like an S3 on a bumpy road. (Apparently?!)
My opinion, if you want one, you should've bought one!
http://www.vwroc.com/forums/forum/28-vw-golf-r-mk7-chat/
Seriously getting so bored of hearing about the Golf R on this site, we're going around in circles, like an S3 on a bumpy road. (Apparently?!)
My opinion, if you want one, you should've bought one!
Yup, totally agree. we've been through the same tosh over the A45 recently; there really are a few stuck records playing..... I think there are a few with inferiority complexes who inhabit the forum, who seemingly need to continuously justify their own perspective or decisions.
The need to compare the x vs y, the pathetic debates (my c**k is bigger than your c**k, ego fueled magazine selling rubbish), adds zero value to the average person on the street, most of whom only have to convince themselves (and often the other half), of the relative merits and justification of the expense of whatever they choose to buy. For those that have a choice - it is a personal choice, and although inevitably there will be compromises, no car will ever be perfect.
I've no problem in discussing other models - there's even a section on ASN for it if people are bothered to look hard enough http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/forums/other-brands-models.35/
The need to compare the x vs y, the pathetic debates (my c**k is bigger than your c**k, ego fueled magazine selling rubbish), adds zero value to the average person on the street, most of whom only have to convince themselves (and often the other half), of the relative merits and justification of the expense of whatever they choose to buy. For those that have a choice - it is a personal choice, and although inevitably there will be compromises, no car will ever be perfect.
I've no problem in discussing other models - there's even a section on ASN for it if people are bothered to look hard enough http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/forums/other-brands-models.35/
Matt Farah did a one take of a M235i xDrive on a wet track and surprisingly he didn't think it was very good.
After trying it in the dry he said it performed better.
and.......... remind me what that has to do with the RS3 8V? or even the Golf R vs the RS3? Just asking? (oh and I need to put a wink
)
)I think the nub of it is, the Golf R is positioned differently to the S3 / RS3. To me, the Golf prioritises feel and delicacy while the Audi prioritises comfort and safety. One is not inherently better than the other, but you can understand how a more involving car would be enjoyed by a professional road tester and be faster round a circuit. Equally, you can understand that a fast, safe and comfortable car still has plenty of appeal.
I have an old race car that I had professionally set up. Not your basic check the wheels are all pointing in the right direction, but everything measured and optimised using a relatively sophisticated computer program. After we changed the set-up, the car was faster through every type of corner, breaking distances were reduced and the car was nicer and more positive to drive. I have no doubt that you could take an S3 or RS3 and make it more involving and significantly faster on every type of circuit. Such changes though would almost certainly demand more of the driver and for me that’s not always a good thing. I’m sure that Audi has a pretty good understanding of what their customers want and the S / RS cars are set up as they are for good reason.
I have an old race car that I had professionally set up. Not your basic check the wheels are all pointing in the right direction, but everything measured and optimised using a relatively sophisticated computer program. After we changed the set-up, the car was faster through every type of corner, breaking distances were reduced and the car was nicer and more positive to drive. I have no doubt that you could take an S3 or RS3 and make it more involving and significantly faster on every type of circuit. Such changes though would almost certainly demand more of the driver and for me that’s not always a good thing. I’m sure that Audi has a pretty good understanding of what their customers want and the S / RS cars are set up as they are for good reason.
What gets on my tits is the constant reviews that give it to the golf R because despite it being slower in a straight line than the RS3, A45 etc and it being slower round track than the RS3, A45 etc it only costs 30k compared to 45k- 50k for the other two it wins because it's such a bargain!!!
No it isn't, there's a few on the golf forum who are moaning already because they jumped on the cheap deals then a year later realised they were cheap because they were getting a poverty spec car, I specced a golf R up a year or so ago with options I thought I'd like day to day without going completely mental and it was around 36k so not so much of a bargain anymore, if you want a real laugh though go over to the type R build configurator and spec up a type R with all the options you can, I had a page of options to go and it was 43k!! No joke. the RS3 really ain't that expensive.
People say yes but nearly 50k for a hatch! Not worth it, ok find another car that takes 4 people in comfort and can do 0-60 in 4.3 and 0-100 in 9.5 secs, what's out there new that can do that? GTR, M3, RS6, RS4 all a good 10-20k dearer
No it isn't, there's a few on the golf forum who are moaning already because they jumped on the cheap deals then a year later realised they were cheap because they were getting a poverty spec car, I specced a golf R up a year or so ago with options I thought I'd like day to day without going completely mental and it was around 36k so not so much of a bargain anymore, if you want a real laugh though go over to the type R build configurator and spec up a type R with all the options you can, I had a page of options to go and it was 43k!! No joke. the RS3 really ain't that expensive.
People say yes but nearly 50k for a hatch! Not worth it, ok find another car that takes 4 people in comfort and can do 0-60 in 4.3 and 0-100 in 9.5 secs, what's out there new that can do that? GTR, M3, RS6, RS4 all a good 10-20k dearer
Blackwhite
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The name of this thread is Golf R
vs. RS3. All opinions should be
welcomed. Everybody doesn't agree on the same thing, but I
don't knock them down for it.
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The RS3/S3/Golf R track comparison has been covered a lot across this forum. Hopefully as more RS3s get delivered, we will get broader more informed feedback on what it's like as an everyday car.
Tony1982
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That half a second victory was made totally irrelevant by the sound coming from the RS3, it sounds epic!! Now for me this adds to the joy and experience of driving, when I drive to the shops or where ever else I need to be, I couldn't care less if I'm going to get there a second or 2 sooner or later, if it was a huge difference then I might reconsider but it's not, in real world driving it's so marginal it's irrelevant! In-fact on the average roads that most of us drive on, you would probably get there quicker in an RS3 than a Golf R if you were "racing" because you are more likely to put your foot down in the straights than you are round the bends of normal roads. But lets face it you wouldn't be racing anyway, and you would most likely have a bigger smile on your face in the better looking (by far), better sounding (by even further) RS3, and to top it off the RS3 has a nicer interior and a better badge for looking down your nose with
Bond Villain
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Top gear test results around knockhill
Rs3 weighed in at 1550kg, what a porker!
Top gear also recorded a RS3 0-60 as 3.9 seconds!!! so excited to get mine....
A think a few people have already helped answer this, but over the last month Ive had the chance to cancel my RS3 (which has been at my dealers for 3+ weeks!) and move into a company Golf R, A45 AMG or TTS.
I've tried my hardest to take a company car!!
When you compare the Golf R to an RS3 on a financial basis things are not very clear cut. Once you add DSG, Leather and 19's the difference is only £5k. Not sure I could live with a Golf R without these as the std seats and alloys are truly horrible.
Lets assume you leave the RS3 std and add the extras suggested above. Put £5k into a PCP, 48 months, 10kmpa.
Your friendly Volkswagen dealer gives you £3k off the car and Audi £1.5k. PCP wise the RS3 is £15 a month cheaper. Golf R's residual is £13.5k vs £21k for the RS3 (remember both on VAG finance)
The difference will stay pretty much the same as you add Metallic, Sat Nav and Mag Ride etc
So unless you're happy with the base spec R then the RS3 should be no more expensive than an R.
After working this out and then seeing I had a factory warranted 60+ BHP more, a noise the R cant even dream of, a nicer power delivery when driving normally and an RS badge. Easy for me.
I love the Golf, but again as others have said there are a lot around, you can spec other Golf's with R styling etc. So sorry Golf.
I've tried my hardest to take a company car!!
When you compare the Golf R to an RS3 on a financial basis things are not very clear cut. Once you add DSG, Leather and 19's the difference is only £5k. Not sure I could live with a Golf R without these as the std seats and alloys are truly horrible.
Lets assume you leave the RS3 std and add the extras suggested above. Put £5k into a PCP, 48 months, 10kmpa.
Your friendly Volkswagen dealer gives you £3k off the car and Audi £1.5k. PCP wise the RS3 is £15 a month cheaper. Golf R's residual is £13.5k vs £21k for the RS3 (remember both on VAG finance)
The difference will stay pretty much the same as you add Metallic, Sat Nav and Mag Ride etc
So unless you're happy with the base spec R then the RS3 should be no more expensive than an R.
After working this out and then seeing I had a factory warranted 60+ BHP more, a noise the R cant even dream of, a nicer power delivery when driving normally and an RS badge. Easy for me.
I love the Golf, but again as others have said there are a lot around, you can spec other Golf's with R styling etc. So sorry Golf.
