S3 vs Golf R

As a specialist in performance hatch backs and after driving a fair few Audi S3s and Golf Rs we wanted to help you - our customers, decide what car is suitable for you and the perks and flaws between the two cars.

Everyone's opinion will be different on both of these cars. However, in our minds they are both great performance hot hatches but with a few key differences. If you're looking for something quick but also a good all-rounder these are good entry level performance cars.

Comparing the styling options and features of the two cars is down to personal preference however you really need to get behind the wheel to see the difference in the drive.

Both cars under the bonnet are a 2.0-liter Turbo charged 4-cylinder engine. Coming both in manual and DSG auto. The S3 comes in at a 0-60mph time of 4.7 seconds and the Golf R only coming in short 0.2 seconds slower at 4.9 seconds, as stated from an online source. This will be to do with the very so slight weight difference between the two. The S3 coming in with a curb weight of 1465kg being lighter than the MK 7.5 Golf R at 1483kg. With such a small difference the average person would not be able to tell without seeing the numbers on paper. Alongside the other similarities both cars come with 4 wheels bias drive. Operating the front wheels but all four when needed. Audi using the Quattro system and Volkswagen using the 4Motion system.

The market for Golf Rs especially the MK 7.5s has become very sort after and requested by customers due to the new release of the MK 8 Golf. The MK 8 comes at an extortionate cost not to mention the restrictions in colour, doors and transmissions you can purchase. The new MK 8 only comes in a 5 door DSG version with only a small handful of colours compared to the MK 7.5 which has a much larger range. When buying a MK 7.5 you have the perks of a lower tax price due to the car being under the £40,000 mark (subject to spec.) However, the majority of these cars are under the cap value. Any car over this threshold you pay "new car" tax. This makes the MK 8 not overly affordable to most people alongside the general running costs. However, in the last year from April 2020 to May 2021 the Golf Rs market value has increased by 35.9% due to the stock shortage on all cars.

A few things that come to mind, that we at MCS Performance personally love about the Golf R MK 7.5 is that: firstly, the car comes with a great selection of 19" upgraded alloys ranging from the Pretorias and Spielberg alloys. They come in a good range of colours and finishes. The main attraction to the MK 7.5 over the previous Golf MK 7 has got to be the virtual dash and infotainment screen; this really helps sell the car and we find that they hold their value better. Volkswagen do give you a great standard spec on their new range of cars which with other brands you would have to pay extra for. Such as Audi and their virtual dash; this is an optional extra from the 66 plates.

With additional extras it seems Audi like to upsell on these and Volkswagen seem more generous. The Golf R comes with adaptive cruise control yet the S3 comes just with a standard cruise control. If long commutes are in your lifestyle the Golf R is the one for you as we all know how frustrating motorways can be. To have a car control this aspect of the trip for you is a game changer for your commute.

Both cars sound amazing! With the famous DSG "farts" and "pops" you can't go wrong. This we have found is another great selling point as most our clients pick up on this feature. The Golf R comes with more of a growl in the front end opposed to the S3. The S3 has more exhaust pops but the Golf R having more of an aggressive sound and DSG "bang" to it. Either way both sound awesome for a performance hot hatch!

Another cool little touch is that both cars have the sweeping rear indicators. The Golf R estate does not include this but all hatches do. These add a very futurist and clean look to the cars. These small details really add a lot to the overall desirability of the vehicle. There are lots of aftermarket mods and coders available. This means that you can change the speed / style of your indicators too which is great for people who want that unique touch to their car.

Moving on to the S3, the major differences that we haven't covered yet on this car would be obviously the exterior styling. The Audis curves and edges with that typical large front grille gives the car a sophisticated look. Both cars radiate a very different feel, the Audi seems graceful and swift whereas the Golf R is boisterous and energetic. They both have the same beating heart but what the individual wants to present is down to them. This also extends somewhat to the interior of the car as well. The materials and buttons in the Audi feel very different to the Golf R and are of a slightly better build quality. This is something that you might expect from the pricier Audi. The S3 also comes with leather seats only as standard but the Golf R is an optional upgrade and out in the wild is a hard one to come by too. All this is something to think about when making your decision.

As with every car there is going to be a couple of little flaws and things that annoy you. The S3s oil temperature is very buried within the interactive dash and for a performance car it's always good to know and see your oil temperatures when out for some spirited driving. However, this can be resolved by having your car coded to enable the oil temperature to be shown on your scroll wheel settings on the first page of your dash selection screen. The Golf R we would say is the exhaust note with the pops not being as prominent compared to the S3 but it's a compromise for the meaty growl you get. However yet again if it's important to you: remaps, exhaust systems and mods are very easily accessible for these cars now. But let's be real these are minor things when considering your purchase.

German build quality is still very good and renowned throughout the world. But from research it seems the common fault for these cars is the thermostat housing which is situated close to the turbo. The housing is made from plastic and can crack and cause leaks. We have had over 100 Golf Rs in our possession and not once have we come across this issue. We carry out some extensive mechanical checks on all our cars to ensure there is no faults before sale. As long as your car is kept up to date with services, checks and maintenance your Golf R or S3 will be in its prime driving conditions for many miles to come.

Overall, this list was difficult to make as they're both similar cars however most of the dissimilarities boil down to the ""feel' of the car and what it and the owner want to present to the world. There isn't really anything drastic that we dislike about them, some minor problems that can be solved if so desired. As a team we couldn't fault the way these cars perform and the DSG makes both of them a pleasure to drive, slow or fast. We're sure no matter the choice you'll have a fast, reliable, good looking and very fun car.