Help! Audi S3 or VW Golf R?

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B1ade

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I'm soon to be in the market for a super hot hatch and need some advice please :)

I have narrowed down my choice to either the Golf R or the Audi S3. Both are incredible cars so it's a tough decision. I marginally prefer the styling/aesthetic of the Audi, and the interior is slightly classier. The Golf R is however, according to many many car reviews, better to drive. Price wise they’re just about on par.

I have not yet test-driven either, which is obviously the next step. I have owned several VW’s in my life, including the Golf 4 and 5 GTI’s, and latest Polo GTI. VW therefore feels to me like the safe choice, but there is a certain appeal from the Audi. Aesthetics aside, it may be time to try a different brand? Also, the Audi seems to be higher up on the “prestige” ladder? There appear to be fewer on the road too so this is attractive from an exclusively perspective.

To focus in on the specific issues, in order of importance:

1. Depreciation. As we know, all brands are not made equal when it comes to depreciation. I have been told by a VW representative who worked for Audi for several years that Audi’s depreciate much more quickly in SA. Can anyone in the industry validate this? A quick look at Autotrader reveals very few Audi S3’s for sale, in comparison to the R. The prices of used R’s are also very high compared to new prices, indicating that they retain their value better. The R is clearly more popular, and supply/demand has a big influence on depreciation I believe. It therefore seems the R is the better financial decision? This is massively important to me, more so than any other factor.
2. Year of registration. It’s the end of the year and I definitely do not want my new vehicle to be registered as a 2015 model. Can I sign a deal and register it in early January 2016? Is the vehicle considered a 2016 model despite quite obviously being manufactured in 2015?
3. Discount & Price Increases. I obviously want a decent discount. I assume there is more chance of getting a good discount at year-end (targets, less sales etc.)? Also, it may be beneficial to buy now to avoid the potential price increases early next year?
4. Availability. I don’t want to wait forever to get the vehicle, and I want specific extras. It seems as though I will have more luck getting the R, since there appear to be more around in general?

Any and all assistance will be greatly appreciated! A final comment – please don’t try sell me any other vehicle. I’m well aware of the WRX STI, A45 AMG, BMW 135i/2 series etc. My heart is set ;)
 
B1ade said:
I'm soon to be in the market for a super hot hatch and need some advice please :)

I have narrowed down my choice to either the Golf R or the Audi S3. Both are incredible cars so it's a tough decision. I marginally prefer the styling/aesthetic of the Audi, and the interior is slightly classier. The Golf R is however, according to many many car reviews, better to drive. Price wise they’re just about on par.

I have not yet test-driven either, which is obviously the next step. I have owned several VW’s in my life, including the Golf 4 and 5 GTI’s, and latest Polo GTI. VW therefore feels to me like the safe choice, but there is a certain appeal from the Audi. Aesthetics aside, it may be time to try a different brand? Also, the Audi seems to be higher up on the “prestige” ladder? There appear to be fewer on the road too so this is attractive from an exclusively perspective.

To focus in on the specific issues, in order of importance:

1. Depreciation. As we know, all brands are not made equal when it comes to depreciation. I have been told by a VW representative who worked for Audi for several years that Audi’s depreciate much more quickly in SA. Can anyone in the industry validate this? A quick look at Autotrader reveals very few Audi S3’s for sale, in comparison to the R. The prices of used R’s are also very high compared to new prices, indicating that they retain their value better. The R is clearly more popular, and supply/demand has a big influence on depreciation I believe. It therefore seems the R is the better financial decision? This is massively important to me, more so than any other factor.
2. Year of registration. It’s the end of the year and I definitely do not want my new vehicle to be registered as a 2015 model. Can I sign a deal and register it in early January 2016? Is the vehicle considered a 2016 model despite quite obviously being manufactured in 2015?
3. Discount & Price Increases. I obviously want a decent discount. I assume there is more chance of getting a good discount at year-end (targets, less sales etc.)? Also, it may be beneficial to buy now to avoid the potential price increases early next year?
4. Availability. I don’t want to wait forever to get the vehicle, and I want specific extras. It seems as though I will have more luck getting the R, since there appear to be more around in general?

Any and all assistance will be greatly appreciated! A final comment – please don’t try sell me any other vehicle. I’m well aware of the WRX STI, A45 AMG, BMW 135i/2 series etc. My heart is set ;)
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My bet would be on the Audi. But that is based on our family having our only 3 VW's , 2 Golf GTI's and 1 Polo TDI, stolen in broad daylight. I personally like the Audi more. Go to the dealer in December, if they have your vehicle on the floor, go late december. I ordered my Corsa Utility on the 20th December 2011. It got registered as a 2012 model and I got a R20,000 discount as the all new Chev Utilities were coming in at that time. So in your situation I would say go December. But it is something where timimg is very important especially if you want it registered as a 2016 model.

I mean if you order the car now and get a discount price now they surely cannot increase the price of the deal in January.


The best of luck bud. Hope you get the car of your dreams.
 
I marginally prefer the styling/aesthetic of the Audi, and the interior is slightly classier.
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S3. Although both have good interiors, the S3 just feels more solid, less rattles in the long run. Knock on a few interior trims (dashboard, door panels, center console) on both cars, you will notice the differences.

The Golf R is however, according to many many car reviews, better to drive. Price wise they’re just about on par.
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7R. Drive it hard and it’ll reward you in kind. Critics says its even more fun than RS3. It has more involvement than S3 and better steering feel. However, S3 may not disappoint you quite as much as critics say because day-to-day performance will not expose those differences versus when driven at the limit.

I have not yet test-driven either, which is obviously the next step.
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Best thing to do. I will not be surprised if you will choose Audi S3. Both are great cars and super fast. If you choose S3, hopefully it will have those black rims and nice leather seats. :p

2. Year of registration. It’s the end of the year and I definitely do not want my new vehicle to be registered as a 2015 model. Can I sign a deal and register it in early January 2016? Is the vehicle considered a 2016 model despite quite obviously being manufactured in 2015?
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Bought my car end Nov 2014. It was registered in Jan 2015. This means I drove for a month without a number plate.:). Remember, the motorplan will still be valid from date of purchase and not date of registration.
 
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S3. Hands down a better option. Not as common as Golf. Also more understated but appealing at the same time.
 
If you want your car to be registered as a 2016 model, you can do that provided that you only collect it in Jan of 2016. Don't listen to dealerships that say take your car in December and it will be registered as a 2016 next year as the Dept of transport now wants cars registered in the year they are purchased and as soon as they leave the dealership, they need to be registered. Buy the car, leave it at the dealership, you will sign some papers saying that you will only collect next year which also cover your car in case something happens whilst it is still with the dealership, of course no storage or insurance fees are payable from your side. I bought my own car in December and collected on the 2nd of January.

I would say go with the S3. Also test drive the BMW 135i, you might end up going for it :whistle:
 
Neither of them , the thought that they are both de-tuned by 20 Kw in South Africa would bug me .

I am also in the market for another car in this range but would not consider either of them .
 
I was in the same boat as you. .. and bought the 7R brand new from vw. Had it for a year and a half and 14000km later sold it for R5000 less than what I paid new (insane resale ). I now have an A45 AMG Edition 1 (the limited edition version ) and ... the golf in my opinion is the better car (even though the a45 is much quicker, sounds insane.... everything is not about speed, the golf is plenty fast and it executes everything perfectly).

The s3 is more expensive new ... but will depreciate more than the golf no doubt. Buy the golf ... it's a no brainer. There was absolutely no issues that i had with the car.

In all journalist reviews the golf comes on top in its segment. And I agree it's best in its class (I have owned and driven allot of cars ... trust me on the golf)

Option that is a must is DCC ... make sure to tick that box
 
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How much motor plan do you get with the Golf? Audi is 100 000km & or 5 Years, the other VW's had a smaller plan included.
 
gfmalan said:
How much motor plan do you get with the Golf? Audi is 100 000km & or 5 Years, the other VW's had a smaller plan included.
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120 000km 3yr Warranty and 5yr/90 000km service plan on the golf (if my memory serves me correct, someone please correct me if im wrong) as standard and a few options regarding maintenance plan with varying mileage
 
Ah that could equate for the cost difference upfront?
 
adamr said:
I was in the same boat as you. .. and bought the 7R brand new from vw. Had it for a year and a half and 14000km later sold it for R5000 less than what I paid new (insane resale ). I now have an A45 AMG Edition 1 (the limited edition version ) and ... the golf in my opinion is the better car (even though the a45 is much quicker, sounds insane.... everything is not about speed, the golf is plenty fast and it executes everything perfectly).

The s3 is more expensive new ... but will depreciate more than the golf no doubt. Buy the golf ... it's a no brainer. There was absolutely no issues that i had with the car.

In all journalist reviews the golf comes on top in its segment. And I agree it's best in its class (I have owned and driven allot of cars ... trust me on the golf)

Option that is a must is DCC ... make sure to tick that box
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Great review. :)

I've seen the A45 murdering the Golf 7R at sea level. I also attended a race near Brits where a 7R murders the A45 (suspicious). A week later, we brought in another 7R and turned out the first one was modded :D.
 
adamr said:
They exactly the same ... but the tuning on the on the R chassis is what sets it apart to the S3
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Yes, but will that make a noticeable difference? I mean, you might as well drive a Polo Vivo - it does pretty much the same.
 
Err no. That a silly statement.

Reason a BMW M car is great is because of its chassis; the suspension and the way it is set up. You need to drive them back to back to understand

Yes it's not a night and day difference between the s3 and R. But the R being a little more exciting , and the awd system "feeling" slightly better (and they the same) and being cheaper than the S3 it's a no brainer tbh

I've had the prev gen RS3 and the Audi drive is more GT than sports car ... always has been. The same is true of the S3 ... it's a little sedate
 
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