Pay more and get the R. I don't think Audi are expecting to sell as many S3's but VW need the R to sell in massive numbers.

I really enjoyed the format of this one, Andrew, an excellent (and fun) way to do a comparison piece. (Just quietly, I still think Rising Blue is the best R blue…)

Out of those two it has to be the R. However I'd be very tempted with a base spec RS3 ( + adaptive danpers) rather than a high spec R......

Ah brilliant Andrew! Loved the banter in this really informative video. As always your straight to the point with a no holds barred comparison. The smile on your face driving the R compared to the S says it all. I had a test drive in both cars S first and then R. The S was good, but the R blew me away. For me it’s a no-brainer. R every time. Really can’t wait now for mine to arrive! Another great vid. Keep up the good work. Loving it.

A few years back our family car was a S3 8v saloon beautiful car definitely a special car just far too small. Wow what have Audi done the new S3 is so far behind the mk8 golf r there is no doubt where my money would be the golf is a perfect hot hatch.

The hard plastic at rear by windows is very useful. I have a boxer dog, and it resists her nails scratching. So it’s a thumbs up for me. 😊

Went with son to look at audi sq2 and checked out s3 another issue is if you tick any options it takes you into higher tax bracket i assume golf r already is in that bracket which adds to cost i would be happy with either also sq2 insurance seems to be alot cheaper than golf r which also can influence some buyers

No fight. The Golf R is clearly the better of the 2....the RS3 is the next step up...

Great video but the s3 doesn’t come close to the current 8R. Interior on the golf is uninspiring but feels more sporty. The lack of buttons is where the market is going, look at Tesla and Mercedes. The golf is the best hot hatch in that price bracket on the market with the right specification at the moment.

i'd pay more for the golf if I only had the choice of the two cars just based on the look of the Golf over the Audi. That A3 is rank to look at from every angle in my opinion. The 8V model was soooo much nicer!

In Greece, the S3 costs ~13.000£ more than the R!!!!! With (same) extras the difference gets even bigger. That shows a lot about Audi marketing and how they "persuade" everyone here that the S3 is 30% "more" of a car.

When these two cars were released I was actually considering buying the S3 until I test drive the golf R and yeah Four months later it’s still amazing and on the back road literally nothing can keep up with me especially with a set of Michelin pilot 4S brilliant car 10 out of 10

Also My R order has been in or 8 months but the price is locked down.. I ordered PP with a few goodies, looking at some of the R's on the used market now!!! My price is pretty decent

I had a 7R and now have an 8R, it makes me laugh all the 7/7.5 owners who knock the quality of the 8R interior. There is such little difference.

I really like the predecessors of these cars but the mk8 and this new s3 are not the best looking of cars but just on the aesthetic‘s I think the golf wins.

The new RS3 is the only good looking version of this A3 generation. The styling is just so awkward.

Great video guys, but each to their own and to be honest I hope VW make a 8.5 r because that interior is still well...crap and I don't think paying megabucks for a interior lightshow to rival Vegas is worth it. As for the rear axle stuff well that should be standard especially for the price, and to be have driven a 400 hp RS which I loved as a drivers car but my Golf smashes it for everything else in the day to day stuff. The point is you will rarely get the back axle to do any of that rear biased stuff because A. roads are crap and B. too much traffic unless you live on track, so in the end I just never thought it was worth it. The 7.5 golf R, having driven so many Driver focused cars I struggle to criticize the little thing, who wants back axle rubbish especially in this day and age. Go buy a BMW m2 or 40i and enjoy but I think the quality is lacking in both cars and the Audi is just slightly better and no way that 8 R is worth 40 grand its a three years old car and people who hold on to their 7-7.5 R are seriously not missing out. I myself will wait for the 8 R to be priced at what it should be, or I myself and maybe many others will change manufacturer because other the car stuff out their and coming are well... better and more quality and better priced too and VW need to sort that pretty quick.

Hi! New subscriber here, I’m a regular and friend of the Gilks’ and have discovered you through them. I’m also the silver MG TF that arrived just as you were ending the video. Nice review of both cars and really like your video layouts. Looking forward to seeing more videos going forward. All the best, Keiran.

My opinion: Interior-S3 Exterior-R Performance-R Overall I would buy the R, actually I wouldn’t I would save another few quid and buy a GTI Clubsport in Moonstone grey+Pretoria’s.

This is probably my favorite video, witty banter was entertaining. Slight correction, the new rear diff is not a haldex at all, it's a magna

Really nice comparison. How would resale affect either one of these? Also, Andrew you need to do something about the microphone placement when you're speaking. Maybe even a different mike? It was easier to understand your mate when he was speaking even at a distance.

Like the review, the mk 7 R was better than the competing s3 and if anything vw have stepped up even further.

Nice one mate! But Golf R anytime ‼️

Golf is a ICON ! Good vid

Nice review, I agree in this generation that choice is clear. I much prefer the older 8V audi S3 over the new one and in fact will be my next car once the market sorts itself out. And then at some point the Golf R would be next for sure

It just shows how good the Mk8 R line interior is when you consider the price difference.

In Canada the R is a steal 50K Canadian and you are all the options in Europe except the Akropovic. Love mine a lot crazy fun car.

Don’t like any of the new Audi styling tbh it’s like the designers have gone nuts with a ruler. The only thing I’m not sure on with the Golf is the front lights especially the light bar running across the front at night. Choosing between the two I’d have the Golf.

Just to add that mk8 looks great and a much sleeker car than the S3. Lovely car SImon

I’m down to either a fully loaded 2023 all black S3 or the mid level A5. Both around the same price. No kids. 50 years old. Don’t need to haul much around. Live in Vancouver. Owned only GTI or R my entire life. S3 is all I need but the A5 looks more mature and manly. Want something sporty and fast and nimble. S5 is a bit too much maybe. And the V6 adds to gas costs. Any thoughts or recommendations or tips? Thanks.

Great review from you both. Definitely the R. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Agreed S3 had become like the middle child that lacks attention because of the RS3

the new S3 just looks so wet, as you pointed out..they are definitely saving all the good bits for the RS3. That Golf R is amazing!

great vid lads, glad i brought a 8R over a S3

Also, why didn't he get the leather seating and upgraded stereo system in the R? Missed opportunity.

This type of video is very interesting, keep this format for the future real life comparisons;)

sweeeet video guys...... it's helped make up my mind....... I'm going to buy a new 2022 RS3!!! LOL

I feel like this is a really good argument over there but in the US it’s not even close. I’m getting my mk8 golf R for 43-44k. It’s very hard to find a S3 around or under 50k, dealership tend to always spec S3 high and never around base. Ware the golf R comes top trim out of the gate for its price.

Options and wheel size etc effect the Co2 figures, I think either could have been higher depending on spec, pan roofs add a fair bit to the total.

You can order the GTI Clubsport in Europe and Ireland in Lapiz Blue according to the configurator. A weird move for VW in my opinion.

The Mk8R wins hands down. Great video 👌

I wouldn't like to think what the Audi's ride is like on 19s, and I'm pretty shocked by the hard rattly plastics everywhere.

The wheels on the S3 are hideous

It’s odd that the GOLF R is more expensive in Europe and in Canada it’s about $13,000 CDN less than the S3

It's really crazy how effective pricing strategys really are, in the UK the golf's more expensive, and people start off comparing the Audi to the golf, whereas in America the Audi is the more expensive one, and over there they see the s3 as better

The MK8 R does not use a "Haldex" based system. It's called 4Motion, but it is no longer Haldex. The torque vectoring is far superior than the S3 which is the biggest point of contention between the two besides the far better Audi interior since VW thinks people LOVE having to touch multiple things for simple controls.

Those narrow roads don't leave much room for error, do they? Anyway, its always been my philosophy to buy a top speced lower brand, the a bottom speced. luxury car. At least that way you know you've got the best they have to offer.

Which of these had better space in the back seats ?

This was a very interesting review for me as a current 2019 S3 owner I am currently looking for my next car from the review the R seem to be the better car to drive of the 2 the S3 just seems to have no progression over the 8v generation but for me with 2 kids the R seems to have less room in the rear than the S3 . The new Rs3 is another option but the balloon payments on them are crazy .

I wished we had the A3 in hatch format in the USA 😢

8R 😍😍😍

I’ve got a Mk7 R, absolutely beautiful car, ticks all the boxes, like the Mk8 R, but unfortunately out of my price range

The Audi looks boring & not a patch on the Golf R. Have never been a fan of the large Audi grills that came in some several years ago.

How long was the lead time on the Golf ?

It's takes a real man to own up and say his mate's car is better! Good video. I would pick the Golf.

A3 with black trim 19s abs adaptive dampers or save £ and pick non AWD GTI Clubsport and have power - every AWD VAG platform loses feel over 2WD version - great video and kudos to Simon for the insight 👍🥳

Golf R by a landslide!! Good Video!! New subscriber now !!

Golf looks so much better! Are those 18s” on the Audi and I never liked the new front of the new A3

I just don't know. I think the R is under done in looks. I think the S3 linda lives in no man's land but probably looks slightly better. The ride of the S3 puts me off though. If I'm gunna pay that much I'd spend the extra on a RS3 I think.

Great video btw. Brilliant banter and very good fun to watch ..more please 🤞😉

Although I want to be, I have never been a fan of the uber-bland Audi A3. It's the VW Polo of the Audi range.

Great video!! Cant wait.....ordered one pretty much same spec as Simon, minus the Performance Package and in hindsight wish I had added that now 😬😢 more so for that roof spoiler so if anyone knows where to get one (after market) do let us know. Hopefully not long now.........December delivery (all being well!!). Enjoy Simon & thanks for putting them side by side Andrew, reaffirmed why I've ordered one!!

I prefer the older S3 generation I have, ill not upgrade to this model, but ill stay Audi maybe a TTS, in a year or so, ill not go golf, its never done it for me to be honest, but thats only my opinion

Golf R. 100%

Andrew lost this battle purely by virtue he turned up in an Audi A2😂🤔

How do you rate the Clubsport vs that S3, Andrew? ;)

Love the video, better mic next time, 100%

The s3 needs thousands spent on options

In Canada the R have far better Price :) I paid mine 50K cad and a full Audi S3 is 62K cad!!

So the S3 has a harsh ride, but in a previous video you said it was good?

Great video as always 👍🏻 ps you get soft touch plastics in the back of the new shape Mazda 3, just saying 🤣

If i had both id feel the same way driving both as a daily lol

What's with the epileptic, attention seeking headlights? No, I don't like bling and fakery either. I miss the no-nonsense, understated, classy Audis of old. But then I'm old and unfashionable! Take a leaf out of Gordon Murray's T50 design book, Audi! Beautiful engineering, clean design but no bloat - everything on and in the car has function and purpose.

That golf R 😎🤙

I hate the S3 without the "Black Styling Pack"

when simon called the audi a "repmobile" he hit the nail SQUARELY on the head 😉😉😉

Before watching this vid I would of said the S3 but now I would definitely say the Golf R….it just seems a lot better thought out car….if that makes sense 😂

Weird. In US the S3 is 10k more for a compatible model.

I've watched a zillion of these but this one made me really laugh and it was also really educational :)

The most important thing is that the New S3 is an improvement over the previous Gen in terms of driveability and handling, which it certainly is as I have owned both. The R is a stand alone vehicle in VW'S Stable, so they can add those extras for the drivetrain. The RS3 as already discussed gets the best, as that is top of the tree

I enjoyed this review. When the Golf Mk8 was released, I didn’t like the look of the front grille and headlights but its understated looks when compared to the fussy S3 is a far better look. The interior quality of the A3 has also taken a backward step. Waiting for both S3 and R in Australia.

Great review man!!

The Mk8R is just such an impressive car. Still waiting for mine to be delivered (ordered it in February…). Do you think the Mk8R will be the last of its kind for Volkswagen? Do you think the future Golf R will be a 3 cylinder hybrid or something?

Great review and an enjoyable watch. I have to say the S3 is so disappointing in lots of ways. Makes the Golf seem a much smarter buy

Golf R. Better deals on them too.

Audi please, because it has class, the VW is the same as Skoda and Seat, the badge means nothing. To be fair the interior of the vw is boring so at least they are consistent and yes I've owned loads of both

Mk8R has the new awd system. S3 doesn’t. VW wins.

Given that Audi is owned by VW that they would have a better pricing strategy.

70 pounds a hydraulic strut . I bought one for 19.99 usd

Great review the Audi looks old Golf wins the day.

When did he Order his Golf R ???

40K seems like a “bargain” compared to the 2 down here for 54k nearly new… Awesome video as always, very entertaining.

As much as I love Audi, I am somewhat disappointed with the new S3. I feel its a step backwards and really making it obvious on making the push for more Golf R and RS3 sales.

Volkswizard doing the ALI-G finger-snap has made my Monday... 😂

Where would a CLA 35 fall in here?

This was a cracking head on comparison!, def see with the Audi you pay for the pretigeous name, but the golf is where the real driving is. Never driven with torque vectoring, but I'm sure it feels amazing out of corners 👍

A while ago you recommended a firm which sold end of line VW group stuff . I got some nice items from them but now can’t find their name ! Can you just remind me please

I wish they both would put sliders that can close on top of the cup holders...but I guess that will be to expensive

golf looks well better

There is no need to protect the sills in a Volkswagen for god sake take of the protection