@@BhpBones performance is more important than long term reliability for that segment of the market. A lot of guys will want to remap their car and the manual gearbox is the weak point. You'll end up eating through clutches or you'll have to upgrade to a heavier clutch that will take the fun out of driving your manual. Sure, some people don't care about chasing numbers but the sales figures speak for themselves. Most people want to go quicker
Used Golf R is really expensive at the moment compared to the S3 salon (IMO an absolute topper of a looker) A good £5-7k difference on price based on same year and mileage. I think the massive increase in folk rushing out to get a Golf R on the back of most of the YT community saying they are the best, is dropping the S3 prices a bit.
The reality is that the golf R is probably the best >all-round< (new) car in the world - is there a cheaper way to get to 60 quicker, but with that balance of quality, VALUE, power, reliability, awd and family practicality?
If we’re comparing newish cars only to the Golf R then perhaps. but if we’re talking any car in that price range, then you’d be mad to waste the money on one. Each to their own though, just not my cup of tea
It’s good but the s3:is cheaper if you want leather seats. I’d rather pay the extra for the rs3. If want to mod a car then the rs3 has by far the cheapest platform to get stupid power....enough to toy with bugattis
@Callum6355 - I downsized to a 7.5R Estate. Leather could have been arranged for less than VW OE and the dealer said that in all honesty not only was it fully customisable, it was a lot better than OE. I thought I'd try with cloth to see how I got on, and TBH, not missing not having leather.
Golf R would be my choice personally just see them as the perfect hatchback. Audi S3 wins interior all day though. Also DSG always beats manual ;) That's my opinion, great video!
M Klongerpute I don't know if you're in another country, but in USA they come manual or DSG. Yes they only cone 4 door hatch which I like the 2 door better
waveyLP I reckon the Golf better suits the hooligan power of Calvin’s 600 bhp. All I know is if I had 600 in my S3, I’d kill myself. As it is, bury the throttle in 3rd after you’ve bounced off the Rev limiter in 1st & 2nd, I dare you not to lift off. Anywhere but a fast A road & up, you’ll bottle it by 80. It just flies! I’m in East Kent & the lanes are too narrow for max hoon :))
A DSG gearbox even though it's marketed as an automatic, it's not. Infact they're an "automated manual" which has two clutches- one for even gears and one for odd. Also the reason why you get the mega fast shifts as it preselects the next gear. Just thought I'd share that as I always thought of then as a proper auto! I'd be happy with a manual if it's not my daily car but I'd really want the car to do the work for me and have the option of using the paddles
@@royalstevep68 Do a little research and you will soon find out the difference between a DSG which means "Dual Clutch" when translated from German and how a proper auto box works...An normal auto uses a torque converter which a DSG doesn't...
Thats a great honest opinion on the two cars. I drive a golf R and would love to upgrade it. I live in Australia. the golf R here costs $58.000. the AUDI RS3. costs about $103.000. which is about 58.000 pounds. the BMW M2 is $118.000 and the BMW i140m is so ugly that we refuse to let them on the road. a BMW M4 competition pack costs $175.000 which is the price of a luxury yacht. so value for money what else is there...ps i DO NOT. want an RS Focus or a civic type R. my hat goes on the right way around,
My friend is a Lotus Esprit restorer in his spare time, especially the S1, he has the only drivable full mock up of the lotus s1 from the bond movie. His restorations are so good, they’re better than when they came out of the factory!
Like your enthusiasm..quality video. I’ve just sold my Mk 7 3dr DSG Golf R and bought a new A3 and I can’t get comfortable in it. I’m 6’1 and the Audi seat just doesn’t get in the right position. There are some things I like about the A3 but I loved the Golf R. Have to say I wouldn’t want to go back to manual after several DSGs and an Stronic but each to his own. Depends a lot what type of driving you do.
Cool vid Calvin. What you could do is find a private road and have a drag race between your Golf R and the S3!! :) That'll show the difference between the two.
I miss manuals?....How do people fathom DSG's if all they've been used to is Manuals all their life?....I know several long-term drivers 25 yrs+ experience, who've never drove one....At some point its been said manuals are gonna be phased-out altogether!..What if people prefer manual/clutch-pedal?....Lovely motors there....The Golf R would be my choice, but that RS3 is amazing, pity its Semi-Auto....
The esprit is my fav from Loutus . wow a manual s3 , thats rare. great video man , i remember driving the RS3 when they were on tour. The sound was intoxicating
I had a mk5 golf and sold it to buy an a3 and had to sell the Audi and bought an other mk5 golf for the same reason as I felt so cramped in the cab. Also felt the dash and heaters had to much buttons. Love the video 👍
Another quality vid! I was looking through some of the old photo albums at the parents lately... found a few of me in my naffco54 bomber on my Rayleigh burner!
Great video as always Calvin, enjoyable to watch ! I’ve got a facelift S3 Stronic , it was a tough choice between that and a Golf R but the premium / refinement of the S3 won me over ...plus Ive had a Golf for 17 years! How many people on here have driven both and can back up,the statement that the R and S3 are the exact same car!?! 😂 it does come down to preference at the end of the day, and 600bhp if you’ve got it haha
Hey ads, I'm Stuck between the two cars for my next purchase, I'm 6ft2 could you tell me is the S3 noticeably smaller than the golf? Not had chance to go out to test drive either with the current crisis sadly
Ry Watts hi mate , I’m 6’2 also, I had no issues with setting the seat up in either . My S3 was a comfortable drive right up until I got rid of it ,plenty of room in my opinion . I rarely carry more than 2 people so no worries about having to move the position for anyone to sit behind me! Like I said , for me the Audi was more refined and is in fact lighter and has a different Haldex setup also . But as I said it comes down to preference 😃
Personally I don't think they're better, I've driven an S3 but not to any huge extent. A lot of people talk about the Golf R being more direct in steering and just feeling more of a whole package which is odd since they're very much the same car. I may be biased though. On another note keep up the sick work brother, recently started making content myself and it's good to see such a strong community.
Mate, loving seeing your channel getting huge! You're the best RU-vidr! I love the Esprit. It looks like an SE model with an S4S wing. I am in Luton at the end of the month. Can we do a video on it together? I've always wanted to drive one!!!!
Great video Calvin. I’ve had 2 S3’s first one being for 3 years a black 57 plate s3 8p hatchback with Recaro bucket seats 19” RSC 4 gunmetal grey alloys, then I went back and got a BMW e90 330i msport had that for 7 months but loved the s3 too much so went an bought a 60 plate white black edition s3 sportback...... top motor !!
Problem with a lot of s3 8v's are they are very lowely specc'd so finding a good used one with options are rare. Went with a fully loaded 8p instead (including bucket seats) and pay £400 for a map and they put out the same power. No brainer
Glad to finally read this, I'm 6'5 myself and might buy an S3 next year. Somehow I'm getting the impression most tall people just buy an SUV, no idea why tho. (Again, impression, not facts)
@@joshriles84 I'm currently driving a small car with not that much of a doorgap. I feel like that's gonna be fine. Thanks for the heads up. By the way, any technical things I need to keep in mind about the S3 (sedan)?
I feel the s3 is a really superior car compared to the golf r The VW amerok is a big unit I've driven the manual version and I'll be honest I wasn't a fan I think it's to big to be manual your constantly through the gears but that's my opinion 💁 great channel btw mate don't know how I've only recently found it 😂
I awear ur motivatng me to start the same busimess with small cars and get to the top cars .. and not to forget to mention i love the comtent .. new subscriber bro 😎😎😎
I was around when the esprit was launched, my barbers had one. He got rid after a couple of years, terrible reliability. Nice looking motors though. They were classed as super cars then.
Agreed, I had an MG Metro, MG Maestro, and MG Montego Turbo, all great fun to drive ! Although it's weird now looking back at how fast I used to think that turbo was at the time (0-60 in 7.6s lol)
Good review!!.. I had the choice of a new Golf R 7.5 and an S3 and agree the interior is a lot nicer in the Audi.. BUT I couldn't justify the extra £2k.. that plus the R comes with the new Active Display from factory and the S3 it's an optional extra (as is pretty much everything else on the Audi!!)
This is crazy but my best mates dad actually used to own that S3 but it got stolen off of his drive like 4 months ago. Btw that S3 got tuned while my best mates dad owned in and it actually has 375bhp
Bollocks yeah? Funny how Calvin liked my comment, dm me on instagram and I’ll send all of you videos of me and my pals driving it about. In the can clearly see the same number plate. My insta name is fredstar2209 and we’ll see who looks like an idiot.
Keep up the work calvin bro! New subscriber to your channel, love the work you put into your videos, my dream would be to become a car salesman just like you one day!
Some of the other VAG group cars have dodgy auto boxes with their documented megatronics issues. A reason why the manual is a better option. Not sure if these newer models suffer from the same issues
i deliver cars to europe from buyers who buy internet. i deliverd an audi rs 8 to lyon in france what a drive.she had a toyota prius to return to coventry this was awsome twice as quick what a car that prius is 160mph , from lyon to calaise its for sale now in coventry ,..prius all day long ..
Thanks for coming back to me. Just wanna see your honest opinion on that car. Can you not brough one from the dealership? Just a thought. Keep up the gud work mate.
Hit the nail on the head with the golf r got a wow/chav factor about it and look more aggressive than the s3, same reason why i love my vxr such a chav factor and look good without chucking money at it till something breaks as its Vauxhall😂
Just thought I would put this out there that the Audi s3 in this video was originally stolen from somebody’s drive that I know up in selsdon it was taken from somebody’s front drive around 6 months ago, robbers left no trace and haven’t seen the car since until I recognised the number plate
So the Morris Marina door latch is fu@#£&* on a Lotus! That’ll be be least of your ownership problems...My mates one was crushed by a tree in the 87 storm, best stroke of luck he ever had 😂 Wish I could post the photo!!!
