e2k I know, right? So many car vids are doing manuals vs auto... Absolute waste of time for a serious comparison. Probably a deliberate tactic to prevent any real criticisms...
@@TheRealTanSeeker Because that's how they come as standard. It's not like the conclusion would be any different. The Golf would be slightly faster in a drag race, but slightly less fun and involving to drive, so he'd still choose the Audi.
@@TheRealTanSeeker No. It's actually pretty obvious, if you've watched the video. The main advantage of the Golf is its more engaging drive, which is provided by its manual gearbox. The main advantage of the S3 is its smoother, more comfortable everyday experience. Therefore, it makes sense to compare the two cars at their best, since this is how he recommends that they should be bought. The automatic Golf R is not good value, since it compromises the main strength of the vehicle without providing the luxury of the Audi.
In my opinion the Golf is specced better standard, but the S3 has much better tech on the options spec sheet. The Golf did feel slightly better to drive to me also. The Audi sounded nicer, though. Horses for courses! I went for the Golf but can totally see why the S3 would appeal over it. Both are lovely cars.
Vw< expensive vw (Audi) < more expensive vw (Porsche) < more expensive vw (Bentley) < even more expensive vw (Lamborghini) < more expensive vw (Bugatti)
Great Vid! I just bought a 2018 Golf R and it is pretty freakin amazing. However, I would have considered the S3 if it came in that wagon style here in the states, sedan is just useless to me. I do disagree about the interior, I find the Golf very orderly and intuitive and flows very nicely, very cockpit style centered around the driver, and while the Audi is very nice, I don't like the pop up screen, looks like an ipad stuck to the dash. Either would be great but I can get a stick in the R. The clutch is light and linear and not tiring in traffic like my old WRX. Can't go wrong with either.
Test drove both cars in DSG form back to back then ended up picking the s3, I totally agree with Matt @6:27 about feeling more cocooned in, more luxurious, more snug and a lot nicer place to sit during traffic. It also had sunroof, leather seats, virtual cockpit, better looking wheels, optional red leather-things that weren't available in the Golf R in Canada. Add to the the much better dealership experience I had locally, and it came down to the Audi.
Amateur that you are and the amount of bullshit you spout is incredible. I am a VAG importer in France, so I invite you to try both before speaking behind a screen without even having come close or remotely close to one of the two. The golf course is 100 times more comfortable, more livable and much prettier internally, they don't purify everything.
I’ve been having this very conversation with myself as I’m considering ordering both cars... but for me, whilst the Audi is more premium, the colour of the lapiz paint is brilliant and the paint options on the Audi doesn’t come close.
It's strange, when the golf / a3 launched the a3s interior was far more fancier. After a couple years I feel as though the golf's interior aged better. Like it's not crazy modern but just looks good still. I don't know if it's just me.
Have to say! Carwow with matt Watson is the best car channel on the Internet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the channel lads, keep up the fantastic work!!!!!!!!!!!! Just love it! 👍
Matt’s whole review and recommendation really just boils down to his preference for auto over manual. Great review otherwise & always appreciate Matt’s great sense of humour.
an improvement over the 135i but still a terrible-looking car. There is no saving that basic shape that they started with and incremental changes to s fundamentally ugly shape are doomed.
Agreed. Though I think he'll say amazing engine but bad practicality, and it's sporty looks are even more subtle than the R. Personally I think the 1 series needs a refresh anyways, design and interior feels dated. However I have an R but would've definitely got a 140i shadow edition with Xdrive, but for some reason BMW don't sell the Xdrive version in the UK :(
Audi S3 costs a few grand more, but it regains it with the leather seats and automatic gearbox. Though, the digital display kit must cost around £1,200. Pisses over the Golf in terms of quality though, it's like comparing a Corsa to an A Class.
I would go with the golf r, only because it has a manual option while the Audi doesn't, I love using the gear shifter/ clutch, and that automatic gearbox might make the car faster but for me it would be less fun
What's the big deal about leather seats. I'd much prefer cloth seats. I think leather being seen as the must have luxury for car upholstery is a bit Emperor's New Clothes. I do think the interior of a Golf GTI looks better than the Golf R.
Leather is simply the superior material. Wears better, lasts longer, smells better and is way easier to clean. It also looks more expensive and [subjectively] nicer. But if a manufacturer gives you leather as standard, they should give you the option for cloth seats for no extra cost.
Personally I'm not a fan of the black bits they added to the MK7.5. And black wheels are very "meh", regular 19" Pretorias look far more elegant. Also the R looks really nice inside at night, with the blue LED accents everywhere.
It also makes your nutsack cold in winter and glues the said nutsack during the summer. And don't start with the "ventilators and heat warmers" because that's an extra $$$, and a hefty extra $$$. Leather's mostly for pretensious ppl who haven't heard of anything else. Nice try, Georgi
Mark Stefanac I haven't said anything bad. Leather is objectively a better and more durable material than cloth. It also costs more. Heated seats come as standard on $20 000 vehicles these days. Leather interior may cost $5000, heated seats don't.
The thing I can't stand about the Audi A3 (5 door) is that it is a mini estate, it doesn't look at all like a normal hatchback, and that's why I would always choose the 1 series and the A class.
Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that. 3 door is nice but the 5 door looks like it can't decide if it wants to be an estate or a hatchback.It's not a good look.
I think these cars are the same pair on each review recorded at the same time. I guess the point is that neither would lose. They’re identical mechanically.
Still, in every review of the Golf R, it has the manual gearbox, loses the dragrace and it is "if you want better performance and more comfort while cruising, get this other car with the automatic gearbox". What I'd really like to see is Golf R auto vs Audi S3 auto and if the cars have different performance due to one of them weighing more, having different suspension or a different tune (according to VW themselves, the DSG version is 0.5s faster 0-100 km/h than the manual version). And who knows, maybe the verdict then could have been "both are nice for cruising with their auto gearboxes, the S3 has a bit nicer interior, but with similar options the Audi costs much more and it's not really worth it". But it seems we will never know because apparently the only Golf R which is ever available for reviews is this one with the manual gearbox...
Uh, wtf... They are literally the same car. And as Mat points out, the Golf is sharper to drive. Option it with the DSG and it's no slower either. So on what possible grounds is the S3 "on another level", apart from being more expensive?
I looked at the R and ended up buying the S3. My previous car had a very rough ride and the luxury of the Audi is much appreciated.I liked the s3 more too, more fun and more tossable. and in traffic, the dsg over the stick anytime. I hated how dark the interior of the R was. The upgraded stereo sounded like it was made of tin. The nav system in the R is a joke. I don't like the steering wheel shape in either car. Its not round or comfortable. Audi is great as a ski car- great in snow, but the boot is on the small side. I have an APR stage II ECU/ TCU tune on my car. It did wonders ;)
I've brought the s3 facelift about 2 weeks ago now and Its just amazing as a all rounder. Great for fuel, traffic driving,for launches and even if you want to accelerate from like 60+. It picks up the speed really fast
@@thepolishbrat112 depends really. If those 60 miles are on the motorway everyday. You'll probably get higher mpg, the s3 can hit 35mpg but that's only on a motorway
I would go for the audi .. cuz from the outside they are both bootiful but the inside is where im gonna be sooo s3 for the win price is the same and u have that badge
Yes, because as we know, drag times are the ULTIMATE indicator of daily experiences; three quarters of the world literally LIVES on the drag strip amirite?
I own the older (14 plate) MK7 so this might not apply to the 7.5; but one thing i would mention is the exhaust is quiter on the R compared to an S3; that DSG fart noise is also louder on the S3.
I don't see why anyone would want full leather in the car. I actually see the standard seats better than leather and would pay 1800 to get the current standard seats if I had leather as standard. They get hot in the summer, cold in the winter. Just a piece of shit.
I got out of an an M2 into an S3 2018. Despite the lower power its useable especially in anything mildly most condition. A sinple re map would give me one to 370hp but I really don't see the point. Superb car & don't regret the 'downgrade' for a nanosecond. It still has a drinking habit but it's smiles per mile, not MPG 😁
Audi does the infotainment placement much better. Just under windshield. You can peek anytime. On most VW cars they not only don't pop out from the dash, they are under the vents. Big safety hazard.
TomaCukor it is annoying, all touchscreen’s are. My daily hack Octavia vrs is awful trying to change songs guessing where I press my finger or I take my eyes off the road for a lot longer than I’d like to
I hear this argument a lot, and I hear the same argument regarding checking the speedo. My argument is that the amount of time required to divert your eyes to assess what button you need to press and where it is, is inconsequential to your driving safety. You are required and encouraged to spend the exact same amount of time doing regular head checks whilst your driving. The only part that needs to move is your eyes, you don't need to shift your whole head or anything more to glance around the cabin of your car and identify what it is you plan to use. If you can't look at a touchscreen, check your speed, or fiddle around with the centre stack in a safe manner, then you probably shouldn't be driving anyway.
Garthorium, the problem you're missing with that point, which I agree with, is that with physical buttons compared to a touchscreen, you don't even need to look away from the road, you can feel what button you are pressing. A touchscreen has no physical feedback compared to a physical button, so looking away even for a second is less safe than not having to look away at all.
ACS607 yes, it weighs a lot less as it's only half haldex and that VAQ differential works amazingly well, so quick round the corners. Only issue with the manuals is that they come equipped with the same clutch you find on a 150hp TDI engine. Applies to the Golf R, S3 manual and Octavia VRS. Seriously unmanageable kit.
In my area, VW dealer’s are offering no discounts for the late to the market 2018 Golf R, while Audi dealers are offering the S3 at up to $6K below MSRP, which ends up being just a few grand more than the Golf R. Add to that the far better interior, better reliability, and more prestigious brand, the S3 is the way to go.
All about opinions I guess. I've driven both and chose the mk7.5 Golf over the S3. I personally think the interior of the VW is far more better than the Audi. I think what's missing is the R's identity. Where as the GTi has it's own identity, the R doesn't. Hopefully VW can deliver when they bring out the mk8. I've had my mk7.5 since March and absolutely love it, no regrets.
Think I would go with the golf r. Here in Canada it seems like the right choice. My buddy has one and it gets around better in the snow than my Jeep!!! :D
Interesting that leather is standard in the US, but I'd rather have the seats in the video. Also, it is unreal how much of a difference in acceleration that 7 spd DSG is over the manual, even in the rolling start!
I picked a Golf over an A3 because of the interiour. The Audi has a high quality interiour but it looks damn boring. I did not like that. Gave me a grand pa feeling. Apart from that only the price was a thing for me and that was also a win for the Golf. So Golf it became. To be honest, the GTI has a very nice interiour with leather seats and the red accents. The R does not have red accents which makes a lil more boring.
i never understood why everyone wants leather, i love the standard R seats. Leather is really cold in the winter, and really hot in the summer where cloth is not. Leather looks good but thats just about it.
I live in the countryside with lots of twisty roads, I almost never encounter stop start traffic, or any traffic jams, and so much prefer the fun and sense of control that you get with a manual gearbox. And I actually like it when you floor it and it doesn't shift down, sometimes I just want as much power as the gear I currently am In can give me. Im driving an automatic right now and it absolutely annoys me that it always shifts down as soon as I push the gas pedal even a little bit.
Felix O. I agree mate. Just went from a mk7 dsg gti to a 7.5 R manual. I enjoy it sooo much more. The dsg was always in too high a gear - like most auto’s these days it is still tuned too much towards fuel economy. May I say I can’t believe the difference between my old gti and the 7.5 R. It is a considerably better car in every way.
The review calls the auto an "upgrade". I'd consider it a downgrade. Autos are useful if you spend your time driving around town and they do work well with the dynamic cruise control but VAG insist on putting the paddle shifters on the wheel and get up and down the wrong way round on the shifter, removing any semblance of involvement.
@@smokeytom24 but Audi does not have parking sensors on the front as standard or the front pedestrian auto stop feature or the digital dash or the big screen
Tbh after sitting and driving a few different leather interior cars and cloth, I have to say I prefer the cloth. Especially in my new 1 series, they are comfy, look a lot better than leather seats and they arent super cold in the winter or super hot in the summer. The only thing leather you need are the steering wheel, arm rest and dashboard etc