Work change may lead to losing the TT. S3 or Golf R?

[ourlee]

We may be renting an apartment in our new work city 4 hours from our house. So every Monday am and Friday pm we’d be commuting. Not a real issue except for 100lb Sugar, rap name Sugg Sugg:

So the TT just won’t cut it.
The S3 and the Golf R (certified less than $40k) are my two fav. options. I’d do DSG on either and swap my JB4. So why’d you pick the S3 and did you come from a R or GTI?
Cheers,
Rick
so sad:

[darbyfam]

The S3 and the Golf R are equal in performance, so the determining factor for me was the quality of products used on the interior. It's just a "nicer" car.

[Chaoscreature]

For dog transport and just general usability, it's hard to beat a hatch. They are like minivans that are also super fun to drive and not embarrassing.
You can fold the back seats down and Sugg Sugg will have way more room to move around, plus he won't be all over the leather seats :)
The S3 also has a pathetically small trunk, while the R will have much more room for bags etc.

[mmm def]

The S3 also has a pathetically small trunk, while the R will have much more room for bags etc.

I dunno..the trunk in the R is pretty tiny too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kevin quattro]

I test drove both. The golf R was fun to drive but lacked in quality and doesn't seem as "exclusive" or rare. Very plasticky. I love the S3. it's an amazing car if your spouse has an SUV. Lol but seriously, I bought her a 2019 tiguan so we could have more space. I thought whenever we'd go out together we'd take her car. We almost always use my car. I had a 2017 a3 and just today bought the S3. I even looked at bigger cars like the s4. Everything about the s3 is perfect for a driving enthusiast who doesn't have a large family. The golf r is great but you won't be able to fit that big dog in the trunk anyway so imo the s3 wins in all categories besides a modest increase in trunk space and a lower price tag.

I would buy a gently used S3 and make it work. You'll love it.

- - - Updated - - -

Cute dog btw

[Pitbulldad520]

Sugg sugg is adorable. Good owners to tailor your car around your four legged child

- - - Updated - - -

Sugg sugg is adorable. Good owners to tailor your car around your four legged child

Eta: used S3s are as cheap as used golf Rs. S3 all day.

[twopointohtee]

To be fair to S3 trunk size, I just dropped a 65” TV in there still in the box with the seats down..... and I didn’t even have to move the driver seat forward . But yeah with seats up it’s a bit limited.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[ralphie_43]

I fit my full grown German shepherd perfectly. Only thing I would highly recommend is invest in a nice cover like this one and you're set! https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pet-Hammock...item26045af96020190511_151833.jpeg20190511_151810.jpeg20190511_140741.jpegSnapchat-1546362688.jpg

Sent from my SM-G930V using Audizine mobile app

[Coolrunning]

I have a 2015 S3 for sale right now if you are interested. Only 23,000 miles and I literally just purchased a Audi A6 TDI 5 minutes ago officially so motivated to sell. I have the title in hand.

[Chaoscreature]

To be fair to S3 trunk size, I just dropped a 65” TV in there still in the box with the seats down..... and I didn’t even have to move the driver seat forward . But yeah with seats up it’s a bit limited.

I don't know how you managed this! I wouldn't have expected a 65" tv to fit through the trunk at all.

I picked up a new Dewalt 12" miter saw at Home Depot last weekend and couldn't get it in the A3. It wouldn't fit in the trunk (not even close) and wouldn't make it through the back door. I had to drive home and get the Jetta to pick up my saw.

With a Golf, just pop the hatch, fold down the back seats and you're good to go.

[Auditde]

Is that a bouvier?

[ourlee]

Yep pure hot mess bouvie. Here’s her dearly departed big sis D Fresh in Son1’s wagen

[kretrop]

I've picked up a 55" TV that fit just fine with the seats down (in the box, even). With the seats up, I brought home a Weber charcoal grill (in the box) and a bunch of accessories, along with a couple bags of charcoal. Grocery trips are no problem. Looking at a roof rack for my bikes, but that's mainly so I don't ding anything up putting them in the trunk. My 75lb pit/American bulldog mix fits just fine in the back seat. Also holds my golf clubs just fine. 2018 S3.

Not sure what people are putting back in the trunk regularly that makes it "pathetic". If the trunk is too small for what you're regularly loading in it, you bought the wrong car, and that's your fault, not the car's. I think this car is the perfect size for an active person/couple, as long as they don't NEED regular use of the backseats for people. Leg room is definitely tight back there (I'm about 6'2").

Rs seem to hold their value a little better. They also blend in more. Obviously, it's a hatch. No sunroof. I've read the adaptive suspension is actually better vs the S3. They're hard to get test drives in (new), and dealers won't budge on pricing. You can get the R in stick. New, R comes with a way better warranty.

S3 feels a bit more premium. Cost is higher vs R. You have to buy higher trim to get a lot of tech that comes standard in the R. Offsetting that, though, you can actually test drive them. Dealers will negotiate on pricing. I scored mine for a hefty discount; sticker was $52.2k, after discounts and incentives when I bought in November, I got it for $41.3k. I had to fly to Michigan to get it, then drive it back to PA, but the $11k discount was worth it, and actually made it cheaper than buying an R with no discount.

Subjectively, I prefer the looks of the S3 to the R, particularly when the S3 is in a brighter color.

Overall, I'm really happy with the car so far. It's my first non-manual, and I'm digging the DSG. I bought it to downsize my fleet, so I wanted a jack of all trades car. I think it's a great blend of sporty, quick, fast, handling, luxury, quality, looks, practicality, and features, all in a daily use package. For reference, I bought it to replace a 2012 Acura TSX, 2008 Corvette, and 2004 Mazda 3 hatch, all of which are stick. Given that wide range of cars, I think I hit the mark pretty well.

Enjoy whatever you end up with!

[kretrop]

Also, one other thing: if you get a hatch and fold the rear seats down, yes, the dog will have more room... But, with more room to move, the dog (and your belongings) also have more room to shift around and, in the event of a hard stop or worse, an impact accident, they have more room to become flying objects in an open cabin, increasing risk of injury to both you and the dog. I'm personally a big believer in using the backseat for the dog, and I have a seatbelt adapter for his harness. He's got plenty of room and, if the seatbelts lock up, I know he's not going airborne and getting hurt. I cringe when I see people let dogs ride in the front seat unsecured. No different than kids and car seats, really.

[RudyH]

I wouldn't say the S3 and Golf R are equal in a performance sense. The Golf R definitely handles better and is quicker /w over 200 lbs less weight. The suspension in the R is less comfort and more sport. I wish I could feel the difference in the Haldex tuning in the FL-S3 as Audi keeps claiming that they made it more like the RS3. I honestly never pushed it hard enough when I was looking at getting the RS3 against the R, but really didn't care since United Motorsports fixes the issue for less $$ in both cases.

The price of the S3 has been stagnant, where the R keeps getting large price increases, which kind of sees what consumers are saying (not to mention the resale value is ridiculous for R owners). Yes there is some more harder plastics used in the R in some spots, and the virtual cockpit is definitely nicer then the Golf R's. That said I prefer my finger prints on the touch screen then the pop-up, which I didn't think was going to happen.

Exterior is personal preference...however if the Sportback made it to North America I would be more interested in the S3, and I think the OP dog would too. Seats up, I don't think the dog would like it in the trunk, though if it's 100 lbs.

[theweebabyseamus]

Love them Bouviers.