👋 So after owning the 8y Audi RS3 for a year and a half, we’ve really enjoy it! Seems like RS3 owners love these cars and most people agree this is one of the most performance focused sedans on the market without spending near 6 figures on the BMW M3. However there are some nah sayers who of course never have driven an RS3 who think it’s just an expensive Volkswagen Golf R. I will say the Audi S3, which is quite literally the Audi version of the Golf R, might be a bit of a streatch when it performs nearly the same as the Golf R. But when you drive the RS3 fast and full throttle, you really start to see the extra performance and thrill! Around town both of these cars are pretty similar to be honest. Both equally comfortable and drive like nice European luxury cars. Golf R does have heated back seats and vented front seats which I’m jealous of! But other than that they are similar. Golf R with its 4 cylinder turbo engine also has a bit better response in slow speeds and less lag with a more forgiving transmission tune. So arguable the Golf R is the better around town car. However when you push the Golf R to redline and shift full throttle, while it’s fun a fast for sure! It leaves a lot of fun to be desired. Not much drama and the steering is a bit vague. Still a great car overall but it doesn’t really get to the thrilling level. In the Audi RS3 once you go full throttle and scream to 7,000 RPM to shift, it wakes up and gets the hair standing up on the back of you neck! This car starts begging you to brake every road law and just keeps want ing more. So once driving hard that’s when the RS3 extra performance with the 5 cylinder turbo starts coming alive! Steering still isn’t my favorite, but’s much sharper the the Golf R and the overall driving dynamic is a whole new level worth every penny! So to those few people who think an RS3 is just an over priced Golf R, go drive one full throttle on a back road and tell me it’s the same. I’ll wait 😉
If you are looking for a really well rounded daily driver that’s still fun and won’t break the bank and you don’t plan on truly ripping on your car too crazy, buy the golf R. It’s a better all around daily driver. Install an intake, exhaust, lowering springs and wheel spacers and it will have a lot more fun factor. But if the extra $20,000 doesn’t phase you and you want something truly unique and filled with character, buy the RS3.
So, we have the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R for the week. It’s been a lot of fun checking out this sub $50,000 hothatch with that four-cylinder engine with a little bit over 300 horsepower. Now, let’s compare it alongside our 8Y Audi RS3, which is kind of the same platform, same family. Of course, we have over 400 horsepower. Now, we’ve had comments before in the last year and a half owning this car. Is the RS3 just an expensive Volkswagen Golf R? Are they basically the exact same car just with a $20,000 price discrepancy because of that Audi badge? I already know. The answer is heck no. This thing is an absolute monster. It is a completely different car than the Golf R. The Audi S3, though, that might be a different story. But in today’s video, we’re going to compare the Golf R, see what this car has to offer for the lower price point alongside the Audi RS3. Both cars in the same family, kind of similar platforms, but take a look at today’s full YouTube video. RS3 against the Golf
