As the previous owner of a new Mk5 with bluefin it was my experience that the front wheel drive Golf was rubbish with right foot squashed hard to the carpet at low speed (crash bang whallop from the front and not a lot of speed). The 4wd S3 just grips and goes.
Yes that's what 4 wheel drive gives you. Traction, but thats it !
Trade off in the S3 is understeer, lifeless steering and oh more understeer.
Ed30/MkV Gti are light on their feet but that makes them much more fun. Bigger smiles as you pile on the miles ! Isn't that what driving a performance car is all about ?
Where is the fun in just 'grips and goes' ?
And I have a diesel 4x4 that would muller an S3 ( in a straight line ), and have had a Golf 4motion so can speak with experience.
Your car collection sounds like a scrapyard though
