« Reply #5 on: 22 January 2014, 16:21 »
Hmmmmm, I just loved the mk6 R as it had real presence and was quite raw. It was too expensive for me and I'd never justify the costs for the amount of use I'd have for the 4wd.
The mk7 R makes a compelling case for itself price wise above the GTI and comes with a decent spec as standard BUT it's a car I want to love but just can't.
Too clinical maybe? I'm not the target audience anyway. I read the R forum regularly and the guys that buy R's are in a different class to me so it's a GTI for me (phew! glad I don't have regrets less than 12 months from placing my GTI order!!!) and I also have a huge soft spot for the new Leon Cupra SC 280.
The S3 does nothing for me at all. It's an Audi and all Audis just look like Audis and I don't play Golf or drive a company car or have a minge so don't think I'm their target audience either.
Nice enough review. Noted that they launched it on snow (literally) like they did with the mk6 R so as to show a bit of added value for the 4wd!
Hats off to the car and I'm sure its dynamics will be very well suited to the permanently wet UK roads. Shame the torque is the same as the GTI though.

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‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten