I would debate if the S3 is any better than a GTi in the snow....I've had several 1.8T S3's and from experience yes these are excellent handling cars and quick off the mark but are pants in the snow.
Plus the S3 is really a pretendy 4X4 unlike the RS4 due to it being controlled by a haldex unit which also zapps a lot of BHP's..
My latest S3 was AMD remapped, Miltek, forge DV, large turbo pipe, K&N and produced 275BHP. I could not leave my friend in his standard 2 wheel drive Seat Leon CupraR. :embarassed: