05-30-2024, 08:07 PM | #45 |
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RS3 and the M2 both have major refreshes on the horizon. That alone would lead me towards the Golf R. Honestly though, you can’t go wrong here. All would be excellent options.
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05-30-2024, 08:23 PM | #46 |
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No. RS3 just got a refresh, M2 might get a LCI.
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05-30-2024, 08:34 PM | #48 |
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Right, like some minor changes in the front bumper and lights. It's nothing like the changes between the generation, and therefore is not something that would deter me.
I'm trying to convince the GF to get the new RS3 so I can boost the shit out of it.
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05-30-2024, 08:57 PM | #49 |
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I never said it was a new model. Anyways, yeah they're pretty easy to get power out of. Hopefully she takes the bait!
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05-31-2024, 12:01 AM | #50 | |
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She can drive the m2 any time she wants to, but she wants something for herself
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Last edited by x622; 05-31-2024 at 12:11 AM.. |
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06-03-2024, 02:18 PM | #51 |
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RWD vs FWD (w/rear assist) so kind of apples to oranges. I owned an MK7 Golf R and while I liked it, it felt like driving a quicker GTI 98% of the time. RS3 has the engine but it's nose heavy and has that weird all black plastic front end that makes it look like it's wearing a black mask. With either VAG vehicle there's the higher risk of getting the short straw on reliability. For me it would come down to how bad you need FWD/AWD setup for winter as the M2 is a considerably better handling car. Heck you could also cross shop the X2 M35i with the VAG vehicles seeing it has more in common with them than the M2.
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04-09-2025, 09:50 AM | #52 |
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Golf R is in my radar. And the GLA45, notwithstanding MB's worse-than-the-worst reliability.
I have always wanted a hot hatch. The car needs to have a liftgate. It will be a daily driver and airport car. Manual or automatic, I don't care. Needs to have low-4s 0-60. No X3M40i, no X3M. Tired of BMW, never was a real fan, X3M is a Conestoga wagon ride-wise based on a weeklong rental in Germany, exhaust is drony and terrible. X2 M35 isn't fast enough. Don't want an SQ5. No RSQ3 in the US. Macan is an alternative. I have all the information I need about the Macan platform. This leaves Golf R and GLA45. I am familiar with Mercedes and its Greek tragedy of 4-cylinder engines. And yet the moth is willing to fly a bit closer to the light... Golf R uses a hot tuned EA888 4-banger. VAG high production volume workhorse. Same base engine as Macan base and Tiguan. Son has a Tiguan SEL-P and it has been a good car. Question is about the hotter tune on the R. VW water pumps are a train wreck and Porsche/Audi pumps on current models fail in the 25k-35k mile range on a regular basis. What is the story with the Golf R? What about the rest of the vehicle? Same reliability as VAG models in general? I don't care about infotainment or screens or online services or assistance systems or transmissions. I want to know about the Golf R and its gotchas. Last edited by chassis; 04-09-2025 at 01:13 PM.. |
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04-10-2025, 12:32 PM | #53 |
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Thermostat housings and water pumps may as well be considered regular maintenance items on all EA888 engines. VAG simply has been incapable of creating long term sealing for these items for well over a decade. Mine leaked, my brother's leaked, and almost all the owners in our local VW group had water pump or thermostat housing leaks. The rest of the engine is pretty solid though.
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04-10-2025, 02:34 PM | #54 |
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The Golf R has the typical cooling system issues noted. They can also have some electrical issues. The engine and DCT are fairly reliable and robust. I'd steer clear of the 6MT due to reliability issues, weak clutch, etc.
If you tune it, the warranty is gone. VW/Audi is pretty stringent about mods and will blame the mods even when it doesn't make sense. These cars aren't hard to work on, but if you have a shop do the work, VW repairs are near BMW repair costs. Keep that in mind.
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04-10-2025, 04:34 PM | #55 |
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Not directly Golf R directly related, but I've had two GLIs purchased from new. First being a base with the manual. Clutch failed with maybe 25k miles on it and spent a ton of time at the dealer under warranty chasing wastegate issues. Bad enough that they bought the car back - I had thought it was a one off lemon of sorts, but the forums showed many with the same.
Next GLI was a decked out Autobahn with the DSG. At a hair over 60k miles the timing chain tensioner gave out and grenaded the motor. I just can't bring myself to buy another of their product despite on paper checking a lot of the boxes. From the dealers to the VAG corp, support was crap. I'd be a buyer for a new Golf R as a daily, but I just can't bring myself with the experiences. Maybe a lease with everything taken care of? Curious where the OP landed - Z4 M40i could be a sweet grab in that price block. |
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04-10-2025, 06:53 PM | #56 | |
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04-10-2025, 09:05 PM | #57 |
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As someone who has a 2022 RS3 and owned a 2020 RS3 previously, let me give you my take and dispell and agree respectfully with some of the three pages of half truths, truths, and far out fake news that I've read about the car.
First, there's no difference from the 22 thru 24 8Y generations except some options like different rims, interior/exterior trim.. etc. They all have the same power, and drive train. So, if costs are an issue, you can look at a 22 RS3 and save a few bucks. Next, anyone comparing performance between anything Golf to the RS3 is high on something. Raced them. Alot. Its over in the first 60 foot and it pulls like a freight train to RL. You will handle most muscle cars with relative ease stoplight to stoplight. TRUST me when I say these cars are faster than you think. The AWD system is the difference. Draggy 0-60 times are in the 3.4 to 3.6 range stock. They dyno at about 368awhp which is about 415- 420 or so at the crank. Not the 401 audi rates them. Someone said but there are tuned Rs and M240's ones out there that are faster... Sure. But if your mother had a weiner she'd be your father. So it makes no sense bringing that up because its a different ballgame when talking mods. If you want to argue whats the better platform for mods then id even say its a toss up. The i5 starts to get maxed at about 650hp on stock internals. Yeah, a $500 mod list on an M240 will get you faster than a stock RS3, BUT what happens when I spend about the same on a JB4 for the RS3? Again, not a valid argument. And it seems the wife likes mods so there you go. Someone said can't take curves in an RS3 (8Y).. highly untrue. The latest iteration is very a capable carver. I'd even say better than an M2 performance wise because of Quattro but probably not as pure a driving experience compared to the M2. Audi may have overly refined things here making the feedback a bit numb. There is little if any understeer now, or "Audisteer" as some might say. Audi changed the handling characteristics bigtime with the torque Vectoring rear. Yes it's nose heavy. The staggered tire setup with 265s in the front is odd but it does the trick keeping the front planted. Plus in its highest performance setting I can swing the rear out all day long. Try that in the 8V RS3 and you'll plow thru the corner. You can mash the throttle around a turn and it powers thru like a champ. Its like the ECU/TCU knows what your doing and powers the right wheels at the right time. The one annoyance is the tire size. There's not a lot of options for 265-30-19 and 245-35-19 fitment. Some guys have squared their setup and added a thicker rear rollbar which is said to be a monster improvement mod. But in stock form 30 sized tire wall is brutal for tire life long-term. Expect sidewall bubbles. The brakes are amazing. You can find ones optioned with CC but I don't think it's necessary. I agree there is an understated presence to the RS3. Might even say bland. You almost need to know what it is when it pulls next to you or you'd just think it's another A3 with fancy calipers. I'm not one for wild or outlandish styling but I wish Audi would make the RS3 a little more aggressive looking. Say what you want about the M2, but from the rear that car looks menacing. The interior follows the exterior in styling; Understated, but quality is good, seats are very comfortable but not suited for track days as i feel like I move around too much. I think Audi dipped a bit by not using the finer materials at least compared to the last gen. Theres a little less Alcantara, more plastic and less leather. Audi has company internal issues. I've posted a thread about this earlier and it's affecting quality. I will say I've had no issues with build quality whatsoever. No water pump, tstat issues, or anything else. Those are more prevalent in the previous gen RS3s. I think a proper comparison for your list should be the M2, M340, C43s and the Alfa G. These are all closer in performance. The downfall for Audi is they don't offer CF buckets in the US like euro is getting, and no real color choices in the interior other than some upholstery stitching, and some painted trim on the vents. The facelifted RS3 has an even trickier rear diff., stickier tires and in my opinion a nicer looking front and rear fascia with a nice CF option. But the waiting list for it is crazy and dealers are marking them up. Plus, Audi is holding up delivery due to tariffs so who knows when we will see the latest ones his US shores. Ok, I sound bias and I probably am. The RS3 is a unique car. There's really nothing else like it. The i5 sound is pure gold and I don't know how you can get bored with something that sounds like a mini lambo. Throw on a DP, jb4, intake a little E85 and you are right at that 575-600hp mark. Unfortunately, there is no flash tune available yet for the 8Y RS3s but there's some beta testers running 10s in the q right now so its coming. All that said, and with an AWD system that you can daily in any weather to me makes the RS3 a great choice. Is it the best choice, well that's up to you. Last edited by JerseyM3; 04-11-2025 at 08:08 AM.. |
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04-11-2025, 09:14 AM | #58 | |
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04-11-2025, 11:44 AM | #60 |
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No, no one posting since June of 2024 wrote that a Golf R was better than an RS3, and the discussion since then is the current one about hatchback cars. You are responding to people’s posts from a year ago and not contributing to the current discussion. That is my point.
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04-11-2025, 11:48 AM | #61 | |
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04-11-2025, 01:55 PM | #62 | |
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What you don't seem to understand is value. I really wanted an RS3. I wanted something unique like the i5, but it is a horrible value compared to an M240. With the additional tax on the difference in price it's $13k more than an M240 spec'd the way I would buy them. BUT, you won't get a discount on the RS3 and you can easily get $2k discount on an M240. SO IT'S A CAR THAT COSTS $15k MORE THAN AN M240 IN REAL WORLD NUMBERS. That is a horrible value compared to an M240. Spend $500 on mods and you're still $14.5k better and have a faster car. That is my point and if you can't understand that you need to go back to HS and study basic economics and budgeting again. If $ were no object, sure I'd get the RS3. But, no I wouldn't, I would get a Ferrari. If the price difference had only been $3-$4k I would've bought the RS3. But the M240 is simply a much better VALUE whether you add performance mods or not. |
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04-11-2025, 02:04 PM | #63 | |
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04-11-2025, 02:28 PM | #64 | |
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You seem pissed off for me even responding. I don't get it. Ahh who cares this is stupid. Have a good one. Last edited by JerseyM3; 04-11-2025 at 02:34 PM.. |
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04-12-2025, 01:03 PM | #66 | |
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I just don't think the RS3 is a good value. And I don't put much weight into depreciation because: 1. It changes, 2. The car could get stolen, 3. The car could get totalled. 4. The better reliability of BMW makes up for the depreciation difference. Yes, have a good one. |
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