I'm really not seeing this at all! I don't care what anyone says the Golf R is FAR FAR to expensive for what it is! It is just not special enough at all.
I do not see how it is going to be so radically different to the S3 as some people think it is!
They are both a similar weight.
They have identical engines.
They have the same haldex (Gen 4) as the FACELIFT S3's so they are not going to handle that much differently.
They can both be bought with manual and DSG transmissions.
The build quality of Audi's is second to none so I don't think the R is going to be gaining any advantages in that department.
Looks are subjective but I would say both are a desireable looking car.
I stand to be corrected but the only difference I see between the S3 and the Golf R so far is the price. If the Golf R were out at the time of me purchasing my S3 there is no doubt I would have been seriously interested. If I would have specced the Golf to my requirements it would have come to circa £38k, I paid just over £12k less for a new S3 four months ago, do the math!
Im not defending the S3 or slating the Golf R, it's just the way I see it