Id have the S3 over the golf. Love the look and sound of the S3. RS3 sounds unbelievable with the 5 pot. Click the vid and skip to 1:00, turn up your speakers. If it needs to be practical, id go with the Golf. The S3 will have a substatially smaller boot. The boot floor will be raised to accomodate the rear diff etc. My mates R32 boot was tiny.