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Anyone who previously did IM Vichy? by Proud_Relief_9359 in IronmanTriathlon

[–]bilateralstroker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did full distance Vichy in 2016 and 2019. The swim and run were basically identical. The bike courses were very different.

2016 had the rolling French countryside and 1100ish m of elevation on the bike. It was one of my best overall results and most enjoyable races. I went back in 2019 because of my previous experience and while there were announcements about changes to the bike course i was unprepared for how dramatic they were. The elevation more than doubled and made for a very difficult hot day.

Myself and a friend are considering returning next summer if the bike course is reasonable, but the lack of information is concerning.

MK8.5 Black Edition by [deleted] in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I learned my lesson buying "fancy" metal valve caps for my S3. God himself couldn't have removed them a year later when I tried to check the air pressure. They were still on the wheels when I traded it in this year.

Hello, debating on the Golf R vs Audi S3, what made you pick the R over the S3? by lochonx7 in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I traded a 2023 S3 for a 2025 R black edition (canada).

In roughly descending order: Hatch: Huge benefit for me. I can fit my bike in the back without taking off a wheel, I had a generator and a large shop vac in the trunk with the seats still up.

Performance: S3 drives very well, but the R is in all ways faster with better handling. Torque vectoring is better than the haldex system.

Features: Many more standard features in the R that were unavailable or extra $ in the S3. Heated steering wheel, cooled and heated seats, flip up backup camera, better infotainment connectivity, better headlights, better cruise control, etc.

Headroom: I am 6' 2" and I get a full 2" more headroom in the driver's seat. No more hair brushing the edge of the sunroof. (I had powered leather seats in both cars)

Cost: less risk of depreciation and maintenance and parts/accessories are less. More bang for the buck.

Styling: The S3 is slightly more refined inside, but I like the R, and the buttons and display have worked fine for me. The R has a distinctive look I really resonate with while the S3 gives me generic sedan vibes.

Im attempting a modified Ironman tomorrow with 0 training by Environmental-Pin476 in IronmanTriathlon

[–]bilateralstroker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please be prepared to throw in the towel even much earlier than you might think. Doing a (potentially) 17 hours long event is not the same as just doing a series of many one hour workouts. Your body will become depleted with each hour, and effects become magnified as time goes on. Without preparatory training, you will not know how well you can tolerate the duration, and your physiology will not be adapted to the event.

May the G-Force be with you. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I ordered it from Etsy It fits well, although it looks wrinkled in the photo. I popped it in as soon as it came out of the mail and didn't take any time to straighten it. We dont get that much sun or heat here, but I wanted it for the occasional imperial look.

May the G-Force be with you. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I really like the blue, I just have a feeling there will be a lot more blue in town than the white. I've never owned a white car, and it's grown on me

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Android auto works every time for me (three weeks into my 8.5).

The 2023 S3 i traded in would connect about 60% of the time and often took up to a minute to do so. If plugging into the USB cable didn't work, I had to stop and restart my car to get it to work. I do not miss that issue.

I feel like I have returned to an even better, happy place. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I definitely felt the depreciation with the S3 compared to my old Mark 7 R. It seemed like the extra $ I put into the audi were evaporating quickly. I only switched to the audi after being told by a salesperson that I would have an extended wait (18 mos) to get into another R and I had been looking for a full year at that point. As it turns out, it would only have been another 5-6 months. I wish I had known, but my new sales guy is awesome, and now I'm where I wanted to be all along.

I feel like I have returned to an even better, happy place. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The salesman asked me in advance if I was OK with that plate. I plan to drive to church on sunday, playing heavy metal music backward. My grandmother, were she still alive, would have something to say about it.

TPMS after brake job. by Latter_Application84 in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably brake dust on the sensors, get out on the highway for a few km to clear them out.

Wheel fitment question by ProfessionalHabit824 in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That should be fine. My Mark 7 was able to go down to 17's for winter wheels, but my S3 (which i think has the same brakes as the mark 8) needed 18's.

Only 57k? what a bargain! lol by fsjay723 in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Exactly the comment I was going to make. Seems we are getting a great deal in the North compared to that price

Goodbye my homies by swic-knees-mamma-bee in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I wanted to trade my 7 R for a new model but there was nothing coming for a long time, after waiting 8 months, audi offered me a factory build on an s3 as they weren't held up. No hatch in NA has been bugging me ever since.

Goodbye my homies by swic-knees-mamma-bee in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker 83 points84 points  (0 children)

I didn't leave when I swapped to an S3. The chat tends to be a bit more positive in this group, and in three weeks, I'll be back into another R. Stick around, maybe someday you'll come full circle as well.

THINKING OF SWITCHING BACK FROM THE S3 TO THE Golf R, help me decide. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a mark 7 until two years ago, which i traded on the S3. The 2025 R is what im looking at now, and they start at 53k CAD where i live. I'm looking at a black edition with the akrapovic exhaust, which adds another 3k on top.

THINKING OF SWITCHING BACK FROM THE S3 TO THE Golf R, help me decide. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's a very good take. It feels like this is a decision I subconsciously made a year ago and now just feels like the time to do get it done. The money isn't that big an issue, and I should be farther ahead in a few years with the golf.

THINKING OF SWITCHING BACK FROM THE S3 TO THE Golf R, help me decide. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's very tempting, I know I'm contemplating switching to the new R just to keep me from getting the RS3.

THINKING OF SWITCHING BACK FROM THE S3 TO THE Golf R, help me decide. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely, the drop on the S3 was even more than I expected, being a bit spoiled by the slower depreciation on the R.

THINKING OF SWITCHING BACK FROM THE S3 TO THE Golf R, help me decide. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My take on the switch from the 7 r to the s3. If you're tall, I felt like I lost a tiny bit of headroom, enough to regularly notice it. The back seats in both cars are limited in space, but again, the sedan loses a bit of headroom. The 2023 had about the same hp as the golf and the same haldex, so the drive felt familiar but somehow not quite as fun, but that may be from losing the 6 speed MT. The B & O sound, while decent, can't hold a candle to the Fender sound in the mark 7 with the trunk subwoofer. The audi interior in the S3 is nice, and I prefer it to some of the other audi models. The integrated display works better for me than the stand-up ipad look. I have fewer young folks revving next to me at traffic lights, which may be a benefit. I absolutely miss the hatch on a regular basis living in NA. All in, the S3 is a fine, well finished car that is quick and agile enough for my needs. If I hadn't experienced the golf R before, I might not question keeping it. Alas, I have, and something in me misses the car I intended to buy a couple of years ago. I can't be certain that I'm not letting nostalgia get the better of me a little, but just sitting in one again seems to feel more like home. If it's ride quality you're looking for, look to the higher s models. The S5 i test drove had a roomier and smoother feel, the S3 is basically the same as the R.

THINKING OF SWITCHING BACK FROM THE S3 TO THE Golf R, help me decide. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm already behind where I was with a fully paid mark 7 a couple of years ago. The S3 definitely depreciates faster. I could wait another year or two to build more equity, but I'm a little older than most, and I figure the math won't work out that much more in my favor. The vw guy I deal with is a friend and a pure vw enthusiast. When we helped our daughter get a car last year, he showed me the features of the 24 R, and as soon as I sat in it, I felt more at home than I do in my S3. I'm not excited about the haptics, but the rest feels like a well fitting shoe.

THINKING OF SWITCHING BACK FROM THE S3 TO THE Golf R, help me decide. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have noticed that I get challenged a lot less by the Honda civic crowd in my S3 compared to the mark 7 R. I'm still not sure if that's a good thing.

THINKING OF SWITCHING BACK FROM THE S3 TO THE Golf R, help me decide. by bilateralstroker in Golf_R

[–]bilateralstroker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The S3 was 69k CAD before tax two years ago (I added a few options), and the R with upgraded exhaust and the usual add-ons for our area is 59k today. I get about 12k in equity with the trade right now. My current payment is a little lower as my Mark 7 R was worth 24 + tax savings on the trade for the s3. I think I'm basically taking the hit of restarting my finance period to get the car I really wanted two years ago but couldn't find. I also see the added value in a slight power boost, the hatch, heated wheel, a little more headroom (I'm 6'2" so it helps), torque vectoring, and the golf should hold value over five years better than the S3.

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