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The VW Golf R and Audi S4 aren’t direct rivals, but that hasn’t stopped the good guys at Edmunds to line them up for some drag races. Not the usual kind as these are called U-Drag races because the cars make a U-turn and then return to where they started. It would make more sense to carry the S3 Sedan – well, the S3 Sportback but not for sale in the US – but it will be interesting to see how both cars price in acceleration tests.
With 34 horsepower and 74 pound-feet (100 Newton-meters) of torque, you’d be tempted to say the luxury sedan has the edge. However, the S4 is much heavier as it carries about 487 pounds (221 kilograms) extra compared to the Golf R. The gearbox also plays an important role in drag racing, which is why it’s important to point out that VW uses a dual-clutch setup. Then there is the new factor as compact hatchbacks came out recently whereas sedans have been around for quite a while.
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While the S4 is the better all-rounder of the two cars, the Golf R does a better job in terms of driving dynamics and is the more interesting of the two cars for fans. The S3 and RS3 provide more smiles per gallon, but the S4 adds a layer of sophistication. Of course, the non-US RS4 Avant takes things to a whole new level in terms of performance and practicality.
Results of the drag race organized by Edmunds leaving little debate as the Golf R is undoubtedly the faster car. Even with the S4 Sedan’s quicker reaction in the first duel, the hot hatch still managed to get a comfortable win. Let’s not forget VW also sells a more fun version of the Golf by offering a six-speed manual that you can’t have on the S4. That brings a deeper level of engagement that the DSG can’t match, though these dual-clutch cars have always been quicker to move around.
In the first U-Drag, the Golf R did the quarter mile in 13.1 seconds at 108.9 mph while the S4 was two tenths of a second slower and had a lower trap speed of 104.8 mph. The full run took 36.4 seconds in the case of the VW, which crossed the finish line at 115.5 mph. As for the Audi, it takes 37.3 seconds and goes at 112.4 mph at the end.
The next U-Drag put the Golf R in the number one spot once again, with the quarter mile in 12.8 seconds at 102.7 mph while the S4 took 13.3 seconds at 104.8 mph. The full course took 36.8 seconds to complete at 112.5 mph for the VW and 37.6 seconds at 110.6 mph for the luxury sedan carrying the Four Rings.
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