Since those are really both the same company quality will be about the same. That said, parts/maintenance will still likely be more expensive on the Audi than the Volkswagen, if that’s a factor.

Both are VAG. Both will be fantastic feeling vehicles, with an edge to the Audi for general luxury, but both will also begin an arms race to drain your friend's wallet the fastest once they get past 80,000 miles.

I've got both a 2007 and a 2019 Polo, the 19 is an R design and the 2019 is much better quality. But yeah, as others have pointed out the S4 and they Golf are pretty much the same car since they're both built by VAG so they will share lots of parts. The Audi will be more luxury Ave quality but in my country, the Golf R is lots cheaper than the S4.

I have a 2018 Seat Leon Cupra ST 300, so basically a cheaper Golf VII R estate.

Previously I had an Audi S4 b6.

These newer cars are probably both great cars, but they are clearly not the same despite sharing a lot of parts.

The Golf is fake 4 wheel drive (a front wheel drive car most of the time) while the S4 isn’t.

You also clearly don’t need the same budget to keep them running as the Audi is gonna be way more expensive to run while being a bit more grown up in its attitude too.

Quality wise, I have nothing to complain about my Cupra after around 60000 kilometers.

I had a 2015 golf and 2018 GTI. The gti was hands down my favorite vehicle I ever owned. That being said I did not get a MK8 when it got totaled.

I went with a Mazda3 awd turbo. Reason being physical buttons. I could not comfortably use the controls on all the test drives I did and the infotainment was terrible. Mazda has the superior infotainment of the two.

The golf r is literally just a budget Audi. All the parts are stamped Audi because it’s an MQB Evo platform. They’re all the same.

I wouldn’t say Vw isn’t quality, but I could not justify the expense. I paid less for a 2024 turbo premium plus awd Mazda than the dealer was asking for an SE GTI.

Why S4 and not S3? I think the golf interior feels too cheap in a golf R and would go with audi instead

I'd never buy a VW unless it was a cheap bio diesel project.
Their whole crooked mileage scam stinks and their cars are always so damn loud.