the_duke

+1 I had to have Balao Brown interior. I wish I could have found one in white but it's an extremely rare combo so I ended up with black. It's amazingly hard to keep clean.

MP4.2+6.0

3.0T is also a true blown (supercharged) motor, while 4.0T is turbo. That means 3.0T will tend to suck more gas (at same given displacement) than a turbo. It will have no lag/instant response. As mentioned, 4.0T also has C.O.D. to further close the gap. At higher altitudes supercharger designs apparently don't make up for the altitude losses a turbo does. Among the reasons all the way back to the original Audi 200 turbos (C3 era) w/ quattro they were very popular in high altitude locals like Colorado.

Owned Brilliant Black for 10 years w/ W12. Looked nice when you shined it up. But needed a lot of maintenance--weekly wash and full detail down to clay bar and buffing probably annually to deal w/ swirl marks even w/ careful owner only hand washing. Personally I will/would only buy one of the black metallics in the future to avoid the big maintenance step up when you need to buff out a non-metallic very dark color periodically.

bfairban001

I was in your same situation earlier this year as I tried to figure out which configuration to purchase. I first focused on the 2013 3.0T, as they were more plentiful in the market, then started to look for more power in the 4.0T (no real reason, except that more is better). When a 2012 4.2L came available that had everything I wanted with an extended warranty, I bit the bullet and bought.

I have been extremely happy with the 4.2L performance and have no reservations about recommending a non "T" version.

Good luck on the search.

Swissman564

I owned a 2007 4.2 and now a 2011 4.2. Like Garycw, I would be buried in either of these cars. With the transmission in Sport mode there is hardly anyone that can keep up with me pulling off the line away from a light and it feels like I'm not even trying. On a long trip you are the king of the road. It's so much fun to watch the cars ahead of you get out of the way when they see that bad assed grille bearing down on them. The body of an angel and the face of a demon.

dildildil

I own a 2011 a8l 4.2 and even though i never drove a 3.0 or 4.0t i dont really mind. the 4.2 is fast enough and in sports mode its a animal, plus the brakes and stuff on 4.0t will probably be alot more expensive when its time to change, the 3.0 is not enough power i think really and gas isn't much better either and as you know they are cheap and widely available 4.0t is holding value atleast.

id say either 4.2 or if u have the money get the 4.0t but since they r up right now u will take a hit on depreciation on 4.0t

Ritz

One thing to keep in mind...if you're a gearhead and like to fiddle with your car...

The 4.0T power can easily be goosed upwards with a simple software flash to the ECU. Depending on the year, that means you can go from 420-435hp and 444 ft/lbs (which isn't too shabby) to 545hp and 629 ft/lbs on 93 octane pump gas. That instantly turns it into one of the fastest Euro cruisers out there. We're talking 0-60 times below 4 seconds. You can do something similar with the 3.0T and that gets you to power levels about where the 4.0T is when it's stock.

When I buy one of these, that's going to be something I do on day one. Food for thought and an option not open to you with the 4.2.

As far as depreciation goes, let's face it...these cars depreciate like a rock. That's just the way it is. And that's part of their "charm" that makes such a luxurious vehicle accessible to many people when they are just a couple of years old. Just wait until you start getting some of the maintenance bills. Fortunately, I do almost all of my own, but if you're one of those folks that goes to the dealer for everything, these cars get expensive to maintain in a hurry as the miles rack up...and it shows in how quickly they depreciate. I'm not complaining.

Best,

Garycw

I'm dtill am amazed of the hey Milagros of the 2011 (4.2) at around 30. Beats the wife's LS460

Jack88

Must be on a phone, I think you meant "high mileage."

josephpallan

4.2L V8 have a smooth, linear acceleration whilst the 4.0 can be very unpredictable when you press the throttle. Depends what kind of driving and what suits your taste.

polo1

Would that be the difference between a straight 4.2 and a 4.0 with Turbo - and thus "turbo lag"...?