Bad10

In an out and out drag race the 2.7 might be a tick faster but in the real world nothing beats the sure footed urge and torque of a V-8. Whats more, no matter how much money you pour into a 2.7 it will never look as good as the 4.2 with the sport package. The 4.2 has much more presence sitting still or viewed from the freeway. BAD10

srosie

an M3 does well. Inline 6, centered balanced and all. But learn to plant and develop a line with quattro and the performance begins to startle you. The V8 is perfectly matched to the 4.2, especially with the sport package.

eduardo

...I LIKE the 4.2. I was merely objecting to the "no brainer" qualification of the decision in favor of the 4.2.

I drove both, the 2.7 in the 6sp version, neither car with sports suspension. For my taste, both cars were too soft, the 4.2 considerably more so. Also, the Triptronic didn't do anything for me. So I went with the 2.7 6sp PSK and I replaced the puny wheels and tires by 17 inch ones. Right, I did not get the flared fenders, but I suppose I could find a shop to have them rolled. It doesn't matter much to me.

I'm also closer to 50 than to 30 and, worse still, I keep getting further away from both!