[OUGrad05]

Excellent write-up.

Both vehicles are on my shopping list next year...however Audi is in the lead for me.

To run through this quickly...
BMW looks better on the outside and has real exhaust tips. The BMW 6 cylinder is better than the Audi's IMO. BMW driving dynamics are slightly better...I was amazed at how good the audi was in this regard especially when pushing hard.

The V6 in the Audi is world class just not as good as the BMW. Where Audi really knocks it out of the park is interior design, quality and refinement. It feels like a much better built cabin. The audi will also have significantly better resale value if history is any guide.

For me personally, the BMW dealer here is also hard to overcome.

At the end of the day, both vehicles are really impressive and I don't think you could go wrong with either one. The M40i is supposed to be great on the racetrack as well.