The other thing to consider with a 4.8is is that it comes standard with nearly all the available options - to get a similar 4.4 you need to check off just about every option box to get what the 4.8is come with. There are several options that are exclusive to the (2006) 4.8is as well including; bigger wheels/tires, oval exhaust tips, Nappa Leather, bigger brakes, more hp/tq, and nearly a second faster to 60mph (5.9).

So from a used vehicle perspective you get a huge price differential on a very long list of standard options that would also be somewhat difficult to find in a single used 4.4 in the color, mileage and price range you are trying to to achieve. So to make a more objective comparison you might want to find a 4.4 with all the available options and then compare that to a 4.8is. It might be difficult but that is an option for a closer comparison. Driving the two side by side can just save you all the work, you will know if you think it's worth the extra $$ or not.

I went for the 4,4i because I hate the is' exhaust tips. IMO the 4,4i quad-tips make it look more powerful (even though we fans know it isn't). Design over power for me :)

Thanks for the G2. All else being equal, I'll spring for the "is", which I'm trying to do now...

That is a stupid fvcking reason for buying a 4.4 over a 4.8, if that really was the sole reason for your decision. Its a hell of a lot easier to change exhaust tips on a 4.8 than it is to upgrade to the power of a 4.4 to the level of the 4.8

Good luck - either way and with the 3.0 as well, they are all great.

I looked at the 4.8...but...several things swayed me to stick with the 4.4.

1)tire expense - 20" tires, with soft compounds, very pricey to replace, and they dont' last long
2) lack of inclement weather traction - come on, I bought an SUV, I expect moderate traction off road, in inclement weather, in 6" of snow, in 4" of mud, hauling a boat up a slippery ramp, or dragging the off-road jeep on it's trailer to some remote campsite. the 20" wheels just won't do that...and there's no way i'm keeping two sets of wheels and tires...
3) brake expense - rotors and pads are just hugely expensive for the 4.8. As I recall, $150 per rotor, and front pads were about $200. That's a lot of cash for a front brake job, one that'll need to be done frequently.
4) the reduced utility of the 4.8 due to these big wheels and tires that aren't good for anything but wet or dry pavement.

If I want to drive something fast and sporty - it's in the garage. The 4.4i makes a suburb daily driver, with adequate power, braking, and handling, with the ability to throw it into just about any situation from snow, mud, rain, dry pavement, to 6000# trailer to showing up in class at a swanky function. And it never complains. I love mine to death.

Is the 4.8 better to drive on road? Sure. Is the trade-off for the lack of utility worth that for you? Well, that's something only you can answer.

I agree the 4.4 makes an excellent daily driver (I have a 4.4 as well). I do find your comparison between the utility of the 4.4 and the 4.8 somewhat humourous though (true as it may be), because I use my Mountaineer for the offroad, incliment weather, and "work" activities.

I would say that the 4.8is with an X-pipe could safely be called a "beast" even compared to the the original BMW Beast, the M5. Its a torque monster and has one of the nastiest sounding stock exhaust system on any non-M bimmer. I love the growl and roar it makes when you mash the gas. Its very pleasing to the ears and it really is fast off the line. For jotting around town, I prefer the 4.8is over my M5 sometimes. It has so much torque available off the line that it really takes off. But nothing beats the M5 for flat out ripping it and top speed runs when even the cops couldn't catch you unless they had air support.

37,000 miles on 4.8is brakes and I am no where near needing to replace them - should get 50k miles. At the same time you can put summer tires on a Hummer and it will handle poorly in the snow and mud. Just saying.

I had a 4.4 for four years and spent the 4 yrs wishing I opted for the 4.8is.