3,000 miles on A6 3.2 and it's definitely getting faster.

My question is why are there times the car feels real fast and then there are times it just doesn't have the punch I want? It happens at different speeds and situations. Sometimes I can accelerate and pass with ease, while other times I am sitting there and wishing for more. Any feedback?

It's weird there are times going uphill it feels very torquey and then on straight aways it's sluggish. But there seems to be no set rule. With my 2.7 it was always there for me when I stepped on the gas. I never pushed the pedal to the metal until I got this car.

stepping on it? Other times, you'd already made some aggressive inputs and the trans had gone to the sport end of the adaptive range......

When you accelerate uphill, a car always feels faster because the Gs the car pulls is working WITH gravity to push you back into your seat, thus creating the illusion of extra power. When you accelerate downhill, a car's acceleration is least apparent.

I was driving 60 mph and got off on a side strip for gas. Getting back on there was a short strip for accelerating; I felt the car just didn't have the torque I needed. I had a '01 A6 2.7t that also had an adaptive transmission and I never felt it lacking. This car has it at times but misses it other times. I tend to drive on the aggressive side, so it's not the adaptive part of the transmission. I don't see why I have to floor it to get the engine going. Then there are other times that the engine makes me smile-go figure.
Just a suggestion : Change the gearing ratios, or maybe go back to a 5-speed tranny.

Otherwise I am enamored with the car.

So don't tip in slowly and deeply - give it a good stab like you mean it! :-) This is the case for all VAG trannies, but more so in recent cars with FBW (fly by wire). Even short sharp movements can help adjust the spectrum to the sporty end of the scale.

If pushing hard, I often quickly push the throttle down 2/3rds or 3/4 of the way and then let up as the desired speed or revs appear. That keeps the trans in the sporty end of the scale.

Okay, I'll try your technique:-)

Hard to break old habits. This is counter intuitive, we all think press down to get power, now we have to do quick jabs. Although it seems like the 4.2 has enough torque without having to play the pedal.

Actually the car has been very strong going up and down hills. The lack of power has been happening on flat straight aheads while trying to merge with fast moving traffic.
I'm going to try April's advise and relearn pedal technique.