Well, I tried the 6-speed for about 45 minutes and did not care for the long throw of the clutch or the shift linkage. Say what you will, but all manuals should be as good as those in my last BMW, e.g. short, effortless and precise - an area that has never been one of Mercedes' strengths.

I went back to the dealer and tried the automatic and fell in love. The adaptive feature is a delight as mine has settled into a pattern of nice, crisp upshifts and the "sport-stick" shifting is totally entertaining. :lol: