Originally Posted by Franc Rauscher

Autos go bad as well. I've had three S body Benzes and two have had the tranny go, one desiel the other a gray market with the European engine. Both were available in Europe with manuals. I know the desiel would have been better with a manual especially in stop and go traffic where the turbo just wasn't much help.
One more thing. Although they have come closer, the manual still gets better milage and fuel is more dear in Europe. Also, I would think that smaller engines (read that more fuel effecient) would perform better with a 5 or 6 spd manual vrs a 3 spd auto. Traditionaly, the Europeans buy smaller engines.

I guess that makes their cars "Wussy."

roadster with a stick