I have auto stick. My last car was a BM 330ci sport 5 speed manual. A excellent tranny but, for me I perfer the auto. I do a lot of motorway miles with that traffic jams so auto is best.

I somewhat agree with drunkiq. on up shifts the tranny does have a delay, on full power it will not shift untill red line no mater what gear you try to upshift too.

The downshift is as quick as a manual if you get it right. Downshift and floor it, but choose the wrong gear and the ecu will correct and pick the right gear.

On paper there is no diff in power between auto or manual but if drunkiq says he feels a differance the it must be pshycological on his part.

I have drivin the new M3 with its SMG tranny and hated it. If you driver the car hard (as design) its great. Blips the gas on down shifts full control on up shifts but, drive the car normally and you will find that smoothness is impossable.

The merc autostick is a comprimise between a SMG and normal auto in my option.

I understand that the audi tt 3.2 with it new semi auto is something special and as close to a manual as you can get but, I have olny read about it, never drove one.

It may be a few years yet befor technology give you what you want.