Niko,

Go auto! Merc don't make a decent stick shift!! Had it been a nice sweet 6sp Getrag like a Beemer then sure, I would say go for it.
The auto isn't the best in the world but on a dry day with traction sw off its a shed load of fun ad will power drift the **** end in and out all day!!

The auto can be a bit of a slug to upshift if you wellie it hard the back of the gas its computer can't make its mind up quick enough. New SRT apparently modified to cope this. Bloody typical, why not just put 7spd auto out of 350 SLK, obviously Crossy just the poor relation huh!

DSG 6 speeder as used in Audi VW is one of the nicest Auto's I've driven for a while, so smooth.

Seriously, get the auto, it's fine and the Tiptronic means it drives like a manual any way but no clutch which is a pain in traffic.

Madshandy (Lancs)