Now I know I'm approaching 60. I have been resolutely manual over auto for ever (except for a brief period in the 80's when one of Toranas had a tricked auto and B & M shifter) despite running a Merc 5 speed auto for the last 7 years. I would have loved a manual version of that car but you won't find one-even in Europe they tend to be small or diesel engined to have a manual trans. Funny thing was we went to Melbourne a few weeks back to watch the Hawks at the G (dropped into Albert Park for the GP as well) and my old school mate (he moved back to Melbourne years later) collected us in a VW ute with turbo diesel V6 and 8 speed Torque Converter auto. I couldn't believe how much I liked it. Just heaps of torque and ate the ratios but also didn't drop down 3 gears to get over a speed hump. Relaxed or brutal depending on your mood. I can only imagine a Alfa Guilia with 550 hp and 8 speed auto not to mention 1000kg less weight. Alfa don't even make a manual for it and from what I have read they don't need to. So, while I think some cars just have to be manual (like an MX5 for example along with many others) I have changed my tune lately all down to a diesel ute for crying out loud! We have a new DSG VW which is pretty impressive although a tiny bit shunty in 1st gear-maybe a Torque converter auto would be better although there wouldn't be much in it I suspect. Ferrari haven't produced a manual in over a decade. That said there will always be a place for a clutched manual I imagine-just getting rarer by the day. Not sure how Club members see the Auto v Manual debate but would be interested in your views. Cheers Steve