So true. Maybe 1 out of 50 cars on Europe's roads currently have automatic gearboxes. The DSG type gearboxes however, are selling fast, because they are in fact, better than most manuals: you can still control when you want to shift, they shift fast as **** and you can still set them to auto for those wonderful traffic jam times.

 

I will say that driving the Tacoma in stop and go traffic is maddening. Very, very heavy clutch pedal, strong clutch, 190 HP, 2WD with barely any weight on the rear tires. Would kill for an automatic in those situations.

 

Oddly enough, all the W211 E-class Mercedes I saw in Europe were automatic. All the W210s were manual and the one Corvette I saw over there was automatic.

 

W210s came with manuals?

 

In Europe? Yes.

 

My daily is an auto, and so is my wife's but she has no issue driving a manual. I don't mind having an auto as long as its not my "fun" car, they sure are nice in traffic, but I always get a manual if I can.