[crosive]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Trust me, I thought about it, and it would've even been cheaper. In the end, however, it just does not appeal to me any more. The situations where I miss the stick are relatively rare (arbitrary quick downshifts), and if the paddles or the console shifter were a bit faster, the auto would work better in 100% of driving situations.

Yeah, I get the points about rowing your own gears and the revoked man card and all, but these things (or having the V8 vs a V6 or I4) don't make a man. Plus, with all its faults, the A8 is no longer your grandpa's 4-speed auto, it is pretty darn good, those WOT upshifts in performance shift mode are intoxicating. I hear the A10 is even better, perhaps I'll have a chance to try it one day.

Add to that a torn miniscus, knee surgery, and stop and go traffic atleast 50% of the time on the way home every week. My days of driving a manual are all but over.