Automotive Forums

Detroit News columnist John McCormick, after reviewing the Mazda MX-5, declared the roadster would be better with traditional manual transmission (aka stick shift) than the provided paddle shifters. Readers lambasted McCormick from both sides of the debate, with one side declaring manual is best for "true" drivers while others grudgingly admitted manumatics are getting better.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060607/AUTO02/606070431/1148/AUTO01

What's your view on this debate? Note that only 20% of Americans drive using stick.  

While I admit that semi-automatics are getting way better, most still aren't as good as a manual. The DSG found in VWs and Audis is a technological wonder. It shifts fast than any person ever could, and suffer from the loss in power that a torque converter equiped automatic does. The BMW SMG however isn't nearly as impressive. It is good, but not as good. The version in the e46 M3 is particularly frustrating. You almost have to work with the car to get it to shift. Get out of the throttle a little, pull the lever, wait for ti then get back in it. it doesn't feel that smooth. You adapt to it fairly fast but it never feels right. The SMG in the 6 series is a little better but still not great. I have yet to drive the SMGs in the new M5s and M6s, but I understnad they are much better. They were designed from the ground up as a sequential box.
If my next car ends up being a new VW or Audi A3 I will have a tough choice deciding between the manual and the DSG. Part of me thinks I want a real three pedal set-up, but another part thinks the new technology would be cool. If a semi-auto box is good enough for Michael Schumacher, shouldn't it be good enough for me?  

I agree, but I'm sure in the future Semi-automatic transmissions will dominate the car manifacturing market.  

Iv'e never driven a semi automatic transmission car, is there no clutch at all? No clutch ever again sounds like a blessing and a curse  

In the newer cars there is a clutch, actually the VW DSG has two clutches, but you don't have a clutch pedal all computer controlled. Most semi autos on the market right now still have a torque converter.