Yup, pretty much how you described it - I like being able to just have the car in D when I'm just running errands or the usual drive to work, and then being able to put it in M mode when I want to play. The tiptronic and paddleshifters respond quickly, and it's great to feel the car pulling hard then launching it to the next gear!

But - go for another test drive before you decide. Put both 6M and 7AT models through their paces, then get the one you like best.

What about when passing on the highway, such as with "2-gear downshifts?" In other words, if I leave the car in drive, and then mash the throttle, does it sluggishly "kick down" one gear, and then another, or is it pretty much a "7-5" downshift?

If you don't touch the paddle shifters and mash the throttle, it does hessitate a bit as it's trying to figure out if it needs to go to 5th, 4th or 3rd...the shift itself is pretty quick, but more or less it's like it decides on 4th, makes the move, then changes it's mind and goes to another gear. It's enough that you'll notice it, and change how you accellerate if you don't use the paddles or tip it to manual.

If you use the paddles, two bumps and a stomp does nicely (7=>5, 5=>4)

When it goes into 3rd it's only there for a little bit before it drops into 4th. I think the ECU is thinking "fastest accel possible" and forgets where the redline/manditory shiftpoint is...

In that respect, the auto, in auto-mode, is lacking, is on heavy accellleration and how it handles downshifting.

Using the paddles it's easy, as you know when you'll punch it, and once you get used to the ratios, you know where it'll be ideal - and it'll hold that gear...

And after you pass, just drive to maintain speed and it'll slip back into auto-mode again.



One thing I have noticed is that with the automatic in auto mode, it's fairly smooth. Using the paddles gives it a bit more kick. Have it in manual-mode, gives it a lot of kick.

Kind of cool - it's a manual transmission with different levels of "manual" to it.

Ok, so when using the paddles, it's much more "performance efficient" than letting the auto "do its thing." Good to know.

It's a case of the car being unable to read your mind and act accordingly. It takes an educated guess and it's fairly aggressive in that sense, so I'd say under normal/most conditions it's pretty good - though sometimes it shifts early and holds the gear on gradual accell, rather than bouncing back out if you get on it a bit.

But overall, in the traditional automatic sense - it does it's job pretty damn well, when using the paddles, it's perfect once you learn where the gears are best suited and how hitting the downshift pedal reacts at different speeds.

It's about as close as I'll ever get to a sequential double-clutch manaul, and it does fine for me.

Good to know. I think I'll be perfectly happy with the 7AT.