I just love driving a manual. The only reason I'd ever get tiptronic is traffic, but I put up with the clutch in traffic because it's so much fun on an actual road :grin:
Having said that, I've never lived with a tiptronic for more than 1 day...

Manual all the way. I drove auto for most of my P's and couldn't hack it so i got my manual license (i knew how to drive manual) and drove manual. All my cars have been manual ever since. I find driving manual is the true driving experience and i dont think i'll ever buy an auto/tiptronic car even when I have a family. If I did a twisties run with a tiptronic car, I'll prob get flogged cos my manual driving isn't top notch but i like the experience of controlling the gear change using my hand and my left foot. The up down thing just doesn't do it for me.

As for the traffic, I reckon i'd fall asleep if i drove trip, i'd be like playing video games.

I have a tip. but I prefer manual.

I test drove three B4's before finding my car. The first two were manual - the gearbox in one was shocking. The second was mechanically sound, but both cars were just in shocking condition. One was a smokers car - hate that. Badly worn seats, scratches etc. Also they had way more k's.

Would've like a manual, but with the 1000 odd k's I do each week, I'm pretty happy with the auto. Especially in stop start traffic in the city. I hate traffic.

I'm lucky though, my dad has an S2K, so if I need a bit of 6 speed lovin' - it's there for me.

Cheers,
Nik

Also, the look on a girls face when she notices you've just changed gear with buttons on the steering wheel?

Pimpin'.

sometimes u forget to hit the leaver at the right time, with a full manual u have no choice but to listen, and change, plus a little tyre screach while going through the gears aint bad at all.

most of the tiptronic's ive driven r the c and e class mercs unless they r the 55amg the engine bearly makes a noise so unless your watchin the tacko u can some times over rev, but i guess its a matter of getting used to it.

from my experance u dont notice the engine braking anywhere near as much as the manual.

For an uncompromised toy, it has to be manual.   

For a daily driver it comes down to driving dynamics and the availability of torque.

Before my Libbo i had a VZ R8 Maloo.  Being a 6L v8 and tons of low down torque, the auto was a easy choice and drove fine.  However with the STI Liberty, altho being a 2.5L the torque down low in my mind isn't enough to satisfy me in auto mode.  However if the auto was a 6speed with shorter ratio's it 'could' be an option.  My wifes A3 Turbo has the 6 speed dsg which is a nice mix of both camps and works admirably.

Horses for courses.

Depends on the style of driving - round town and freeway, auto all the way! (Im lazy )

For hard driving, definitely manual, however Id like to find out if the tippy can be shift kitted so that it kicks in harder at gear changes, then it would be a tougher call.

Its always hard to argue the  advantage of a 4 speed over a 5 speed though.

i have both Outback manual B4 auto..but i prefer manual as i like telling the car when to change and pressing the clutch...in the auto my left leg gets bored.....but always been a diehard manual person....now that im getting older and traffic and maybe a wife in a few years it will have to be auto...plus getting lazy...

if you asked me this question 5 years ago id say manual no way auto never...funny how things change:shout:

Carbon wrote:

Depends on the style of driving - round town and freeway, auto all the way! (Im lazy )

For hard driving, definitely manual, however Id like to find out if the tippy can be shift kitted so that it kicks in harder at gear changes, then it would be a tougher call.

Its always hard to argue the advantage of a 4 speed over a 5 speed though.

A strengthened shift kit on an auto makes a huge difference to downshifts. Plus oil cooler - too easy.

Tiptronic is the best of both worlds without a clutch