I'm still trying to figure out how people are so offended at the idea of a manual transmission on a turbo charged car..

Having driven a number of turbocharged cars, trucks, and vans over the years, I find that at least in my case, manual transmissions are more efficient.
Given skill with the shifting, and willingness to learn how to shift that particular vehicle, you can typically shift with little to now slipping of the clutch, and often have no problem at all in getting the vehicle in motion in a quick manner.

As to automatics, the only reason I have one now is that the SD only comes that way, and I am enjoying wrenching on the car.
That being said, the auto tranny is an amazingly wasteful way to shift, especially if not equipped with locking torque converters, nor high enough gears to allow you to travel at highway speeds without winding the engine into the stratosphere.

Back on the part about turbo diesel vehicles with a manual tranny. Has anyone ever noticed the engine tranny pairings offered in the Ford, Dodge, and GM diesel trucks? Some come with an auto tranny, but if you want to get the most engine power to the road, with the least power train loss, hmm, manual transmissions start showing up.

A little further back, I was happy to drive a manual transmission equipped little mini van in South Korea. Definitely not a power house of an engine under it, but boy could it scoot! If I remember correctly, it was a 5 speed.

The automatic is definitely a convenience, especially if your knee doesn't like working a stiff clutch regularly, but I see no reason to limit myself to them, when there are so many more interesting cars to be driving.

As a closing thought, has anyone else really noticed the rated mileage difference between two otherwise identical cars, one with a MT, the other with an AT? Then think about the fact that the dealer is happily going to gouge you for an extra $1500 or so for the AT 'option' that is nearly the standard here in the US. I wonder how much of that is just the industry brainwashing the consumers here.

Well, that's just my two and a half cents worth.

Happy wrenching, whatever you choose to do to your cars!

__________________
-Josh
Testing the cheap Mercedes axiom, one bolt at a time...