I believe you...just saying 28 year old technology delivering mpg's in the same range as the new TDI diesels is pretty amazing.

As for your slugish statement, I only find that to be the case when the auto selects too high of a gear. In 1st gear its pretty quick off the line. The auto doesn't usually down shift at the optimum points when you've been cruising along and have to slow for some reason and then want to speed back up. The manual would be the better choice if he's shopping.

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.