When these cars were new, they were advertised by Mercedes-Benz as having an automatic that can be "shifted through the gates if the driver is so inclined" and used like a manual. Many Mercedes owners enjoy using their automatics like sticks, but just be careful not to over-rev the motor (very hard to do). The Mercedes automatic, you will find, is a lot more enjoyable than their manuals (despite what some board members will contest), Mercedes is known for its gated automatics.