i agree that the MB manual is balky compared with a BMW's or even a Honda's. But one thing i like about it is that you have a long-legged 5th gear for relaxed cruising (for the driver and the engine). And you can take top speed in either 4th or 5th, depending on the urgency of the situation (e.g., teaching one of those souped-up hondas a lesson) or your mood.

but the feel is very solid, and there is nothing like having direct control over which gear that free-revving inline 6 talks to.

but when there is traffic, i yearn for an auto ...