Originally Posted by
SPQR
You shouldn't write-off the auto too quickly; especially now that it has paddle shifters. I've owned manuals including a Laser TX3 Turbo, a Mazda GTX (turbo AWD) and an MY97 WRX and I can say that in a city, an auto is quicker point to point. I've said this before and incurred the wrath of those that wouldn't consider an auto.
I used to know one of Australia's champion drag racers when I lived in Adelaide. He held the record in his class and his car was a two speed auto! He used to say all the time that when you've only got a short distance to travel (400m), you don't have time to bother with shifting gears.
There is no doubt that something as underpowered as the Euro is useless as an auto in a drag race; but point to point real world driving is something else.