Quattro is just another word for 4

[Michael Veglia]

Keep in mind that the S-Tronic is not an automatic transmission, and hardly a slushbox. While I admit it is likely a PITA to maintain long-term (special ATF juice, temp monitoring, etc.) it is also very much a "manual" transmission that shifts insanely fast and has no torque converter. The only one I have driven was a highly modified STaSIS TT with over 300hp. The only thing a pure manual gearbox would have done in that car would be to slow it down cuz there is no way I could have moved my arm and feet to shift even close to as quickly as the S-Tronic did.

That said, no pure  manual transmissions in the US on the new A3/S3 does suck, but slushboxes and not-so-slushieboxes are the future I fear.

Mike Veglia