[Vwdiesel] Anyone driven the '09 TDI yet?

[William J Toensing]

Yes, at the VW dealer in the Roseville (Calif) Auto Mall. However, it was only around the circular road inside the mall, not a real chance to test drive the car. It was a 4 door sedan with the "Tiptronic" manumatic. It felt reasonably smooth for an automatic, especially when you consider it to be an automated manual transmission. I liked the car but would prefer a "Sportwagon" with the 6 speed manual due to my concerns with the Tiptronic "manumatic".
I saw a cut-a-way display of this "manumatic" transmission. From my experience as a 75 year old car buff, I wonder about the durability of this transmission, especially in stop & go city traffic. How long will the clutches (it has two, I have read) last? The transmission looked so complicated I doubt any VW dealership or independent automatic transmission repair shop will be able to repair it. I hope I am wrong in this assessment as an automatic that is as flexible as a manual transmission & offers as good or better fuel economy than a transmission would be a plus, if it is durable & not extremely costly to repair.
Bill Toensing, Nevada City, CA