not to be too contentious here,
but there is one thing that the automatic transmissino can NOT due that a manual can. a driver of a manual can anticipate the situation before it happens. an Automatic has to guess what the driver wants to do based on pedal pressure. it can not know that I am about to slow down to turn, or that while the rpm is dropping lower than the most efficient band, I am about to top the hill, so don't bother downshifting, or that I am about to pass that guy, so downshift immediately.
the Auto transmission can certainly make a better decision about what gear I should be in now, based on what has been happening, but it will never anticipate what I will need 2-3 seconds from now.
If your statement about Auto efficiency were true, than the MPG data would back you up, but I have never seen a vehicle get better gas mileage in an Auto tranny than in a manual.
-Mike R.
