I must admit I would be interested to hear what those who like a manual gearbox and clutch think it can do that a s-troinic cannot do. I quite accept that some people prefer a manual but I would like to know why, apart of course from the extra cost of the s-tronic.
The only thing I can think off of the top of my head is slip the clutch which I was always told was bad driving.
I don't think it's a case of do or don't do, it's a case of personal preference. Some people who go the route of extensive modifications tend to go the manual route as it means they can upgrade the clutch to organic plate, and it means the gearboxes are easier to rebuild when they fail.
What I say now, I do so with an S Tronic car imminently about to land on my driveway to replace a manual.
There is something quite satisfying about driving a technical road and being able to gauge the inputs into the car, and doing it well. One of the beauties of a mechanical stick shift is that sense that you are contributing something to that mechanical process. I'd argue it takes more skill to drive a car fast / well whilst changing your own gears, whereas S-Tronic levels the playing field somewhat. S-Tronic brings some interesting party pieces to the mix (seamless shift / blips on change / launch), but there are certain cars that wear it better than others. I always feel there is more to be learned where there are additional interfaces to input to, therefore manual boxes present me with more of a personal challenge. I'm very lucky I don't have to commute in morning traffic often, so the majority of my driving is for pleasure rather than daily necessity, otherwise I'd probably be looking forward to S Tronic more than I am.
I know there is an argument that most of the new super cars are some form of auto, but for some years now the majority of new Porsche's sold have been sold with auto boxes (probably to overweight late middle age bankers) who are buying the badge over the outright experience. Likewise when you put the average person behind the wheel of a supercar they will need all the help they can get (manufacturers won't get good press if people are mashing gated gearboxes or wrapping round trees as super cars approach 1000bhp!) therefore I understand why they are heading that way (likewise the slightly better performance figures sell more cars). That said, last Friday I drove an F430 round Silverstone International circuit that has a single clutch paddle shift transmission and it was ****** awful. It was recommended by the instructors that you shouldn't accelerate through the gear change, and it wasn't particularly smooth. I would much rather have driven it as a manual given a choice.
Fact of the matter it doesn't matter which is deemed to be 'best' or have the most selling points. It comes back to the fact we live in a diverse world where we all have different aspirations and requirements and the fact that a choice exists at all is a good thing. I genuinely couldn't care less about the cost, and I'm not interested in ticking boxes as to what it can and can't do, I'm satisfying my personal interpretation of what a driving experience makes me smile most for the 50 grand I've just spent.