This may be a bad example, but here goes: I just picked up a Mini Cooper S convertible. 6-speed manual. I turned in a 135iC, automatic. While I too am a devoted manual transmission junky, I miss the gearbox in the 135. Shifts were immediate and I found paddle shifting fun, and even more so using the tip lever! I went to McDonalds drive thru last night and spilled my drink because I had to manually shift gears.

I drive an X6 5.0 every day to lunch (M-F) and recently had a Z4 35is with the 7 speed electro mechanical tranny. All equally as fun and involving as a good old fashioned stickshifter.

The X5M gearbox is better than all the above.