Geartronic Transmission

I think geartronic systems are a new and exciting way to drive a car with an automatic transmission. Alot of lower-end cars are equipped with them too, including Mitsubushi Lancers, Hyundai Tiburons, VW Jettas, and I heard Honda is planning on making one too. What are your thoughts about them? Have you used one?

Geartronic is the same as tiptronic and autostic, I assume? Makes more sense to have 5-speed regular auto than "shiftable" 4-speed (like Mazda3). Then again - you wanna shift - buy a 5-speed. None of these tiptronics will ever be anywhere close to the BMW's SMG, so why waste time and money?

Let me resolve a few points made here.

First, tiptronic/geartronic/shift-o-matic gearboxes work identically (except for the moving of the lever part) to shifting an auto by moving through the gate, as basilisk so eloquently stated.

Also, T, BMW's SMG does have a hydraulically actuated clutch (no torque converter) - essentially a manual transmission with hydraulics working the clutch instead of your left leg. In fact, the BMW SMG II found in the M3 can shift in 80 milliseconds (in the highest performance shift mode) vs. the 150 milliseconds of the Ferrari 360 F1.

If you want to shift it like a manual - get a manual. If you want "geartronic," shift your automatic manually - and reflect why you didn't get the 5 speed.