So far so good
This is my first car with an automatic transmission since owning a 1967 Plymouth Valiant. In traffic, I don't miss the shifting. Out of traffic, I miss the responsiveness of a manual, though slipping into Sport mode makes the car behave more lively. Once on the highway, it really doesn't matter and I'll say that in Normal mode the car will get up and go quickly whenever you want. The handling is OK, not as tight as my 2001 BMW 330ci, but better than the 2002 Passat wagon I drove for 4 years prior to buying the Audi last November. The mileage is fantastic. I get 33 mpg average on a mostly highway excursion. The Passat got terrible mileage (23 mpg at best) and the BMW got 27(!).