Hey hey hey, you need to take into concideration the year as well. I may be wrong, but IIRC, VW/Audi were the first ones to have it, and it was in some Porsches. They use the same 5spd tip in the Passat as in the auto W12 Phaeton. I know for sure I got the first year of it (9 so obviously there are problems.

Occasionally it wont want to shift up, but never had a problem downshifting with it. Earlier gens kinda suck though, I know VW made tweaks a few years ago and they are managable now.

But having driven manual....there is NO replacement..