With the car transferring power to the ground through a single-clutch mid-rear transaxle, the Vanquish doesn't cycle through gear ratios with quite as much impact as a car with a dual-clutch automatic manual transmission, the Ferrari V12, for instance, which also enjoys a 165-hp advantage.

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It got 23 to 24 mpg overall, depending on whether it had a manual or automatic transmission.

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Available with manual or automatic transmission, they went 0-60 mph in 10.5 seconds and got 18 mpg.

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My test vehicle came with a six-speed manual transmission (a seven-speed automatic is also available).

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In 1997 a team led by Bernd Matthes, chief engineer at a BorgWarner transmission plant in Germany, came up with a concept for a dual-clutch transmission technology, which gives a fuel-efficient manual transmission the smooth feel of an automatic.

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Our tester W8 wagon had a mere 9, 181 miles on the odometer when it arrived, but it clearly had warped front brake rotors, a rattle in the automatic transmission lever from overzealous shifting in the manual mode, and bushings that had already been flogged at a level equivalent to what 100, 000 miles of driving by any ordinary owner might do.

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The transmission was excellent in automatic mode, and manual shift is still accessible by pulling the center console-mounted gear selector to the left.

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What about the fact that, in addition to a six-speed automatic, this wagon can be had with a six-speed manual transmission, a device that's quickly becoming a drivers-only shibboleth?

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But mated with the standard 5-speed automatic transmission (only the base LX is available with a 5-speed manual) in a vehicle that weighs just 2, 855 lbs, performance is acceptable.

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