1.   An automatic transmission cannot match the control a driver gets when personally selecting gears and shift points.

2.   By opting for the manual gear box, the driver makes the decisions on shift points.

3.   Less air entering the engine means less vacuum created by the engine, which affects engine performance and automatic transmission shift points.

4.   Shift points change to reflect the aggressive or the milquetoast.

5.   Sport, my choice on a dry day, offers maximum acceleration by holding the shift points for optimum engine speed.

6.   Sport changes the shift points for agresive driving, economy is just what it sounds like and winter locks out low for better starting on slippery surfaces.

7.   While Mitsubishi says the automatic adapts the shift points to the style of driving, I never noticed much difference.

8.   With an automatic, the automaker can control the shift points of the engine and more closely regulate emissions.