I agree, I've got a 144 auto and 145 manual. The manual has more power, but the auto is only 3 gears so you have far less gear changes than those "boy racers" in their Evo Turbo things sitting next to you at the traffic light. Time and again I pull away much faster and cross the traffic light when the Evo has barely started rolling. Less gear changes, less wasted time when pulling away (and also no turbo lag keeping you back). I'm happy with my BW35, the only thing that has gone wrong on it is a plastic bush on the selector linkage which I will order from ScandCar next time. Have been driving it for a year with duct tape instead!