I'm reasonably familiar with the 7Gtronic having experienced it in various Mercedes cars. IMO, the transmission is the best automatic tranny in the world. You can't feel it 99% of the time and I've never experienced it to be in the wrong gear, even if I am applying a sporty driving style. It's also very quiet in the way it works.
If 7 gears help reduce fuel economy while increasing performance, then I am all for it.
That being said, I wish Mercedes would offer the 7Gtronic on the A-Class too! Although I'd get a manual for the A-Class, I'd like a 7Gtronic A-Class for city driving if I lived there.
