Originally Posted by
98CoupeV6
Learn how to drive.
Uh no. You're thinking of a CVT, or continuously variable transmission. An automatic still has clutches that shift gears, but does it much slower than you can with your own foot/arm. Dual clutch systems actually shift faster than a human can, but are only semi-automatic and on very expensive cars.
Uh, being a mechanical engineer and working at a tier 1 automotive supplier helps.
You have absolutely no idea how a transmission works, do you? I suggest you check out
www.howstuffworks.com 
The gearing is shorter because...tadaa...there are more gears and no torque converter and/or overdrive. If a vehicle has the same number of gears in the automatic as in the manual, the manual will always be geared lower to improve acceleration and 'sporting' feel versus the automatic.
Who's being "paranoid" and rude again?
You're a joke.
The CVT is the better automatic transmission than the conventional ones we have today. You're a joke yourself shifting those useless gears all day. If your manual tranny gears are short your vehicle cannot accelerate as fast as an automatic and as you constantly work on the clutch and shift gears you lose acceleration when compared to even the conventional automatic. I don't dig BS's, amens, diddo, etc. And so what if you're an engineer? You didn't learn everything by yourself like I have been. If it weren't for your "tier 1 supplier" employment you'd be as dumb as a dodo.