well cadmo, good luck getting an auto tranny with overdrive 
But hey look at the bright side, you're going from what... 10-15 mpg to ... say perhaps 50 mpg??? Thats bonus cash in your pocket!!! (is 10-15 mpg too generous for 425 hp??)
Of course a big GM transmission will withstand torque. The old VW tranny's are GM built I'm quite sure, since european versions never came with auto. They slapped an automatic transmission on there, and put the starter in a nice hard to reach area to piss everyone off (I believe the drive shaft has to be removed to get at it??? am I right about this?)
I highly doubt the vw tranny is gm built, ZF may have had a hand in it but gm would never think of putting fins on the outside of the torque converter for cooling, the americans love there tranny cooler lines to the radiator. audi runs antifreeze to the tranny for cooling not tranny fluid to radiator. yes auto was offered in the european models, they just did not sell alot because fuel is so expencive and you could squeeze more mpg out of a stick shift.
and NO the axel does not need to be removed to service the starter in the autos, the heatshield will give you a bit of fustration but it can be done. its about the same as changing a alternator in a mid-late 80 honda accord, it sucks but can be done
chris
Well it looks like I can forget about converting to auto. I just called The Source in North York and they said an auto tranny for a tdi with computer sells for $1900 well..... Im definitaly not paying that! i only paid $ 3800 for my car, it's not worth it. He also said that it's not worth the hassle due to all the wiring to get it to run on stand alone. But if any knows where there is a tdi auto for cheap I might consider the hassle of putting it in.
just find an old vw gas auto... and try her out! Its really not going to be that bad. I find that auto's just make me a lazy driver.... stick helps keep concentration to the road
