Yes there is, and it has nothing to do with handling, road feel, or performance. It has to do with the majority of folks on the road not having the foggiest idea about actual driving and wanting to be able to talk on a cell phone and eat a hamburger while driving down the road!
Besides, new cars come with rack and pinion steering, which is a completely different animal than either power or manual steering on an A body.
Give me manual steering anyday. Yeah, its a little more effort, but its much more precise control. And its more horsepower!
