Just bought the GTA and not having experience of the manual, I can only say this; yearsago I hired a 6 speed manual and it drove me crazy. I was constantly having to change gear and by the end of the day driving around, my left arm was about to give up the ghost. The 4 speed auto is well suited to the 3200, get's through the range at ease and the engine/exhaust note sounds really well. For the fractions of a second you lose with the auto, you gain with trouble free driving. Both hands on the wheel, just enjoy the ride!