I will dump my $0.02 here about the manual/automatic debate. I loved my '58 Coronet. It had the pushbutton a-466 Torque-Flite, and I put a 727 in when I did the 440 swap. Loved that car! It was a bit of a yacht, and a total pain to deal with sometimes due to her size. My other car was my little Roach, a black 1987 honda CRX (it's moniker fit the car...aptly!). It had a 5-speed, and it was an absolute hoot to drive! Even though I could drive a manual, the little Roach was my first stick car. I enjoyed the hell out this thing. I learned the finer art of manual transmission driving-double clutching, dumping, clutchless shifting...Basically everything a stupid kid does to tear the tranny up. I never had too many problems with it, or driving it. I did have to replace clutch, though. I also lived in Los Angeles, and I spent plenty of time in traffic messes out there. Ya know what? Even with all the traffic, and inability to simply select "D" and forget about it, I still loved it.
Now by reading the posts, even this one, its a no-brainer to guess that you guys are older than me. Maybe it is because I am still young and dumb, energetic, or still skate a lot that it doesn't bother me to drive a heap with a rock-hard clutch in afternoon traffic, but I enjoy every mile I drive, and I wouldn't know what to do without being able to have a range of gears to select or a clutch to burn...

I moved to Arizona last year, sold both cars, and bought a bike. Maybe that is why I am so partial to a manual transmission.