The most useful rationale for choosing auto over manual is to base the
choice on the kind of daily driving you do.  If you live in a major
metro area and commute in stop and go traffic, get an automatic, it will
prevent your left leg from getting twice as large as your right, not to
mention saving you the cost of a clutch job every 30,000-40,000 miles.
If this is not an issue, the manual tranny is much more responsive and
cheaper to repair.
--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle

'84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1
'65 MGB (Daily driver since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring sloooowly)

Assisting on Restoration (and spending OPM):
'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
'64 MGB (Son's)

Stripped and gone but their parts live on:
'68 MGB, '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT