I too have tried both and would have to agree that the automatic gave
me no trouble whereas the standard is a constant worry. Not serious ,
but small annoyances.
        However, I said if I ever sell the automatic, I would never
go back to one again and the problem isn't the transmission, but
rather the engine.
        If it goes or the battery goes or the starter goes or anyone
of many things goes wrong; you are stuck on the side of the road. or
worse.  The scare came during one descent from Wolfe Pass one
December when it seemed that everything quit.
        The battery was dead, the starter bushings inconveniently
ground out, the brake pedal went to the floor after the second pump
and the engine had iced up which was why it quit.
        I used a truck run-a-way pull out to get stopped, but was
unable to extract myself from there. I had to wait until my engine
warmed up enough to melt the ice, then get underneath the van in the
snow and beat repeatedly on the starter with a hammer, then jump
start from the spare battery and the pray all the way down in low
gear with only the emergency brake to help.
        As fervently promised at the time, I am now in a monastery. ;-)

                                        (David (dsl82westy)