my last car (my first stang - rip) was auto - i compromised on that because it was everything else i wanted: redfire convertible with all the trimmin's! i also got an incredible deal on it - 1 year old, 10K miles and 2/3 of list price. i loved that car.
but i always had a little ****ling remorse that i didn't get a stick.
this time i got to order exactly the car i wanted (see below). getting a stick. but with all the talk of not getting scheduled, not getting an 05, etc (just for you, tyler) i was seriously thinking about canceling my order (STILL c/u!!) and trying to find a car somewhere else. (i haven't. yet.) i actually found my exact car (except for color) at a dealer in texas. i found the exact car (right color) but w/ an automatic somewhere else. i really thought about that one. but in the end, i don't want to 'regret' anything about this car.
as someone else said earlier, it's an individual choice that everyone has to make for themselves. but for me - gimme a stick!