Don't you waste your $$ on an automatic period. Manual is more control, less maintenance, and less $$ to repair incase your tranny blows.

 

The only time I wish I had an auto is when it's bumper to bumper traffic. I seriously had left knee problems from my bay bridge commute (I think the 02's had a stiffer clutch). But on an open road or in the twisties - give me my manual.

 

where do you live? if you live in places that have a lot of hills and stuff, i'd get an auto. If you have to sit through traffic everyday, i'd get an auto...

i drive 22 miles round trip and average around 40 mph so i got stick.

Auto is obviously slower, but i dunno if that matters much to you.
The power distribution is also a little different. I think the autos have more power in the front than in the rear.

 

Oh! Also, depending on how you drive, manual will get more miles per gallon than auto.

 

I have driven both and all I can say is that it is nice to have an Automatic during traffic hours but having a manual is cool because you have lots of control. The automatic transmission also is pro-active when transferring the power where the manual is a reactive system.

My mom has an automatic WRX and the most annoying thing that I deal with is that it takes too much time for it to downshift into the gear I want the tranny to be in when accelerating. But I have figured out a good way to push the transmission. Another issue that makes the tranny a bit annoying is that it the TCU causes the transmission to shift too early for first and second gears.

I prefer the manual because of the control and the ability to be able to just jump on the throttle and have the power that I like on tap when in the right power band. The only thing I do not like about the WRX transmission is that second gear stretches waaaaaayyyy too long.

 

I cant stand driving most automatics. I wont own anything with a torque converter.

 

it depends, if u cant drive stick, u wont like it.

whats the point of gettting an automatic WRX? mind as well get an automatic Corolla

 

I have owned both 5mt and 4at trannies (83 GL Sedan Auto, 85 RX Sedan Manual, and a 90 Legacy Sedan Manual) before I got my Baja. I got the 4AT w/ Sportshift and I love it. When I want Automatic I just leave it there and when I want more control I can use the sport shift. I absolutly love it. It is not quite as mutch control as a true 5mt but it is really close and a 5th gear would be nice (which the 05 legacy is getting w/ the sport shift), but my baja can go a lot faster than I am willing to push it. I found that out on the Monterey bay drive a couple of weeks ago. I know that the sportshift comes on the Baja turbo and the Legacy 2.5 GT sedan (not sure about the wagon). But I love it.

 

If you are considering to get an auto after driving both, then you should stay with auto, at the same time, you might want to consider getting a RS too. :P