I would stay auto! I have owned 3 1g DSM's and all the manual versions were always down for repairs. I've gone through 5 transmissions in the manual cars. I now own an auto DSM and love it! If you are wanting to make an auto fun to drive, try using a shift box. You control each shift just like a manual but you don't have to let off the gas meaning you stay in full boost all the way down the track. As for reliability.... I drive the crap out of my car and have only destroyed one auto tranny because a bolt in the strut was the wrong size which let the hub move on a launch and the axle broke punching a huge hole in the case of the tranny. That sucked! All in all, it is your choice on what you want to drive
