Not to sound like an ass but do you go to my school? I always here people from school bag on a sweet looking hot rod or car just because it's not a manual and they say it's crappy and slow because of it. Sorry to tell ya but I know lots of people and driven some cars with sticks and auto and the auto's are much better. Go to the drag strip and I bet you more than half of the top fastest cars out there are automatics. Unless you get to the really fast ones where thet just got drive and reverse, heh.
Don't think automatics are crappy, have someone that knows their stuff build you a good automatic and you probably won't wan't to go back, plus sticks are a pain in the ass anyways to sit in traffic or stop and go... Just my 2 cents but ay it's your car so do what ya wan't.