[Rev]

I use an auto mostly by default. That's what my car came with and I didn't want to convert. The C-4 in my car uses a 2500+ TCI stall converter. I have a B&M shift kit that helps shifts.

Running an auto means running a trans oil pump as well as the converter and all that uses up some power. Does one want to use up that power for more uniformity? Only the owner of the car knows the answer to that question.

On the shifting question, nobody beats the speed of the actual shift in an auto. Notice I said "actual shift". Most stock autos lock the tranny in two gears at the same time for the functional shift. The OEM engineers do this to ensure a "smooth" shift. In actuality, they are forcing the clutches to slip during the gear translation. They also use devices to slow the action of the clutches (more like feathering than dumping in a standard).

Shift kits make the auto tranny pop the clutch more like one would do during a hard run. No locking in two gears to "smooth' out the shifts either. The oil pump still sucks power and the rotating mass of the tranny is still more.

Bottom line is, will you trade a power loss for uniformity of function? Only one person can decide that.

Rev