[rbohm]

i am going to get it from the automatic lovers but here goes, i believe that you dont really understand how to drive a car untill you master driving the manual transmission car. why do i say that? you really dont understand the mechanics of driving, and you are less apt to pay full attention to your driving if you only drive automatics. i know this because i have not only driven both over the years, but i currently own both. autos are easier for driving around town, and sometimes i wish my falcon had an auto(it may get one, one day). then there are the times when i am driving a winding road and wished my grand marquis had a 5 spd. that said, get the salesman to let you take a long test drive(about 20 miles in various types of traffic) in both and then decide. remember you have to drive in rush hour, downtown, on the freeway, and on a back road if you can. and when driving the stick car, think that you will have to do this ALL THE TIME.