CONGRATS YOU MADE IT!!!
Hell i wish my dad got me a gift like that when i graduated. First let me say that if you never owned a fast car like a stang,you should learn to handle it,there are far too many kids your age killing themselfs in cars that daddy bought them,that goes for any car,not just stangs.Second if you really cant drive a stick too well,you should get the auto,yes you will learn to drive a stick,but at the price of shredding your clutch as you said in your post.Belive me that will be costly.Third my buddy has a 2002 vert and its all that,its fast,it has an auto(modified) and it looks bad as hell! He does not have a problem with leaks,we live in jersey and its raining all the time lately.Its all up to you what do you want to say when your cruzin down the road,and people look at your ride?Just remember that ride can take your life,and how would your parents feel if something happened to you in this GIFT that they bought you? I own a 92 lx and i love it,its solid lighter and its a fox!!!!!Its also a stick just feels beeter to me,and MUCH faster!!!!!! Anyway enjoy!!!!!