Ok, after reading all this info on the two I am still divided on what to purchase. 
First the manual has more horsey's for bragging points but a slower 0-60, but quicker 1/4 mile. Granted I will most likely not be pushing this car over 100 very often, live too close to the state patrol.
Manual will save about a grand
Manual has less weight and fewer parts to break, and is just plain fun to drive, but I'm not keeping this car forever, probably a couple of years or till I get board with it and find something newer & shinier...
Where as....
The Auto cost more, probably prone to failures due to complexity
The Auto is really the daily commuter which this will be for me...though this car is hardly a commuter
The Auto does have Tap shifts so that could alleviate some of the manual shifting needs I would have.
The Auto has remote start...Pointless gimmick IMO that I could easily do without.
Autos generally have better resale as a majority of women prefer not to shift. (Insert your own Freud reference here.)
I originally wanted a Manual 'cause... it's a manual... and this is a car to race...but then I teetered to the Auto as I wont be racing often and I can let my female friends drive it and I'm sill under the impression Autos are better in the winter, though my best friend disagrees. He wants me to get a manual but he's biased. One female friend suggests the Auto, the other the manual, and the third says it's up to me.
I love her 
Sigh...
Anyway....not that any of you care what I get after all this blatherskite. I still would appreciate any more incite on these two engines.
That and I just needed to vent on what is seemingly a simple decision. Now if I would just grow some balls and choose.
The only mods I plan on are the CAI and probably an X-pipe with obnoxious loudmouth exhaust...oh and maybe a tuning re-flash if necessary.