The smell is no big deal. I'm sure it will go away as the top 'new' layer goes away. It's not something that would every make me want an automatic.
Manual transmission is meant for a true American sports car. Automatic transmission is...for a soccer mom in a minivan! Anyone can drive an automatic well. When people look into my car and see a manual transmission, they look wide eyed and just smile and say...'oh yeah'. You'll never get response that with an automatic, rather they will say, 'hmmm I see you went with the automatic...does your wife drive it?'
