I've heard that same debate, manual v. auto, from the Corvette crowd.
Choose whatever works best for you, whatever you want, and enjoy it.
IMO, manual or auto, in my eyes, it's still a muscle car.
And if you still have any doubt, watch some of the older muscle that comes across the stage at the Barrett JAckson auctions.
Auto's may sell for a little less, but they're still muscle cars in the eyes of most.