Hi Bruce, I drove a '01 325 convertible w/ stick for two months and was happy as can be until I became a victim of an Aux fan fire. The fire did so much damage that BMW is replacing my car. In the mean time, I've been driving an automatic 325Ci coupe loaner. I've enjoyed the automatic so much that I'm changing my replacement car to an automatic 330Ci convertible. You won't be disappointed w/ the automatic.