I don't know much about how the manual transmission tracs perform, since I've never seen one, but I suspect that it wouldn't be as much fun as driving a sports car with a manual transmission. They're just two different beasts. Plus, anytime you get a vehicle like that in a manual transmission, the vehicle depreciates WORSE than it would if it had an automatic, since very few people know how to drive (or want to drive) a manual transmission anymore. Oddly enough, the GTO that I bought the other day would have been CHEAPER if I'd gone with the automatic. The 6-speed is a $695 option! I am very glad I got the manual though, this thing is an absolute BLAST to drive.
You're lucky to have a saver wife, they're hard to find, so hang on to her with all you've got! That's part of my problem, I'm a spender and so is my woman, so I'm sure you can see how this can pose problems. hehe
Be safe over there Brandon.