No you don't need to old batteries used to be like that but not nowadays. But it is still best to let it drain as much as possible before charging it and then charging it fully because batteries only have a certain amount of charges in them. When they are made they may only be able to be charged...
They came in a 4 speed automatic and 5 speed manual, so no they aren't all stick shift. They aren't bad for a first car they come in 4 cylinders or a v6 model so they have ok gas mileage and they aren't too powerful (0-60 in 9.2 or 7.5 seconds) with a top speed of either 113 miles an hour or...