some people by automatics out of need, I for one, have nerve damage on my left side that prevents me from driving a manual equiped car...
In high performance driving, you weill have better over all control, performance, and gas mileage with a manual, and manuals are also cheaper and easier to maintain, than automatics. Strictly speaking most manuals are faster than automatics in head to head racing simply becasue the automatic has more slippage in the driveline...
In the end though it comes down to personal preference, what do you prefer...?
If you like the manual, then get the manual...