hey i just saw junkyard wars and it shows how a manual has advantage over auto; the formula 1 team used a motorcycle engine (1L i-4 i think) with manual tranny(sequential) and the other dudes, hot rodders and stock car racers, used an auto v8 (size i dont really know, but they were much bigger than the i-4). the i-4 almost beat the v8 in the 1/8 drag race(lost by .3sec); whipped everyone in the road course, even though they spun out once, and couldve had at least 2nd place in the oval course but you know how stock car racers race; they hit the i-4 powered car and caused it to lose its rear axle. it shows how much better the manual tranny is.