MT for the first few months, AT for the rest by a large margin

I'm hoping that the MT sells better at first. More chance for me to get an AT while someone else on the list is waiting for a manual.

I do like driving a manual, but the last three cars I've owned have been Manumatics of different types with paddle shifters. I've got to admit it's a really nice compromise especially in a car that will be used as a daily driver.

In the US probaly AT. Where i live, in Germany, i guess MT will be more popular.

According to Wikipedia:

Hopefully it will be like the WRX and the auto will not sell well and they'll drop it completely (makes it easier to find used with manuals) but I doubt that will be the case.

That's kind of funny because when i was in high school I only saw one celica and it was my ex gfs' car. The rest of the girls drove mustangs, camaros and big SUV's.

Except girls will find this car "cute."

Just like they did with the RSX.

Just like they did with the Celica.

Just like they did with the Eclipse before it became a piece of shit.

Just like they do with the Civic coupe.

And just like they do with the Miata.

Hell, they even thought it about the 240sx back in the day (ask my ef-GF from 10 years ago)

It's small, 2-doors, and clean swoopy bodywork and *looks* fast. The Scion front is a little aggro, but so was the last Celica. Girls love them, and they'll love this. And it'll turn 70/30 auto-manual by year 3.

On the WRX:
Most people find WRX is quirky looking at best, and visually abhorrent at worst. I personally like them, but I'm not in the majority. It probably has 90% male buyers, and most of them boy-racer or brosef types. That's why they were able to axe the auto. Nobody who bought the car wanted one.

And yet the Miata historically sells only about 20% automatics overall...

Out of the 1709 Miatas for sale on cars.com, 51% are manual, 32% are automatic, and 17% are other/unknown/unlisted. I don't see any reason that the FR-S/BRZ would sell more ATs than MTs, especially at a 4:1 ratio like several here have suggested. People buying this car are going for the driving experience which is, subjectively, better with an MT. It doesn't have a drop top to appeal to those just wanting a weekend cruiser, it doesn't have decent back seats, it will cost more than the tC. I think the Mustang and Camaro will still get your teenage girl segment, the Miata will still get your empty nest couples looking for a fun weekend roadster, and the tC will get the early 20s folks that want a sporty looking car that still fits 3 friends.