If it is your 2nd car and you know how to drive stick then get it with a stick.. I had an automatic FRS first to satisfy my at the time wife so she could drive it since she didn't want to learn. I got a manual FRS later on and it only made me wish I got one with a stick from the start
Now the automatic ain't bad at all, one of the better torque converters on the market. Smooth engagement at slow speeds, adequate shifting speed when going fast, the computer will never auto up-shift when you're in manual mode and the sport mode while in automatic mode is pretty smart, it will auto downshift under heavy braking for example...and i liked the paddles. But to me there is no beating the feel of the very mechanical stick, the extra involvement with the car, your butt dyno should feel a little more torque with the manual trans, being able to clutch kick or dumping it and getting the tires to chirp on 2nd, and manual master race ofc.