Take a look at this video
it is an 86 with the Automatic taking a quick lap.
Now, I know that some (most) people on this website would argue that a manual is the only way to get this car. I've heard the argument that you aren't really driving unless you drive a manual. But this video shows an extremely competent automatic, with shifts better than most of us could pull off on a consistent basis.
I'm getting the auto because I don't want to deal with it every day. Maybe it would be different if I was going to track it.
What gearbox do you want, and why?