Its all about preferences. I have drove almost all manuals for almost 50 years. I drove a manual HC but opted for an automatic. Things happen real quick in these cars and my reflexes are not what they used to be, so I went auto. With the HC you can put it in full manual mode (essentially) anyway and use the paddle shifters if you want to. I ordered the Harmon Kardon in mine. As my daughter says, that system kicks A$$. But, is it a necessity...No. Took a road trip in mine yesterday. Set the cruise at 80 and still knocked down 18mpg which I did not think was terrible (and that was with a few hard pulls tossed in).