My 727 has been perfect and bullet-proof in all competition events... manual over-ride (simple shift kit) allows full control at any speed... upshift, downshift at any time and not missing that shift. Sure, manual stick-shift trannys are more fun -- I've owned/driven and raced both in road course and autocross. The skill of the driver (aka "the nut behind the wheel") will make the biggest difference in a competition event. I figure.. it's whatever your car has... and master it.