With my fantasy head on I would buy the auto, it would also have the alloy wheels. Technology has reached the point that an auto version of the same car can easily outperform the manual, even with the best driver (assumed or factual)
I would only buy if I could keep my steel chassis, manual plus 4 and have the aluminium platform, auto plus four as well.
Gordon Duguid 2014 Duratec engine plus 4, Montreal blue.