I too have preferred a stick to an auto...but, I have to admit the auto on the SRT6 is pretty nice. Especially here in SoCal when you get stuck on the linear parking lots (freeways) trying to get home.

Two friends have new Pontiac GTOs, one auto and one 6 speed. The 6 speed seems faster as you are pushed back than slightly forward then back again as you shift, but the stopwatch doesn't lie and they are nearly identical. An even though the 6 speed GTO seemed quicker than the SRT, it just isn't.

On the track, the SRT6 tranny holds the gears (whether you choose or it does) very well. After a few laps of slapping the tranny around I just let it do its own thing and concentrated on braking, setting the apex and accelerating. It truly is adaptive.

I had a Z4 with "triptronic" that would not hold 2nd around a sweeping turn. I had to keep manually shifting back down. In the same turn the SRT6 holds and lets me exit in 2nd with a rush.

It would have been nice if the SRT6 was offered with both for those that do prefer to shift, but the autostick is a good solution.