dcrandon,
NSXtasy's advice is sound. I drive an automatic. It is great in traffic, is a real pleasure to drive, and the wife, girlfriend, or daughter can drive it (this can be either good or bad, depending on your viewpoint, but I will say that my girlfriend really enjoys driving my car and I enjoy seeing her happy). The car is perfectly fine, there is nothing wrong with an automatic whatsoever, but, it isn't designed for all-out performance like the manual. It is more of a "gentleman's NSX" (not that I am a gentleman). It was detuned by honda to take the pressure off the automatic transmission. It's only 18hp, right? Surely, the automatic transmission can handle a mere 18 more horsepower, right? Sadly this not the case. If the engineers thought that the transmission would withstand the extra 18hp they would have it left them in, which would have been a lot easier than redesigning the car to suit the automatic transmission. The automatic transmission is more prone to failure when pushed hard. The automatic transmission is great for normal and high-speeding driving and is up to the task for it's purpose, but if you are going to drive your car harder than normal and want to do performance upgrades you should stick with the manual.
Frankly, most people seem more concerned with this issue based on what they think other people will think or say, rather than what their own preference is. You should evaluate based on your personal needs and preference, not what someone else thinks is "cool". Does it really matter that the stick car has 18 more horsepower? Only you can answer that question for you. For me, it is no big deal, but for you, it might be. Ask yourself, am I only concerned about the automatic because of what people might say? Or are you a real car fanatic and want every extra horsepower you can get. If you don't think the horsepower is that big of a deal, because both cars are still plenty fast, you might be happy with the automatic. But if not having that extra 18hp or more would still bug you, you should get the stick. If it would still bother you that someone will say that your car is not "cool" (online, this doesn't happens in real life) because it is an automatic, then you should get a stick. If it would still bother you that someone (online, this doesn't happens in real life) will say it isn't a "real sports car", then you should get a stick. If you want to drive the car really hard and take it to the track, you should get a stick. If you want to mess with the ECU or add a supercharger, then you should get a stick. If, on the other hand, you really don't mind what people say so much and you would like to have a great car without all that shifting, plus one that the woman in your life can drive, then go ahead and get an automatic. The automatic is a great car, I highly recommend it. Just be aware that you will have to constantly defend the car against people who say it isn't a "real sports car". If you get an automatic, don't get your feelings hurt when somebody says it has "only 252hp". Don't try and turn it into something else with the speed mods, etc, just so you can say that you have as much hp as the next guy. Buy the automatic, drive it, enjoy it for what it is, and be happy with it. The only thing "wrong" with the automatic is all the negative comments you will hear about it, mostly from people online, or your buddies who want to give you crap about it. The car itself is fine. Save your money from the mods to fix the POS bose stereo.
Which could be better used if you sold your automatic and took the 6 grand and bought a standard! I own an automatic...and yes it is not as fast as other exotics...but it looks way Phatter than the other cars in Calgary...and it serves its purpose. If you want a real fast NSX...then buy a standard...that way you can do sooooooo much more to the engine:biggrin: 
