My jeep is also a stick and it is much more fun to drive even when stuck in traffic.
I read an article from Four Wheel magazine where each and every writer preferred a stick for several reasons.
The most important for all of them was survivability. Each had been stranded by a auto that hit a rock but one ever drove home with a stick that had a gash in the gear box and no fluid. He said it was a noisy ride but he made it home with no problems.
Sticks are more forgiving and cheaper to replace. They last longer if properly cared for and are more interesting.
I have a sticker on the side of my Jeep that says “Shift Happens.”
I had to replace the shift handle. The new one came from http://www.hotrodshiftknob.com/
You have to pay more attention when driving a shift and you are more in tune with our car as well.
Brings back a 1984 memory of towing a 69 Boss 302 on a trailer behind a friends Dodge Ram pickup from Pa. to Fl. on I-95.
Remember when “Ram” meant 4 wheel drive? this was an auto.
Well, shortly after I drove over the Va/NC state line I changed with the owner & went to sleep in the back.
Soon I was woken up by the other passenger - “something just came out from under the truck and bounced off your hood!”
“Yeah right, leave me alone.”
BOOM! Fire & smoke in the cabin - the front U joint had broken & cracked the Auto Tranny case & that was the end of that box forever!
Had to hitch all that way home & rent another truck to bring my baby home. Not a good experience!
His truck stayed in the local Dodge dealer’s repair lot - they were very nice about it - for 6 months till he could pony up $$ for the replacement trans.
If it was a manual I could have sealed the crack in the case & refilled it.
No automatics ever for me. :)