>Some people think manual is better from a performance standpoint, certainly I get used to the feeling of a fixed relationship between speed and the engine hum but the torque converter in an automatic kicks ass when it comes to acceleration off the line.

Also don't forget that even a classic style slushbox automatic transmission can be built to easily shift faster than any driver could in a manual transmission version. For the vast majority of current "fast" cars, the automatic option will beat the manual option in a drag race.

Yep. For me driving hard in an automatic for the first time was an eye opener.

I learned to not be afraid for riding the clutch in a manual from the experience but now when the automatic vs manual debate comes around I am on the automatic team

A truth about transmission types in Jeeps was revealed to me long ago in a high mountain pass. On a particularly steep climb with the transfer case in high range and my manual transmission in 3rd with the engine desperately in need of a downshift, I dropped it to 2nd as quick as I could, but even that rapid clutch and drop of thrust cost me a huge amount of momentum. My buddy crawled past in his automatic transmission Jeep. Lesson learned. Granted, these were naturally aspirated Jeeps in thin air, so fuel injected newer models would probably have done better. Anyway, to me this idea of an electric Jeep with a manual transmission doesn't really make much sense.