I sort of like a manual, but don't really care. I rented a CVT for a longer test drive before buying mine and it worked just fine. If the CVT had been the same price, I would have got that, but to pay an extra $1000 or so for it wasn't good value for me. To pay for itself in fuel would take a very long time (if ever - it only seems to be better on the highway), so the only real advantage is convenience. In stop/go city traffic I can appreciate an automatic, for sure, and they are handy if you are trying to eat and drive at the same time.