I don't have the data on hand, but the stick makes a large difference on the LE's "fun to drive" meter (at least it did on the '01). Since you are inclined to driving a stick to start with, I'm guessing it would be a mistake for you to get the automatic.
Dealers around here (Indiana) very rarely have anything on the lot with manual transmissions. If they do, it's on a bargain basement model. It's hard for them to conceive that you might want a Limited Edition AND a stick. I had them search other dealers' inventories for my GT. They finally found one 80 miles away and were able to trade for it.
I'd seen an article on the GT that said Chrysler had hoped to sell 25% of them with the Gertrag 5-speed. If that's true, I'm not sure why they didn't start making them until December. I also wonder where that might ever be true (maybe California?). Certainly not here.
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