i really want to get another 6spd car, but autos are everywhere for cheap. trying to figure out whether its something i want to risk or just hold out for a manual.

 

Well mine has 140k miles on it and I haven't had a problem with it. Still spins the tires in 2nd. I think that the big difference why it has lasted this long is because I don't abuse it. I don't go driving around all day kicking it down and flooring it every chance I get. But thats just my thoughts.

 

This, plus how well you stay on top of the fluid maintenance (fluid, filter, etc) will have an effect on the life of the transmission.

My trans has 112k on it, I've put almost 50k on it myself, and it's just recently started with a "soft" 2-3 shift. That started after adding nitrous to the car.

Taking the automatic and spending less than the cost of converting to a manual trans, you can have a nice solid automatic that will give you better ETs and handle some serious abuse (big stall, nitrous, etc).

 

With 93,000, mine began slipping a little bit on the 2-3 shift, then the 3-4 shift, and then eventually starting hitting the rev limiter slightly on the 1-2.

The 2-3 slipping started before nitrous, then after adding the spray, it got worse. Still drove fine, but would tap the rev limiter once or twice on WOT shifts. Now I have a CPT race built 4L60E and am happy as hell with it.

 

My car just started the symptom where it almost hits the rev limiter on the 1-2 shift. But with 94K and a whole lot of abuse from the previous owners I guess it is time. I plan on going with the CPT trans next spring.