I need some advice, buying auto or waiting for manual Options

[obi1kinob]

I found a celica with a decent price, its about a 5-6 hour drive from where I live but its automatic. I'm going to do the 3sgte swap but I want it to be manual. I've searched and read other people's auto to manual conversions and some wish that they had started out as manual instead. Others who did the swap and convert at the same time, really didn't even mention anything about it.

I had a hard time finding any figures for the cost of the conversion, if done with the swap at the same time. Although most who have done the conversion alone have said around 700-1100 if I remember correctly. One person said 1000 for tranny 1000 for labor. I hope it wouldn't cost me that much.

I'll eventually be putting in a short shifter and some fancy pedals anyway. I had an order in my thingstodo list, interior mods came after engine. But I guess if I have to get pedals and a shifter and stuff I might as well do it now. What would you all suggest I do? Get this or wait?

[obi1kinob]

I picked convertible because women have an automatic attraction to cars with a top that can go down. The celica is sexy enough itself but I don't like settling with my dreams and this is my dream car.

And now I hear that manual converts are as rare as gt4s. Damn. Exxtractor thanks, I've only looked on autotrader recently, I'll try kbb and edmunds.

I don't mind the weight. I don't really intend on racing, I just want the 3sgte for the torque. I dont even want the turbo, I would have gone with the 3sge. But the torque difference between the 5sfe and 3sge is barely there. Sinner I plan on reinforcing it even more, similar to what Jgreening is doing to his vert.