I would prefer to have an automatic. I feel an automatic goes with the touring car theme of the svx. If I feel like having a more sporty ride I just get on my Ninja sportbike. Rebuilding a tranny may be cheaper but I live in Oklahoma. I have not seen a svx in the 8 months that I have lived here. I would not trust a Subaru dealer rebuilding a transmission they may not have any experience with. I hear so many stories about rebuilds lot lasting long because of mistakes in the rebuild process. With the level 10 tranny I can order it as a complete unit built by experts or at least people with some real experience.