I started my search for an Element with my heart set on a manual, but as the hunt goes on, I start thinking I may need to manage my expectations.

There are plenty of automatics in the area that I can check out in the morning and be home before lunch. The closest manuals are 200 miles away or more. And my current car, a 2003 Subaru with a burnt valve, can't really be depended on to get me there more than once. Meaning if I'm going, I'm buying, test drive be damned.

To add to that, I haven't driven a stick in 25 years. I'm sure I can relearn, but it doesn't give me confidence in being able to do a proper test drive. Plus, the car will be facing suburban-to-metro Pittsburgh traffic from here on out.

The more I think about it, the more I lean auto, but I wanted to hear from the community first. Stick to the manual guns, or if a close by auto at a good price pops up, grab that instead?