drove an A6 - went for the M6. I'm 40 and have worked a hard labor job all my adult life and was concerned about the physical aspects of an older guy like me having a stick for a DD.
I was also sick of owning cars that drove me. Mini-vans, Trucks, coupes, family sedans, SUV's - then I got a C5 Corvette ('02 Automatic). Even tho it was an Automatic - when you stuck your foot to the floor - you had better hold on and be ready for the power. After that - I vowed to enjoy driving cars while I'm still 'young', before nature forces me back into the mini-van life.
Drove a C6 Corvette automatic. It was nice an all, but nothing like the C5 in the 'fun to drive' sense. It was like driving a cool Camry. Too quiet, too soft, yawn fest.
Get a stick (m6) if you want to DRIVE THE CAR rather than the car DRIVING YOU.
Yeah, at times (traffic lights) I wish I had an automatic for a minute - then I get going and I'm like "oh yeah... that's right... I made the right choice".
Just be sure to do the GTO Reservior mod.
(opinionated commentary there).