Ah yes...the endless car-nostalgia bit!
I'm 53 now. Grew up farming in E. ND.
I do miss driving the BIG tractors!!
I can drive anything, but prefer automatics in cars & pickups. I'm surprised most car lines even offer manuals any more! The perceived advantages of manuals are almost irrelevant now. In all the vehicles I've had (99% GM), I've NEVER had an A/T issue.
There are fewer & fewer people who can drive sticks obviously.
To find YOUR perfect new vehicle will surely take some time! My "car preferences" are a 180 from yours! For ME...I could care less about gas-mileage and stripped-down models. The more "Starship Enterprise" it is, the better I seem to like it! I just enjoy all the newer tech-stuff I guess.
I LOVE the Wife's new 2014 Buick AWD Turbo-Regal. Every option available. It's very Enterprise-like! Black-Metallic & Black-Leather. New MSRP was $39,500 I think...
Faron