I think it depends what your talking about... Recently had a FPV Pursuit MKII which would've been a waste as an auto but now with the D40 on its way I have chosen an auto just for the fact that you can still select and stay in a gear that you want with the auto which will help off road but in the city traffic -.- happy days.
Driven autos for almost 5years now including my last 4x4 which wasn't a Nav, now have a manual D40 and can't believe what I was doing with the autos, good to go back to a manual. Manuals feel nicer, don't bore you, feels safer on and off road and you're in so much more control. What was I doing with an auto?