The automatic gearbox is more reliable. If it's just for the eventual road trip, I'd go for the automatic. I have one myself as a daily driver, which is 100% stock. If I occasionally want to have some fun, I put it in manual mode.
I've got my 60k service coming up soon so I've ordered a set of Delicious Tuning Blue OEM+ coilpacks for when the plugs are changed. Thought it worth having done at the same time as I'd like the best spark possible for pickup and response with the Harrop.
Delicious OEM+ (4) Coil Packs - MY15+ (Blue) | Delicious Tuning
Abbey will be doing the work as usual.
I've followed @SimonG68 in my supercharged BRZ with his auto 86 in sport mode. I can tell you he doesn't hang around. I had to be on it in the right gear all the time, and could pass him on a straight, but the auto also looks like a bundle of fun.
Choose whichever you prefer.
Manual owners will say manual and auto owners will say auto.
Reliability wise the auto is a stronger box than the manual. But on track days they do get hot and its heat that kills autos so i monitor temps of my auto on track days.
The manuals clutches aren’t much good once you got turbo/SC and need upgrading, but if you are staying stock then this isn’t a problem.
Personally i bought my 86 as a pure track day car. I drove both manual and auto and chose auto as it just felt much quicker once moving (except 0-60 where the auto86 just cant build enough revs to get off the line quick enough) a bit more special/exotic/sportier and nicer/easier to drive going from home to the track.
I’m not fishing to bait people with this comment but on track I find that I’m always faster than the manual 86’s simply because I'm not backing off the throttle to change gear.
If you want the pleasure of old school manual gear changes then go manual. If you want to be on power without lifting off and flying through the gears super fast like you are on Gran Turismo then go auto.
They are both super reliable boxes. It all comes down to which type of driving experience you want.