During WWII, The PT boats(like the one JFK commanded) used the Crosley engine to power the onboard electrical generator. They held up well enough for the Navy to use them. They were also popular in small aircraft(private) after the war. That says a lot for the engine.

My aunt bought the car new in 1946 and drove it several times a year from Little Rock, Arkansas to New York City, and back, until 1961, when I bought it from her. She was a RN and the little car always got her to work at the hospital. I beat the piss out of that car for three years during college, including power shifting into reverse from first gear at 6,000 RPM a bunch of times. Was trying for second gear, but sometimes I would hit reverse instead.

A friend(who had a 1958 Corvette) borrowed the car one day, and he whipped it into a gas station(like he would his Corvette) and the little Crosley fell over on it's side. Two guys in the station came running out, and they put the car back on it's wheels. Damage....scraped the paint on the door hinges, scraped the chrome on the door handle and cracked the sliding door glass. Don put some gas in the car and drove off.

It's simple enough...If you want a paddle shift auto, buy it...if you don't want it, don't buy it.

I personally think either stick or auto will be ok as long as the performance is strong in either.