Auto tranny:  My '85 Westy was manual, my '90 is automatic.  I wouldn't
go back to manual unless I was going to a syncro. FAR nicer to drive, in
town or on the road.  My '90 is far better on mountain passes.  I
attribute most of this to the 2.1l vs. 1.9l engine and the different
power curve on the 2.1l setup, but the automatic helps.  Mileage: In my
case fine on the hightway cruising at 60-65, lousy in town. The highway
milage is about one or two mpg below what I was getting with the 1.9l in
the '85.  Part of this is due to the fact that the final drive is 1:1 on
the auto, 1:.86(?) on the manual. Others have reported better in town
milage than I am getting, I don't know if this is the way I drive, the
tranny getting long in tooth (106k miles, never opened) or the way my
engine is tuned.  I'll be exploring this in the spring.  Reliability:
most reports on the list place the auto above the manual in reliability
and durability.