[amullo]

1.) The insurance is more expensive.
No info on this, but I´m guessing NOT. Insurance is more focused on your age and the power and value of your car and where you live.

2.) It's a distraction.
Its neither a distraction or not one.. Once youve learned MT, it becomes automatic to change gears. But driving a MT gives you better fuel economy and will also benefit your skills as a driver. Your forced to learn to prioritize driving the car instead of fiddling with the cellphone or stereo.

3.) There is a smaller market for them therefore its harder to sell.
Small does not mean worse. Intrested MT buyers will be hunting for the MT, so a special vehicle will hold its value better.

But this depends on the car...
A sporty drivers car like the 3-series will sell regardless of AT/MT.
A luxury car (EG: Lexus LS/Mercedes E) will sell easier with AT
A true sportscar (EG: Porsche Cayman) will only sell with MT or Sequential

There is a diffrence between riding in a car and driving in a car. Its my firm belief after 25 years as a driver that MT drivers are more involved and better drivers then disconnected AT drivers like myself.(Ok ok, so this is my first AT car in 25 years! I started out in a 48hp 1974 VW bug)