autos arent more expensive to fix if you look over a long term.
over 100k miles you would probably have 2 clutches(average, not you wonderful perfect drivers) and a gearbox repair. maybe £1000 inc labour.
so your auto does 100k miles no clutches then fails and is repaired for same money.
you pays your money and takes your choice, but for me with traffic getting worse id have the auto everytime.