5-speeds are always a Plus...and I'm sure you can find damn near everything you need for it in the for sale section..I have nothing against automatics...but I dunno.. Theres a serious lack of driver input..which is what makes me hate them..plus jdmmadtyteheeltoedownshiftingintrafficawsomeness

...why am I awake?

oh and if your transmission is F'ed then yeah it'll make the car sluggish (not sure about the whole running better when cold part though)