OK. After about a month or so of reading all your informative and sometimes entertaining posts, I am about to take the plunge and purchase an SSM/Ebony 6MT w/Nav & HPT for $33,200.
(10K down / 23K loan from USAA @ 4% for 60 months)

I think this is a good price, and the 6MT w/Nav is somewhat hard to find on short notice (< 8 weeks in NY).

Some of the tough compromises;

Color Combos - I liked the Nighthawk/Ebony combo (looks great clean) but conversely, bad dirty and kind of hot in the summer.
I still like the Anthracite/Ebony combo which is real popular these days. SSM/Ebony won, prob. due to the ads that won me over on the look.

Manual vs Automatic - Currently drive an 86 TransAm GTA w/MT.
I like the convenience of AT, but performance/fun of MT.
The TL has so much convenience already, why not sacrifice some convenience for latter. (would be a no-brainer if not planning to start a family, but why not let the wife's auto be the practical one.)

OEM vs HPT - It seems the 6MTs the dealers out here are getting from the factory are being sent with the HPT's. Unfortunately, that is not a cool thing in the winter. (maybe why I saved some $)
Well, needless to say, I have my eyes on the Pirrelli PZero Neros Top rated for $127 (www.tirerack.com) problem is, it will cost $156 to swap them out.

Any feedback from my future TL enthusiasts appreciated...
Thank's in advance

PS The funniest/coolest/nuttiest post I read had to be the dude who burned his own Nav CD to include the Trip Computer functionality for the Honda that was on the DVD. [B]

 

Anthracite/quartz, bought the same car for $500 more two weeks ago.

You'll like the aftermarket tires better than the HPT 030s

The stick is MUCH more fun. The gearing on the auto sucks and the six speed is very slick and the gearing is perfectly spaced.

The car is really quiet and smooth, even on bad freeways. I put on F1s and it's still quiet.