ease-of-driving all depends on setup... I know they make slave cylinders that can give a buttery-soft clutch pedal. The driving position is quite awkward in most replicas... you sit somewhat sideways because the engine & trans are set so far back to give you better weight distribution. Again, it varies depending on the particular manufacturer. People put automatics in for a number of reasons... usually to make it easier to drive because of back/leg problems, tho it does sap some of the fun from the driving experience. It pays dividends when you're stuck in traffic tho. I know that for me, I zeroed in pretty quickly on what I wanted after looking at, and riding in, a few different replicas. (most owners will not let you test drive- which I completely understand & support) The first time I actually drove mine was 3 days after I bought it. I knew I wanted IRS for the ride quality & handling, tho I had looked at several solid axle cars which rode & handled very well. Each has their high & low points. Quality also varies quite a bit, tho the "rollers" are typically a bit more consistent since they're factory-built except for the powertrain. It's usually pretty clear whether the builder knew what he was doing or not... but be forewarned... no two are alike... each car has to be judged on its own merits/demerits. Then you have to play cost against equipment/setup/condition/build quality. You may find exactly what you want, but hate the color. You may love the color, but hate the engine, trans, or chassis setup. Financially, there's usually no advantage to building your own. It'll cost you more to do so, but you'll get exactly what you want. Otherwise, be prepared to make a few compromises. Originally, I was not crazy about the color of mine... but the engine/trans combo were irresistible to me... WAY more power than I wanted, but you get used to it pretty quickly. Just don't get TOO comfortable in the car... the day THAT happens is when you can get into trouble. (the color has grown on me over time, LOL) These cars can get out of control in the blink of an eye, and demand a healthy dose of respect for what the car can and cannot do- it goes a long way to keeping you out of a YouTube video showing someone wadding-up their pride & joy.
