If a manual is a MUST - JK. Period. No question, none - and they are snappy, reliable vehicles.
If you want to look at cost, and consider a JK and JL are not that far off in the 2 door variety - I'd go with a JL and an 8spd auto hands down. Period.
JL manuals blow hard, garbage, and you'll wonder WTF you wasted your time, money, and energy even considering it.
My wife's 2 door auto JK Sahara is pretty nice. I was impressed w/ it when we took it to CO a couple years ago (when my JT was totaled) and towed our trailer. I'd go so far as to say super impressed, actually.
Don't you already have a sporty manual? I know you're hard core stick shift, but you should really go test drive one and see for yourself - the 8 speed kills. And if you already have a manual, why get another
#toeachtheirown
OlllllllO