I have had a couple of people inquire about the automatic and its shifting and overall performance .. shifting smooth with no hard shifts, delays, etc. Not all 01M are bad (although a lot go south) and this rig has had frequent ATF changes with filter.
One person was interested in doing an auto-to-manual swap. Could easily be done, but not necessary. That being said, I have been able to get swap parts for $400-550 in the past (just found one for a friend for $450 without clutch, which I would change anyhow) and labor has run me $650-850 in the past. You should consult a TDI mechanic on the TDICLUB in your area if you are considering it and looking for pricing.