Yeah, I never drove an NA automatic. The turbo with the new auto is pretty sweet; for an automatic. I prefer full manual control, so I ordered mine with the 5-speed. Still no word on exactly when it'll be here, but I hear it may be April.
Personally I just think the Baja is off to a rough start. Subaru hasn't promoted it at all, unlike the Outback and WRX, which as far as most of the world know is all Subaru makes. The production numbers for the turbo are so low that I don't even think the Baja will live past the '05 model year. Too bad. But, Honda and Mitsubishi are developing car-based SUTs of their own, so maybe we're at the birth of a relatively new niche. Of course, I'm sure that's what the designers of the El Camino and Ranchero thought! (I love 'em anyway)