97-2001: What are the MUST HAVE options?

[socratic]

I'm looking to get my first Boxster (and thus am glad I came across this site).

What are the indispensible options on the Boxster for someone living in the rainy but mild Pacific Northwest?

I am seeing ads for "fully optioned" cars, but am not sure what came as standard equipment during the 97 to 2001 model years.

Tiptronic: should I be paying more for an automatic? I would want the Boxster to be a stick, but that would rule out my wife driving not (not an altogether bad thing mind you...). But are there any disadvantages to an automatic?

Is air conditioning standard? I don't think I could live without it.