I would definitely echo that you should find yourself a good example of a manual. Non S or S ... both are good but if you're going for a .1 generation (NA engine), I would go for the S. If you're interested in the .2 generation (Turbo engine), the Base will be notably quicker than the .1S... something to think about.
Otherwise, you will find yourself drowning in options once you really get into it. You can research build sheets of various cars via
vinanalytics.com in order to get a better idea of what the car comes equipped with. Let us know if you have any questions about certain options, etc.