The 8 speed auto gearbox is always trying to reach optimal driving gear, as high as possible with the lowest revs, under certain driving conditions (slow moving traffic) it will always be a gear or two higher then an equivalent manual, so its going to respond a little more slowly. Quick response times will become more evident in tip tronic running a gear or two lower with the extra 3-500 revs offering faster pickup and response times. Its not that its necessarily sluggish as a bad thing, there is a difference between an engine that has no power and this one that stores it different. its just how the full auto in this engine works.