Originally Posted by Kestrel
I've driven automatic turbos, and the first 2-3K RPM's are horrible until the turbo spools up.
Originally Posted by 1stGenCRXer
There is also not any more noticable lag over a manual car, provided you aren't trying to get boost from a roll. From a launch you can brake stall along with selecting first, but again, that heats up the fluid and contributes to early tranny failure.
A higher stall torque convertor will help a lot too.
I've also driven automatic turbos.
Originally Posted by Kestrel
Add on to that the fact that Honda engines make very little low end torque and the automatic transmissions have only 4 gears,
This may be true if you ignored altogether how a torque convertor multiplies torque, which is how it works to utilize longer gearing.
Originally Posted by Kestrel
and thus, longer gearing than the 5 speeds, and you have one very annoying bit of turbo lag.
Gearing has very little to do with turbo lag. Tall gearing may mean you operate at lower RPM with each shift, but the longer you can stay in gear [and let's not forget that with an auto you don't fall out of boost between shifts since you never have to lift], the more benefit you get from boost, and the more boost you can make, since spool is directly affected by engine load and exhaust energy generated. WHP is WHP, no matter how long you stay in each gear. I'm not saying auto is optimal, but it's certainly not a deathblow in terms of lag. If it is, you did something wrong.