any idea to what might be causing the acceleration problem. Im interested in making this car very fast any ideas how one could achieve such a goal.

did you check the sparkplugs? The heater will not get hot until the car is warmed up already.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

By "today's standards", it is not a tremendously fast car...my 5-spd car only did 0-60 in about 7.8 seconds. The automatic will be a second or two slower. It WAS a fun car though.

As for downshifting, if the auto trans feels like it isn't engaging the gear, or surging or hunting, it may be a trans problem. That said, some auto trans problems can be solved by a simple servicing- flush, fluid and filter.

J.G.