Yes, thanks for your reply. There is definitely some truth to that, but frankly I don't think it was just that much of a priority. What is it, 90% of cars are automatics now or something like that ? (at least in US). I just couldn't see how the engine was getting that much air, and now I know. Bear in mind this throttle, which is over 50mm in diameter, has TWICE the cross-sectional area of two 25mm chokes that the engine would typically be drawing through in carbed trim. It had been years since I held a carburetor in my hands and I kind of forgot what they were like. But the greatest difference between this engine and the older ones I mentioned is the 4V cylinder head this one has (I would count that as an even bigger difference than the fuel injection vs. carburetion) . They would be remiss if they didn't adapt induction in other ways to take advantage of this, I know. I would like to drive this in automatic trim, that would be really nice I think now (I would not have said that about an older small car). Thats what this is really designed for, I think. Though it wouldn't have been that hard to, say, have the throttle cable wrap on a cam instead of on a simple cylinder to give a variable opening rate in the manual trans cars. And at pedal down they would have the throttle open so they could get that final peak of power. Now I was told when I got the car that it had had a recent clutch replacement and I didn't have any trouble believing that. Very touchy, very grabby. I thought this would fade with use and it really hasn't. I should have mentioned that it is practically impossible to start the car on a hill without spinning the wheels some. I have a choice of either that or stalling the engine, basically. Otherwise I like the car, though I can't understand why on earth anyone would put power steering in such a small car; if I keep it I am going to look into putting in an older model's manual rack and get back that feel of the road I like.