to make my car accelerate as fast as it used to? It’s just not as powerful as it used to be and the transmission (auto) switches too slow, if I press all the way on the gas, it will take a while to get the speed it used to

 

Have you followed the regular maintainance schedule and replaced the common items (fuel filter, plugs, etc..)?

 

Usual stuff helped me. Throttle body was the single most important factor in restoring low-end power when I did my 60k.

 

the car wasnt mine until about a year ago

 

http://web.archive.org/web/200111091...k_service.html

clean IACV, in teh faq's
clean tb, fuel filter http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php
Flush out auto tranny and put Amsoil ATF, Redline ATF or Mobile 1 ATF the auto takes 12 quarts, more info on flushing go to the fuild section of the fourms

 

check for ghost code 0304 knock sensor, could be ur culprit